Hi
people. I'm your one hope, your only hope, your 'Exorcist Guru'. My
name is Paul Davis and I've become aquatinted with Picard as he is like me a
fan of William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist. I've been a fan of the movie
since I was nine years-old and have been studying it for a long time now.
Though I haven't yet spoken to members of the cast and crew, I do in fact get
all of my information from the one and only Mark Kermode. He has been very
generous by answering any inquiries I have, and I am willing to do the same for
anyone in the same position.
What we have here is a
page of questions and answers which I come across the most. I hope these do
shine a ray of light on any queries you have, but if not feel to e-mail me at
:- snaggledude@hotmail.com and
I'll be happy to answer your questions about The Exorcist.
Thank You.
Q. Was The Exorcist
based on a true story?
A. William Peter Blatty (writer
and producer) came across an article on August 20th 1949 at Georgetown
University about a so-called case of demonic possession, that was taking place
in Mount Rainer, Maryland. The suggested that a 14-year-old boy went
under some kind of illness in which his personality would turn sinister and
lettering and depiction's would appear in welts on his skin. What actually
happened though? The only evidence is that of the word of the priests who
supposedly witnessed the boy's manifestations.
Q. Was The Exorcist
really released on Christmas Day 1973?
A. No. It was released on
Boxing Day.
Q. Why was The Exorcist
banned and when?
A. It was banned in 1986
under the Video Recordings Act because it was said to be too scary for home
viewing. Especially the fact that it can be a very trying experience for young
girls.
Q. Will The Exorcist
ever be re-released on video in the UK?
A. As Mark Kermode has told
me, Warner would be foolish not to submit The Exorcist for a certificate after
it's success in theaters. As for the BBFC, who knows how they'll approach
this film 25 years later.
Q. When was The Exorcist
released on video in the UK?
A. 1979
Q. What has the St.
Joseph's medal got to do with the story?
A. It's down to
interpretation really. My personal opinion is that the St. Joseph's medal is
Karras' savior. Until it is ripped from his neck and the demon enters his
body. I think of it as a protector.
Q. Was the 25th
Anniversary re-release cut in any way?
A. It is only cut if you're
thinking of the deleted scenes such as the spider-walk, Washington
sight-seeing, Regan's first examination etc. These scenes will unfortunately
never be restored into a full version of the film. Due to certain scenes
missing sound reels, most importantly Regan's dialogue in the sight-seeing trip
and the last reel of sound in the Dyer and Kinderman ending.
Q. Is the death mask in
Karras' dream Jason Miller?
A. No it isn't. That face
was in fact a make-up test with Linda Blair's double Eileen Dietz. This
face was to be Regan's demon make-up but Friedkin rejected it as it wasn't
organic enough. Though he thought it would be powerful if used once in
the movie as Captain Howdy invading Karras' dream of his dead mother. Scary
huh? Mark Kermode found the test reel footage at Warner studios in
Burbank, in which Dietz was violently shaking her head and snapping her mouth
like a rabid animal. Six stills of this 45 second long footage were shown
in Mark Kermode's second BFI book and a one second glimpse in the opening
credits of the Fear Of God documentary.
Q. Why were the missing
scenes cut in the first place?
A. Mainly to cut the film
down to two hours, but all of the scenes have there own reason for being cut.
That's all for now.
Remember, send your questions to snaggledude@hotmail.com