[granville1]

In October, I was called down to Washington to shoot the toughest scene (absolving Karras after his plunge from the window). It was a rush call, so I dashed around getting assignments prepared and classes covered. Then I shot down to DC – to wait. It was two days before we even rehearsed the death scene, and about four before we actually filmed it.

But when it came, what a night! It was freezing cold and we were all be-longjohned. Jason Miller (Father Karras) lay in a prking lot at the bottom of the 80 stone steps dropping from Prospect Street to M Street. In the film, I rush down those steps to my friend. Between rehearsals and takes, I ran down (and up!) those stairs about 15 times before the night was through. By then I was in good enough shape for the Penn Relays.

We shot the scene about five times from each of three angles, with a few close-ups. Each change of angle meant a delay, so we sat in a camper to warm up with Irish coffee. It is an odd sensation drinking with a man you have just given the last rites to.

Now when it was 2 A.M. and freezing cold, and you have seen your best friend die 15 times in a row, you have really got to pull the emotion from your guts. So just as we started the last take, Billy came over and asked me if I trusted him. When I said of course I did, he belted me right across the chops.

I knew exactly why he had done it. I went into that scene absolutely shaken. As I gave Karras absolution, my hand trembled uncontrollably. I was shattered, sobbing. When I finished, I stood up weak-kneed and leaned against the stone wall, utterly drained. I was sure that John Barrymore could not have done better.

Finally Thanksgiving came and we knew we would not be home for the holiday. To take the sting out, Bill Blatty and Billy Friedkin threw a cocktail party and dinner for the whole cast and crew. I said I would say Mass at the hotel just before the party for anyone who wanted to come, but I did not know how many would show. By seven there were 50 people – Blatty, Friedkin, actors, crew, teamsters. That night we knew we had a family away from home.

In mid-December we filmed the last scene, the party. It was the first time I had worked in the studio. It was also the first time I had played the piano in 30 years! All summer I had practiced “Down on Toity Toid and Toid”, and I still sounded like a less than talented four-year-old. But once again, Bill saved me: “It is very late. You have a had a bit too much to drink. Make a few mistakes.” He certainly had the right man.

Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it was done. Like Dorothy and her three friends, I had found that the end of the Yellow Brick Road is not what you expected when you set out. It is a million times better. And it was worth every step.

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The End

copyright The Catholic Digest

[Blizzi]

Cutesy-flip! I love that guy! Thanks also for giving me the answer to whether or not Karras getting the last rites was Jason or the stunt-double… It makes more sense this way. Drinking coffee with a man you’ve just given last rites to… That must have been… surreal… I wouldh’ve gotten a kick outta that for sure!

[granville1]

Thanks, Blizzi. I unearthed several 70s articles that I will post here this weekend – one is an interview with Fr. O’Malley.

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