âExorcist" - a horror film that has become a classic of the genre, was directed by William Fridkin, who filmed a novel by William Peter Blattie. The authors of the horror took full responsibility for the production of the film âThe Exorcistâ (1973): the actors were selected perfectly, the priest acted as the leading consultant of the film, the author of the monograph series on the obsession was John Nicola, the work of the operators Owen Roizman and Billy Williams was excellent. As a result, the picture was nominated in ten categories for the Academy Award, receiving two. Over the years, the project of William Fridkin has not left the list of 250 best films according to IMDb.
With excessive naturalism
The reaction of the viewer was calculated by the creators psychologically accurately. The screening of the film âThe Exorcistâ (front-end actors E. Burstin, Max von Syudov, L. Blair) in 1973 caused mass hysteria, fainters watching, so ambulances were on duty near the movie theaters. The director is so scrupulous, in all the ugly details, showed the priestâs struggle with the demons that many viewers and film critics accused Fridkin of excessive naturalism. The director of the Exorcist tape (the actors told the creator the whole world in an interview with the media) responded to their attacks: he didnât believe in the existence of Satan, but took up the film adaptation of the novel because it aggravates the fears hidden in every person that help to resist evil in all its manifestations.
The twists and turns of casting
The actors of the film âThe Exorcistâ went through a fierce casting, but as a result, Fridkin and screenwriter and producer William Peter Blatti got exactly those artists whom they wanted to attract to the production of the picture.
Actress Ellen Burstyn, who played the role of Chris McNeill, mother of Regan, agreed to withdraw only after, after fierce debate, the creators agreed to remove her heroineâs phrase: âI believe in the devil!â Initially, there were several contenders for the role of the mother of the main character, including the brilliant Jane Fonda, Geraldine Page and Shirley MacLaine. Audrey Hepburn agreed to take part in the production of the picture only if the shooting took place exclusively in Rome. Anne Bancroft could play Chris , but the actress declined the offer because of her pregnancy. Ellen Burstyn, who became Oscar-winning after participating in the drama âAlice Doesn't Live Here Any More,â was extremely popular and in demand in the 1970s. Her filmography highlights the following projects: Requiem for a Dream, Resurrection, and Mrs. Harris.
Based on personal preferences
Among the performers of the secondary roles were the actors debuting in the movie "Exorcist". Roles were distributed taking into account the personal preferences of the creators. For example, Vasiliki Miliaros, an actress who played the role of Mary Carras, the mother of Carrasâs father, used to shine on the Greek stage. Fridkin, having encountered her in a Greek restaurant, was so struck by the resemblance of the actress to her mother that he invited her to the âExorcistâ. The actress did not see the full version of the picture, she died a year before the premiere at a venerable 90-year-old.
Performers of the roles of priests
Along with professional actors, acting clergymen and two Jesuits starred in films.
The image of Father Dyer was embodied on the screen by the Rev. William O`Malley, who after many more years taught at Fordham University in New York.
The role of the father of Damien Carras was originally approved by the charismatic Jack Nicholson, who at the last moment, having passed the test, flatly refused to participate in the film. Then William Peter Blatty invited actor Stacy Keach and personally approved him for the role. At this time, the tireless director noticed on one of the Broadway productions of Jason Miller and decided that it was he who should play Karras. There is a small conflict between the creators, the winner of which is Fridkin. So Miller, despite the fact that up to this point he had no experience in a big movie, gets the main role in the film "Exorcist."
The actors, casting for the role of priest-archaeologist father Lancaster Merrin, could not stand the competition with the inimitable Max von Syudov. The Swedish actor, who has more than 35 roles on his account, before the start of the production of the project so convincingly played the old priest that the world cinema community attributed to him an obsessed faith in the devil. At the time of the beginning of the production of the picture, the actor was quite young in order to transform himself outwardly into an experienced wise, aging exorcist, the actor had to spend several hours a day in the capable hands of the make-up artist. Max von Syudov is still acting today, in 2015 he played the role of Laura San Tekka in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the Three-Eyed Raven in the Game of Thrones in 2016.
Supporting Actors
Lieutenant William F. Kinderman was played by actor Lee Jay Cobb. This role was the last in his filmography. Immediately after the filming, Lee Jay Cobb died suddenly. The first major roles the American actor played in the films of the forties âAnna and the King of Siamâ and âSong of Bernadetteâ. The actor received his first Oscar nomination for participating in the drama In the Port, and the second for the Brothers Karamazov, a Hollywood film adaptation of Dostoevskyâs novel. One of the most significant roles in his career was recognized and the role in the movie "Exorcist." The actors - Kinderman's colleagues on the set - were happy to collaborate with Frank Sinatra's favorite.
In one of the episodes of the film, the mother of the lead singer Linda Blair Eleanor appeared in the frame, who played the nurse who came to Dr. Tanya after an arteriogram.
Performer of the role of the main character
Despite all the ups and downs of the casting, the main problem of the creators of the film was the choice of the lead singer. Almost a thousand applicants came to the casting, but the producers did not like anyone. Then the director who personally searched for a strong personality with a stable psyche 12 years old took up the search for a leading role. When the list of young actresses was reduced to 20 people, Fridkin forced the applicants and their mothers to read the script and discuss the content. After that, most of those who wish refused to participate in the production of the painting. A special persistence in the struggle for the image of Regan McNeil was shown by the young Linda Blair, who, having passed a medical examination, was approved as a leading woman.
The further career of the actress did not work out particularly well, followed by roles in unsuccessful films like âVictory in Entebbeâ, âExorcist 2â, âTroubleâ, âRed Heatâ and the parody âRelapseâ. According to rumors, the actress was cast in the 2004 prequel of The Exorcist: The Beginning (actors: S. SkarsgĂ„rd, I. Skorupko, D. D'Arcy), but was never approved for the role.