The Exorcist (1973)

 ●  English ● 2 hrs

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Thrilling and spine-chillingly terrifying, this classic supernatural horror movie is inspired by the 1949 exorcism case of Roland Doe. Deeply embedded in religion and belief in the existence of dark and satanic entities, this horror story deals with the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl and her mother's desperate attempts to win back her child through an exorcism conducted by two priests.
See Storyline (May Contain Spoilers)

Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow

Crew: William Friedkin (Director), Owen Roizman (Director of Photography), Steve Boeddeker (Music Director)

Rating: A (India)

Genres: Horror

Release Dates: 26 Dec 1973 (India)

Tagline: The movie you've been waiting for...without the wait.

Did you know? The real case that inspired William Peter Blatty's novel and screenplay was the 1949 exorcism of a 14-year-old boy, named in press accounts as "Roland Doe" or "Robbie Mannheim". Read More
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as Chris MacNeil
as Father Karras
as Regan
as Father Merrin
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actress
as Burke Dennings
as Sharon
as Lt William Kinderman
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actor
as Father Dyer
Supporting Actor

Direction

Director

Production

Production Company

Distribution

Writers

Screenplay Writer

Camera and Electrical

Director of Photography

Music

Music Director

Art

Art Director

Editorial

Editor
Film Type:
Feature
Language:
English
Colour Info:
Color
Frame Rate:
24 fps
Aspect Ratio:
1.37:1
Stereoscopy:
No
Taglines:
The movie you've been waiting for...without the wait.
Now... Open your eyes to... (1976 re-release)
Something beyond comprehension is happening to a little girl on this street, in this house. A man has been called for as a last resort to try and save her. That man is The Exorcist.
The Devil Inside
The Scariest Movie Of All Time Has Returned. In The Version _You've Never Seen Before_.
Somewhere between science and superstition, there is another world. The world of darkness.
Nobody expected it, nobody believed it, and nobody could stop it. The one hope, the only hope: THE EXORCIST
Movie Connection(s):
Referenced in: Sinister (English)
Referenced in: The Conjuring (English)
Referenced in: Insidious: Chapter 2 (English)
Goofs:
Miscellaneous
The infamous stairs that Father Karras plummets down are indeed adjacent to the house, though the facade of the wing in which Regan's bedroom is located was added for the film.

Revealing Mistakes
Rubber mats are visible on the steps for the famous fall down the staircase scene.

Continuity
The final scene when the family is driving off in the black Mercedes, the badge naming the type of Mercedes changes from Sxxx to a longer German word.

Revealing Mistakes
During the exorcism scene, the plasma bottle and stand are tipped over, and the nearly-full bottle smashes on the floor. No liquid comes out.

Revealing Mistakes
When Karras listens to the recording of possessed Regan backwards, the questions the priest asks her are heard speaking forward. The questions should be heard backwards.

Revealing Mistakes
Wires holding Regan can be clearly seen during the exorcist levitation scenes.

Crew/Equipment Visible
In the birds-eye view of the scene where Damien is running around the track before meeting the detective, there is a fly on the camera lens.

Continuity
When Father Karras visits his mother at her house, he removes his collar and places it edge-wise on the shelf. In the next shot, the collar is lying down at a different angle.

Continuity
During the exorcism scene, the pillows underneath Regan's head disappear and then reappear.

Continuity
When the clock stops, the pendulum stops on the left side of the clock-casing. When the camera cuts back to the clock the pendulum hangs to the right.
Trivia:
The film was nominated for 10 Oscars, but it won just two: Best Sound and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture.

The movie was booked at first in just 26 theaters across the country. Friedkin visited every single one of them before the film's release to ensure that its lighting and sound quality were up to his standards.

The real case that inspired William Peter Blatty's novel and screenplay was the 1949 exorcism of a 14-year-old boy, named in press accounts as "Roland Doe" or "Robbie Mannheim".

"The Exorcist" contained a number of special effects, engineered by makeup artist Dick Smith. In one scene from the film, Max von Sydow is actually wearing more makeup than the possessed girl. This was because director Friedkin wanted some very detailed facial close-ups.