Many Americans felt lost in the 1970s, and one movie spoke to disillusioned times. Opening on Dec. 26, 1973—one day after Christmas—Warner Bros. released The Exorcist as “the scariest movie of all time.” The film brought to life the spirit of the devil within the body of a child, complete with projectile vomiting, levitation, blasphemous curses and head-spinning. It would go on to become a box-office sensation and a cultural phenomenon, and along the way it made Catholic priests into action heroes and teenage girls into feared forces. Fifty years on, admiration and fear of the film remains. It has been copied, stolen from, spoofed and analyzed. The devil may be in the details, but when it comes to The Exorcist, it’s all about the devil—and how the demon emerged as a true and unlikely movie star all across America.
THE STORY OF THE EXORCIST • 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
HOLY UNEXPECTED • MANY AMERICANS FELT LOST IN THE1970S, AND ONE MOVIE SPOKE TO DISILLUSIONED TIMES
1 SOMETHING EVIL • A BRIEF HISTORY OF EXORCISMS BEFORE, AND AFTER, THE EXORCIST
2 STRANGER THAN FICTION • IN 1971, THE EXORCIST FIRST CAME TO LIFE AS A NOVEL
3 THE TWO WILLIAMS • WILLIAM PETER BLATTY AND WILLIAM FRIEDKIN TEAMED UP TO BRING THE EXORCIST TO THE SCREEN
4 A TOUGH ACT • CASTING THE EXORCIST WAS A DIFFICULT PROCESS
5 BEAST AND BURDEN • IN THE NAME OF “REALISM,” DIRECT OR FRIEDKIN PUT HIS STARS THROUGH HELL
6 THE MYSTERY OF GOODNESS • THE ENDING OF THE EXORCIST HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SOURCE OF DEBATE
7 THE PHENOMENON • THE EXORCIST WAS AN UNLIKELY MASS - MARKET BLOCKBUSTER
8 THE MYTHOLOGY • FEW FILMS HAVE EVER BEEN SURROUNDED BY SO MUCH LEGEND AND LORE
9 FOR ALL TIMES • THE EXORCIST WAS A FILM OF ITS MOMENT — AND BEYOND
The Story of The Exorcist - 50th Anniversary Edition
PHOTO CREDITS
THE THE STORY OF EXORCIST 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION • Fifty years on, admiration and fear of “the scariest movie of all time” remains. The Exorcist has been copied, stolen from, spoofed and analyzed.