[simonedelcorb]

Hello everyone,

I’m a great fan of Friedkin’s film The Exorcist.

I’ve a question about one mysterious scene in this film. Just after the arrival of Father Merrin in front of the MacNeil’s house, and just after the encounter of two priests, the young governess-helper of the house, named Sharon, descending the stairs (when two men were greeting each other), is shown listening to police conversation through a radio from her post (with earphones), in a kind of cave (basement with a ping-pong table). What does she do exactly? Otherwise this scene seems totaly meaningless… But the great timing with which Kinderman was to appear, on the most crucial moment of the exocism ritual, seems also to me in some connection with what Sharon was listening some moments before.

Thank you very much in advance for all your clarifications!

Simone

[fatherbowdern]

Simone,

Basing my view on the film only, Sharon Spencer is Chris MacNeil’s film assistant … the secretary for Chris … the gopher. The initial insight about who Sharon is occurs when Chris arrives home from shooting on the film Crash Course. Sharon, poised at her typewriter, tells Chris about the dinner invitation at the White House.

The scene you recall is only in the The Exorcist: The Version You’ve Never Seen. Warner Brothers added it back into the newer version to add more tension to what’s about to happen. In essence, the seen is meaningful, but due to the running time of the original film, that quick snippet of Sharon was unfortunately cut back in 1973.

Sharon is situated in the same spot when we first meet her, it only happens to be dark and creates a closed in “cave illusion” that you mention. Sharon is actually listening to a radio station conversation on an AM/FM radio; not a police radio (police scanner). She turns up the volume in an effort to drown out the sounds of what’s going on upstairs. Therefore, Sharon and Kinderman have nothing in common regarding the detective’s arrival.

As an aside, Actress Kitty Winn played Sharon Spencer. She could emote such fear in her eyes and facial expressions that producers of The Exorcist II: The Heretic wanted her in the same role as Regan’s caretaker. Thus, a part was scripted for Kitty Winn and she accepted.

I hope that helps. 🙂

Father Bowdern

[simonedelcorb]

Thank you!

[fatherbowdern]

My pleasure …

Father Bowdern

[Jason Stringer]

I always thought there was a greater meaning to the radio scene in the original Exorcist.  It wasn't until Exorcist III that I was able to make the connection.  In the movie Exorcist III, residents of the mental institution were receiving instructions from their radios.  It is later revealed that Pazuzu is able to use the patients as his puppets in completing the horrid murders.

I think that perhaps Sharon was a hand maiden (unwilling, but no doubt 'evil-touched') of Pazuzu.  RememberFrom the very beginning, Pazuzu was wanting a re-match.  It wants there to be another exorcism.  , Sharon was the one who called Father Karras to show him the etching on Reagan's stomach. This was the final proof before Karras approached his superiors regarding an exorcism.

If I might dare to explore this concept one step further:  In Exorcist II (yeah the movie many people dispise) Sharon has been fully taken in by the demon.  I think the voice came from the radio.. your comments?

[ChillerPop]

Alas, poor, poor crispy fried Sharon.  The wings of the bad locust brushed her….

[Author]

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