The Exorcist

The Exorcist is a movie first released in 1973, based on the 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty, which was based on the case of Robbie Mannheim. The novel and the movie depict a girl possessed by the devil and efforts at exorcism by a priest at the request of the girl's mother, an actress visiting Washington, D.C. It had several sequels, the first of whom (1977) featured the same actress (Linda Blair) as the possessed girl from the first film.

The movie caused a national sensation in the United States and was successful worldwide despite attempts at censorship in many countries. It broke the record for the biggest grossing movie of all time, and was nominated for ten Academy Awards. But liberals disliked its disturbing depiction of the devil and its favorable characterization of Christianity, so it won only two minor Oscars despite being nominated for Best Picture, garnering only Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.^[1]

In the more atheistic United Kingdom, this film was banned from cinema, television and video release from 1984 to 1998, due to its disturbing themes and content.

It was re-released in 2000 with the original edited scenes reinstated. It is widely credited as being the most successful film of the horror genre and considered a landmark piece of film-making in general.

The movie was filmed in Georgetown and includes many scenes that have since become famous. The film's depiction of the Roman Catholic Church is more respectful than in most modern films.

Mishaps when filming the devil[edit]

Mishaps are to be expected when doing a film about the devil. Projectile vomit intended to hit the priest in his chest, instead hit directly in his face. His shock as captured in the film, in its first and only take of that scene, was genuine.^[2]

In another scene, an experienced actor completely forgot his lines after hearing the girl say the lines of the devil.^[2]

Promotional image inspired by a surrealistic painting[edit]

Its promotional image as used on its DVD release was inspired by a surrealistic painting by René Magrit, The Empire of Light.^[3]

References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.filmsite.org/exor.html
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv
3. ↑ https://learnodo-newtonic.com/rene-magritte-famous-paintings

See also[edit]

• The Exorcist in the 21st Century
• The Exorcism of Emily Rose