The Exorcist

The film is based on the novel by William Peter Blatty "the exorcist" (The Exorcist, 1971).

For the role of Chris, mother of Regan, which eventually went to Ellen Burstyn and Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine.

Ellen Burstyn agreed to star in the film, on the condition that her character will not utter the phrase: "I believe in the devil!", as required by the scenario. The producers agreed and decided to remove this statement.

John Boorman offered to make a film, but he refused, arguing that he did not want to take such a brutal story about child. However, the Director accepted the proposal to put the sequel "the exorcist 2" (1977).

Mercedes maccambridge, who voiced the demon has filed a lawsuit against Studio Warner Bros. because her name was not found written in the credits.

Jane Fonda and Shirley MacLaine were among the contenders for the role of Chris MacNeil. Audrey Hepburn agreed to play the role if the shooting would take place in Rome. Anne Bancroft was also able to play Chris, but "left behind" because it was in the first month of pregnancy.

The option of musical accompaniment Lalo Schifrin was rejected (it can be heard in the movie "the Amityville Horror" (1979)). The film's Director William Friedkin later admitted that to hear the music of Tangerine Dream earlier, he would invite them for writing the music to "the Exorcist". Tangerine Dream (which at various times included Christopher Franke, Paul Haslinger, Edgar Froes, Peter Baumann, Jonas Smalling and Ralph Bagful) wrote the music to the next Friedkin film "Sorcerer" (1977).

The Agency representing Linda Blair, would not recommend her for the role of Regan, while offering more than 30 other young Actresses. As a result, only the intervention of the girl's mother helped to solve the problem.

Stanley Kubrick wanted to make a film, but only under the condition that he became one of the co-producers. The owners of the Studio were worried that Kubrick may go beyond budget and schedule, so hired as Director Mark Rydell. However, Blatty (screenwriter and author) insisted on William Friedkin. After the impasse to which the Studio came with Rydell, Blatty eventually got their.

Filming: August 14, 1972 — July 20, 1973.

In September 2000 in wide release released restored version of the film, which includes 11 additional minutes

Ellen Burstyn injured his spine in the scene when Regan with power ambrosial Chris to the side. On Burstyn was assigned to a special cable which at the command of the Director was to pull the extras. In one of the takes extra pulled so hard that the actress hit the floor and screamed in pain in the coccyx. Friedkin immediately brought her camera and made the scene spectacular closeup.

In the "Version You never saw" was digitally added coat for Chris MacNeil in the scene where Merrin and Karras are going to cast out the demon. In the original version it was clear kinospot: in this scene Chris was in a coat and a couple of seconds without him.

Warner Bros. they offered to put a film following Directors: — Arthur penny refused, because at that time taught no.

A place where archaeological excavations are carried out in the film, it's not the scenery, but actually exists in the area of the ancient Parthian city of Hatra in Northern Iraq.

The first scene that was shot: when Father Karras walks down the hallway of a mental hospital, excitedly talking with his uncle about the imprisonment of his mother in a psychiatric hospital.

In the scene of the exorcism the temperature of the bedroom dramatically lowered to achieve the authentic icy breath. Linda Blair who was only in a light shirt, admitted that on that day she could not even stand — so it was cold.

In the bedroom hung 4 of the air conditioner, and the temperature was about 1 to 4 degrees below zero. It so happened that the air contained high humidity, the room was covered with a fine layer of frost right before filming.

Green liquid, which Regan spews in the course of the film, is actually thick pea soup.

Stacy Keach was chosen for the role of father Karras William Peter Blatty and remained approved in the role until then, until William Friedkin did not notice Jason Miller in one of the productions of Broadway. Despite the fact that Miller had never acted in a movie, the role was selected because of it.

According to William Peter Blatty, Friedkin considered as a candidate Gene Hackman for the role of Father Karras.

The film's Director William Friedkin asked technical Advisor to the film of the priest Thomas of Birmingham to perform the rite of exorcism during the filming, but he refused, explaining that the exorcism can only increase the excitement on the court. But the priest blessed the actors and the crew.

Shooting chased frequent failure mysterious events. Nine people associated with the production of paintings, has died. One day, one weekend day, burned all the scenery – the cause of the fire is still unclear. Actors Jack Macgowran and Miliaras Vasiliki died shortly before the release of the film.

Christian Evangelist Billy Graham claimed that the reel of this film was possessed by a devil.

After painting ladder rolled down Father Karras, became a celebrity Georgetown and now she is called "exorcist Stairs", consisting of 75 steps located at end of street M Street. During filming the stuntman had doubled roll with it, and the screen was not visible to passers-by, students of the University for $ 5 had residents outside of the camera.

The ladder had to put the gasket from the rubber layer to remove the fall of the Holy father.

In 1990 he released a parody of "the exorcist" called "exorcist again," in which the possessed victim played again by Linda Blair.

William Friedkin invited to create sound effects of Gonzalo Gavira, after he evaluated his work in the film "the Mole" (1970).

The film was shot in the house where once lived by William Peter Blatty, when I was a student and studied at Georgetown University.

William Peter Blatty once won $10,000 on the Groucho Marx "Bet Your life". When asked what he will spend money, Blatty said, "writing a novel" this novel was "the exorcist," published in 1971 and became a bestseller.

In the uncut version of the film it turns out Regan's middle name: Teresa.

The nurse who comes into the office of Dr. Teni after arteriogram, played the mother of Linda Blair Eleanor.

Jill Granbo auditioned for the role of Sharon.

William Peter Blatty played a cameo: the film's producer, in which he played Chris

The name "Captain Howdy" is used as the computer name of the killer in the movie "Strangeland" (1998). The screenplay was written by Dee Snyder, the leader of the group "Twisted Sister". The repertoire of this group has a song called "Stay Away from Captain Howdy" (album "Stay Hungry" 1984).

The scene where Father Merrin asks Chris the middle name of her daughter, was cut, however when Merrin is conducting the expulsion of the demon from Regan, he delivers a full girl's name: Regan Theresa MacNeil.

For the execution of the famous scene "the spider walk" was invited contortionist Linda R. Hager. The scene was filmed on 11 April 1973. Along the stairs stretched a wire, through which she glided, therefore, Hager only slightly touch the floor bent at an impossible angle arms and legs. Scene was cut by Fridkin and was not included in the original version of the story, as the Director felt that it produced a too strong effect in the first half of the film, while the horror in "the Exorcist" should rise gradually and reach its maximum only at the end of the film. The cut material was restored by Fridkin in uncut version of the film.

"Spider walk" that was cut from the original movie version was used in the film "ruby" (1977), and also in some other low-budget films.

The scene where father Karras listens to a recorded film was shot indoors Kitting Hall at the Jesuit Fordham University in new York. The same room was used as office of the Pentagon when filming the movie "a beautiful mind" (2001).

Fridkin for filming in Iraq had to collect the crew, consisting solely of the British, because at that time the United States and Iraq had no diplomatic relations. Iraq agreed on the condition that the filming will take part of Iraqi filmmakers.

In the UK release on video was delayed for quite a long time on the recommendations of the chief censor of the country James Fermanagh. The film's release on video could take place in 1988, but was again rejected by the Ferman, which is the reason cited a number of cases of abuse of children. The video release took place after June 1999, after Ferman retired.

The weekly "Entertainment Weekly" called "the Exorcist" the scariest movie in the history of cinema.

In one of the first days of filming of a scene of exorcism, full of swearing monologue, spoken by Linda Blair, and it made such a strong impression on max Von Sydow that he simply forgot his lines.

The inspiration for writing the book William Peter Blatty found learning about the real case of exorcism that occurred in 1949. The writer, while studying at Georgetown University, read an article by bill Brinkley in the newspaper "Washington Post" (August 20, 1949), which dealt with the case of exorcism that happened to a 13 year old boy on the mountain Raynor, Maryland. Father albert Hughes and Father William Bordern spent the rite of exorcism of Roland DOE (a fictitious name) in January — April, 1949.

The statue of the demon "Pazuzu" was mistakenly sent to Hong Kong instead of Iraq.

The film's release in 1973 was accompanied by mass hysteria, fainting spectators during hits and carriages "first aid" on duty around cinemas. Happened more curious cases. So, one of the spectators while watching fainted and hit his head on the back of the front seat and broke her jaw. He has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros., saying that it affected "25 frames," which was full movie. The Studio was able to solve the problem of extrajudicial way, paying brought moviegoers a certain amount.

In the scene listening to the audio recordings in the laboratory, you notice the hanging banner that says "TASUKETE!", which translated from Japanese means "Help me!".

Famous movie poster, in which Father Merrin stands in front of the house Makalov, borrows motifs from the paintings of Rene Magritte "Empire of light" ("L"Empire des lumières"), which he painted in 1953.

For the film was created by another poster — it was a picture of Regan's hand while holding the bloody crucifix that the girl I'd hurt myself. Here was the tagline: "God, save this girl!" Friedkin rejected such a poster and said that the tagline in any case should not be used the word "God".

Greek song that sounds on the radio when Father Karras leaves his mother, called "Paramythaki mou", which takes Giannis Kalantzis. Several years later, the author of the song Leyteris Papadopoulos experiencing financial difficulties, asked the filmmakers some compensation for the use of its intellectual property.

The scene where we see father Karras in his room at Georgetown were filmed in a Dorm for freshmen at Fordham University in new York.

To lighten up the mood on the set, William Peter Blatty offered to shoot for the fun of the scene in which Father Merrin enters the house, takes off his hat and turns out to be Groucho Marx, a friend of Blatty. Parody was supposed to appear in a show Groucho Marx, but on the day of filming was sick, William Friedkin, and the scene never took off.

After the movie, Linda Blair received a huge number of threats in his address. Warner Bros. for six months I had to hire her bodyguards.

The sounds of the demon leaving Regan's body, in fact, the squeals of the pig sent to slaughter.

While William Peter Blatty wrote his novel, he received unemployment benefits.

On a demon mask (which appears in a few points only in the uncut version of the film), Friedkin was inspired by an image from the film Kaneto Shindo "Onibaba" (1964).

In fact, this movie launched the career of famous makeup artist Rick Baker. He was hired to work as an assistant to the legendary makeup artist dick Smith.

William Peter Blatty created the character Chris MacNeil with Shirley MacLaine, a friend of the writer. At the stage of preproduction Shirley was very interested in the project and wanted Lew Grade produced the film, but her plans went awry.

For the film was built three bed, each used for different scenes.

Father Dyer was played by Reverend William O'malley.

The first teaser of the film which contained only a few images of the "white-faced" demon, was banned in many theaters because it was considered "too scary."

Linda Blair injured her back when a special design, which it scattered on the beds was broken.

Linda Blair was nominated for the award "Oscar" for "best female role of the second plan" before it became known that in fact the demon was voiced by another actress (Mercedes maccambridge). According to the rules of the Academy, Linda could not lose the nomination, but the discussion about what the award should belong to Maccambridge, actually took Linda a good chance to win.

Quite young at that time was Max Von Sydow, and to become an aging, seasoned exorcist, he was on a few hours a day I had to spend in the makeup chair.

The role of the Father Marina the Studio wanted to invite Marlon Brando. Friedkin immediately objected, arguing that it would not be his film, and "film with Marlon Brando".

Priest William O'malley has told students that approximately 80% of the film is based on real events. He explained the difference between the events in the film and the real facts, for example: — actually was obsessed with a boy and not a girl

The scene in Iraq, which begins the film — the last filmed scene. Shooting in Iraq started, when completed shooting in the US.

In the documentary, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the film, many actors have admitted that in some scenes they didn't have "play", since in many episodes the actors genuine reactions. For example, Crick, Ellen Burstyn, after falling in one of the scenes, was caused by a strong dash of extra for the cable, which was connected to the actress

Vasiliki Maliaros, who played the mother of Father Karras, hitherto never acted in movies, her only acting experience was a Greek theatrical stage. Friedkin met her at a Greek restaurant and was amazed at her incredible resemblance with his mother. Later, Blatty said Maliaros like his mother. It was her first and last film role

Geraldine page turned down the role of Regan's mother.

According to the schedule the film had to be filmed in 85 days, but the duration of the shooting process in the US alone amounted to 224 days.

The famous scene of the appearance of the Father Merrin in the house of Makalov Max von Sydow played in the first day of their work on the film.

In fact, the distance from the window of the room Regan up the stairs on the outside much more than in the movie — at this distance it is impossible to fly out of the window right on the stairs, in connection with which the decorators added the extra "fake" wing to the house, so in advance of your expected window, Regan looks very close to the stairs.

Actress Dana Plato claimed that she was offered the role of Regan, but her mother resisted. He Blatti says he does not remember anything that would confirm this rumor.

The exorcist — last movie John. Cobb, who played him as a Lieutenant Kinderman. The actor died after filming the movie.

In the stage of "green liquid" appeared understudy Linda, Blarasin Dietz. Dick Smith, makeup artist of the film, equipped with the contours of the face Deets in small sheets of plexiglass (organic glass), the edges of the mouth and neck. Hidden nozzle was fixed in the mouth, which was also located a special apparatus, by which "sick" very fast and could spill out. Filled with "green stuff" a small tube was inserted into the plexiglass on both sides of the face. It was the most difficult part of the construction, in this connection, FITC could not really swallow anything, and could not fully close my mouth.

In a restored uncut version for writing a number of music samples was invited by composer Steve Boddeker.

The full version of the film has duration of 132 minutes.

Technical consultant of the film was made by the priest John Nicola is the author of the monograph "the devil possession and exorcism".

The bedroom in which the action occurs, was equipped in the pavilion Studio 20th Century Fox in the Western part of Manhattan. Here they built and the interiors of the two-story house. In the next room, placed all kinds of equipment and air conditioners cost 50 thousand dollars that can cool air up to zero degrees, to the mouth of the audience were real couples. The whole room rocked and trembled, while external background remained stationary. "We used different technical devices, says Friedkin, one of the beds was hanging from the ceiling — with their help it was possible to represent flying around the room — other forced the girl to jump".

In the Studio were about a thousand girls but none like the producers for the role of Regan. Then the casting was joined by Friedkin. Finally, when the list is narrowed down to twelve contenders, Friedkin asked their mothers to read a novel with the girls, so that they then were able to easily discuss the content. After that, many have refused to participate in the filming. "With the rest, says Friedkin, I talked about the book, and, frankly, I was impressed by their ingenuity. Children have changed since I was a kid. All Linda Blair were the least embarrassed by the difficulty of the task and deeper understanding. We are convinced that this role will not bring her harm." Despite the latter circumstance, Blatty insisted that the girl was medically examined and only after that she was admitted to the shootings.

Next to professional actors in the film starred two of the Jesuits, who were consultants at the same time, another priest and a Board of physicians.

The Soviet newspaper "Pravda", 2 February 1974, wrote about the cases of madness caused by viewing the pictures: "Chicago psychiatrist Louis Slan says that after the city began to show this film, he has added patients. Two of the boys, looked a picture, had to send in a psychiatric hospital. Four patients found the devil in themselves, two in their children. Boston every day people call the Catholic center with a request to expel from them evil spirits".

The episode in which Chris MacNeil decided to know the source of the strange noise in the attic, took second place in the rating "the Most scary moments in film", according to Japanese publication Play.com.

January 29, 1974 to the editor the San Francisco Chronicle received a letter in which serial killer zodiac spoke positively about the film "the exorcist". The killer was reported that it was "the best satirical Comedy" he had ever seen.

In "the Version You've never seen" added a few visual effects: — when Regan first comes to Dr. Klein while she is on the EEG, she at the moment sees "white" face of the devil

"White" face of the devil appearing in some scenes the Director's version is a made-up face actress Eileen Dietz.

Some moments in the film was re-made by William Fridkin specifically for the TV version: in the TV version of the Statue of the Immaculate virgin Mary defiled only by the person (in contrast to the extremely obscene theatrical version)

In the scene where the possessed Regan masturbating with a crucifix, the crew resorted to the help of a statistician, namely when the daughter rejects the mother with such force that she flies off to the wall. For the production of this trick to the belt around the waist of the actress attached a thin rope, the supernumerary was located at the rear and had the right moment to pull for him. But the scene directly with the masturbating crucifix was most fully played by Linda Blair, in her words, she was fully aware of what she's doing and what he is trying to portray.

According to the book of Craig Amrica "Barnabas and company: the casting of the TV series Dark Shadows, classic TV", Denise Nickerson was considered for the role of Regan. However, a mother reading in the script "scene of Masturbation with a crucifix" immediately stole the girl.