Linda Blair in ‘The Exorcist’
12-year-old Linda Blair as the possessed child in The Exorcist.
12-year-old Linda Blair as the possessed child in The Exorcist.
William Friedkin in 1973 on the set of Exorcist, which, he recalls today, “I had to keep light. It was tough physically, but if it had got too deep, it would have been very disturbing.”
Bill Blatty, who had a cameo in the film, at New York’s Fordham University set.
Writer-producer Blatty (center), discussing a scene with Jason Miller and Ellen Burstyn. Although Miller, a playwright, had not previously acted on film, he reminded Friedkin of ’40s leading man John Garfield, a reference Blatty added to the script.
Jack MacGowran (center) played a film director who meets a grim end in Exorcist.
Friedkin today with his wife Sherry Lansing. He most recently directed the 2012 crime tale Killer Joe.
Max von Sydow’s Father Merrin approaches the Georgetown home where the possession takes place as light from a window cuts through fog in an image inspired by a Magritte painting.
After Friedkin objected to initial poster designs, Warners borrowed one of the film’s most iconic shots: Von Sydow’s Father Merrin approaches the Georgetown home where the possession takes place as light from a window cuts through fog in an image inspired by a Magritte painting.
From left: Linda Blair, Max von Sydow and Jason Miller worked on a set that was kept refrigerated so their breath would register onscreen.
The casting of veteran Lee J. Cobb, who played Lt. William Kinderman, reassured the studio, which feared the movie lacked name actors.
Ellen Burstyn campaigned for her part, which in Blatty’s original novel was inspired by Shirley MacLaine.
"'There is a woman out here named Elinore Blair with her 12-year-old daughter. Doesn’t have an appointment, but wonders if you would see her.' It wasn’t my immediate reaction to say yes, but I said OK — something like fate comes in. The moment she walked in the door, I knew she was the one. She was bright, effervescent. She had never acted before, but she wasn’t afraid or intimidated," said Friedkin on casting 12-year-old Linda Blair.