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“’The Exorcist is both my own favorite film and the greatest film ever made.” — Mark Kermode, Sight and Sound Magazine
THE EXORCIST
CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 8
Blu-ray™ Includes the Extended Director’s Cut, Theatrical Version
with New Special Features and PremiumsBurbank, Calif. June 20, 2013 – When The Exorcist was first released in 1973, viewers were frightened out of their wits – and literally out of their seats. Now Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) will celebrate the 40thanniversary of Academy Award® winning director William Friedkin’s suspense masterpiece that haunted and intrigued the world, with a new Blu-ray release featuring the Extended Director’s Cut and Theatrical Version with new special features and premiums ($49.99 SRP). Available October 8, just ahead of Halloween, this 40thAnniversary Edition will include two new featurettes: “Beyond Comprehension: William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist” and “Talk of the Devil,” as well as an excerpt from Friedkin’s book The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir.
A true cinema landmark, the theological thriller is one of the top ten box-office performers of all time.* The Exorcist took 10 Academy Award® nominations[1], including Best Picture, and won two Oscars®[2], for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as winning for Best Sound. Subsequently, the film went on to become a multi-million dollar franchise. Directed by Friedkin (Oscar®-winner for The French Connection – Directing 1971) and written by William Peter Blatty, the film is based on his best-selling novel, which sold nearly 13 million copies domestically and was the #1 book on the New York Times Best Seller List for 57 weeks, 17 of them at #1.
Regarding the Extended Director’s Cut, Friedkin says, “After my initial cut, I took out 12 more minutes before we released it in theatres. Years later, Bill Blatty asked if I’d review some of that rejected footage (which he always felt should have remained) with an eye towards putting it back in a new version. In so doing I believe we strengthened the spiritual aspect of the film.”
Celebrated for his directorial role in this seminal film, Friedkin is still very much in the limelight. His new book, The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir, recently published by HarperCollins, extensively discusses the background and casting of The Exorcist. The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films will honor Friedkin this month with their Lifetime Achievement Award for his continually influential work in genre entertainment at this year’s Saturn Awards. In August, Friedkin will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 70thVenice International Film Festival, where he will present the restored version of Warner Bros.’ Sorcerer. And Friedkin and author Blatty will attend a special 40th Anniversary screening of their film at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. on October 30. The film will also have an exclusive theatrical engagement October 31 through November 7th at the AMC Georgetown.
Synopsis
The Exorcist tells the now-famous story of a girl’s demonic possession, and a gripping fight between good and evil. Linda Blair, in a breakout role, plays Regan, a young girl who starts to exhibit strange, arcane behavior. Her mother (Ellen Burstyn, Oscarâ-winner for Best Actress Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore) calls upon a priest, Father Karras (Jason Miller) to investigate. But Karras, who has a spiritual crisis of his own, is suddenly confronted with the unimaginable evil of Regan’s possession. Father Lankester Merrin (Max Von Sydow), an archeologist-priest, is called to help, and a horrific battle for her soul begins.
Special Features:
- Beyond Comprehension: William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist (NEW) 40 years after his novel was published,The Exorcist author, screenwriter and producer returns to where it all began. First stop is a cabin/guest house in the hills of Encino, California, where Blatty wrote the novel. The author visits the place for the first time in 40 years and shares not only memories of writing the book, but also discusses how it inspired him. We then meet Blatty in two key and iconic locations; Georgetown University where the film was shot, and at the now-famous Exorcist steps. Throughout, Blatty reads from his novel, including an excerpt from a chilling newly published passage.
- Talk of the Devil (NEW) – While at Georgetown University, William Peter Blatty heard about a true case of possession from Father Eugene Gallagher. At the time the film came out, the priest talked at length about exorcism, the true story and about Blatty; this footage is now available for the first time in many years. It is as revealing as it is shocking.
- Two Commentaries by William Friedkin
- Commentary by William Peter Blatty
- Introduction by William Friedkin
- 1998 BBC Documentary “The Fear of God: 25 Years of the Exorcist”
- Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist Set footage produced and photographed by Owen Roizman, camera and makeup tests, and interviews with director William Friedkin, actress Linda Blair, author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty and Owen Roizman.
- The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown Then and Now — Featuring a tour of the iconic locations where the film was shot.
- Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist — with director William Friedkin and author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty discussing the different versions of the film and featuring outtakes from the film.
- Original Ending
- Interviews
– The Original Cut
– Stairway to Heaven
– The Final Reckoning - Sketches & Storyboards
- Radio Spots
- TV Spots
- Trailers
Premium:
- Excerpt of The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir
The Exorcist 40th Anniversary Extended Director’s Cut Blu-ray™
Street Date: October 8, 2013
Order Due Date: September 3, 2013
Rated R
Run Time: 132min (Extended Director’s Cut);122 (Theatrical Version)
Pricing: $49.99 SRP
Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.* Source: boxofficemojo.com, adjusted for inflation.
Academy Award(s)® and Oscar(s)® are registered trademarks and services marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Blu-ray Disc™ and Blu-ray™ and the logos are the trademarks of Blu-ray Disc Association.
Warner Home Video Blu-ray Discs™ offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The format also provides a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.[1] 1973 (46th)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE — Jason Miller
ACTRESS — Ellen Burstyn
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE — Linda Blair
ART DIRECTION — Art Direction: Bill Malley; Set Decoration: Jerry Wunderlich
CINEMATOGRAPHY — Owen Roizman
DIRECTING — William Friedkin
FILM EDITING — Jordan Leondopoulos, Bud Smith, Evan Lottman, Norman Gay
BEST PICTURE — William Peter Blatty, Producer
SOUND — Robert Knudson, Chris Newman
WRITING (Screenplay–based on material from another medium) — William Peter Blatty[2] 1973 (46th)
SOUND — Robert Knudson, Chris Newman
WRITING (Screenplay–based on material from another medium) — William Peter BlattyAbout Warner Home Video:
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.
Looking forward to the new Blatty feature but… urgh… they could have put a little more effort into this release. Disappointing, and worrying when it doesn't even mention a new transfer.
I'll be interested to hear how fans feel about this release. Is it our own fault for having unrealistic high hopes, or is this as disappointing as it reads? Please share your thoughts.
The fact that a new transfer isn't mentioned at all worries me. Friedkin raved about it and that could be a real selling point for this release. I'm wondering if they might have hedged their bets and just used the 2010 transfer after all?
It will be great to see the Blatty featurettes, but otherwise, this is a repackaged 2010 release (and even most of that was carried over from 25th Anniversary DVD days). I guess there's only so much they can do with a movie that is getting so old. Still…
Very disappointed with this news.
The new Blatty feature sounds interesting but that's about it. I could care about that tired old case as much as Friedkin and Blatty try to push it was authentic. I heard Friedkin even say the the exorcism was deemed authentic by the Catholic church, which I'm fairly certain is untrue. Read the original diary if you can and you will see just how over-hyped it has been.
That they couldn't be bothered to do better prints or for God's sake a new commentary! That they would throw the world's worst commentary at us yet again makes me cringe!
Just recently watched a fan edit of the movie and that was more exciting to me than the last Blu-Ray release.
Maybe if they would make a special addition with a statue or bust I would get it…….. or just try to buy the statue or bust by itself on eBay…..
Maybe if my older Blu-Ray gets destroyed somehow I would consider buying this but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Greetings! My first post on this wonderfully dedicated site…
In short, I won't be buying this, unless there's the new print confirmed later, which seems unlikely. I've already purchased two copies of the Blu-ray, since the first one's discs became irreparably scuffed.
The new docs will eventually end up online, so there's little point. If they had waited three years and released the existing package, people would be largely delighted.
Friedkin followed me on twitter. 🙂 I just tweeted him, asking to please confirm whether or not the new print is on the bluray. I hope he answers!!
Welcome to the boards, Teddy Headspin (great username). I agree with what you had to say. Sorry you had to buy the original Blu-ray twice already. I did the same but for different reasons– one for watching, one to remain sealed on the shelf.
Thanks for tweeting Friedkin, Sofia. I should do the same. It would be great if he had a response.
Captain Howdy said:
Welcome to the boards, Teddy Headspin (great username). I agree with what you had to say. Sorry you had to buy the original Blu-ray twice already. I did the same but for different reasons– one for watching, one to remain sealed on the shelf.
Thanks for tweeting Friedkin, Sofia. I should do the same. It would be great if he had a response.
Thanks, Howdy.
I know the extended cut has a steelbook edition, but what about the theatrical version?
Wonder if they'll go the digibook route again for the forthcoming release.
Ooh, just saw your post on the new artwork! A beautifully atmospheric alternative to the iconic 'shaft of light' image. Subtle, evocative, portentous.
I won't be forking out $50 bucks for a repeat. I'll just wait for it to hit the $5.00 bin at Walmart when they release the 50th Anniversary. Sad. I was hoping for more but I'm tapped out on buying and re-buying ditto versions that don't include an upgrade to the film. I could care less about the dribble commentaries which will hit the internet the day it's release. Tsk, tsk WB … 2023 try again.
Father B
I don't know if this is any indication of what to expect on the upcoming release but the Italian 40th anniversary re-release trailer is cut using the same print as the first Blu-ray.
Maybe the new print is only available to certain audiences…
Friedkin and author Blatty will attend a special 40th Anniversary screening of their film at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., on October 30. The film will also have an exclusive theatrical engagement October 31 through November 7th at the AMC Georgetown.
It's possible that the 4k version will have a separate, bare-bones release, similar to what Sony are doing with their 'Mastered in 4k' series.
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