CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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Hello all,
I’m a first-time poster, but long-term lurker, and I’ve just finished reading Kermode’s BFI book on The Exorcist. Something he mentions a couple of times is the make-up test reel with Eileen Dietz that Friedkin ended up using for the “subliminal” shots of Captain Howdy.
Oh, how I’d love to see that…
Has anything been unearthed? Can I be pointed in the correct direction? Or is this one of those things that the fans will never get the chance to view?
Welcome J73,
There is a makeup test on the Fear of God: 25 Years of the Exorcist included on the 25th Anniversary edition of The Exorcist. However, it includes the various types of makeups Dick Smith tried for the possessed Regan we now see. This is more than likely what Kermode is referring to in the BFI book.
Father Bowdern
Oh, that’s disappointing. Do you really think he’s referring to the funny witchy-looking material?
Maybe I misread/misunderstood the passages. I thought that the Howdy subliminals were spliced in from a test reel, suggesting that there would be more of this footage.
I’m going to have to re-read the book. Perhaps in a less excitable state than before…
J73 said:
Maybe I misread/misunderstood the passages. I thought that the Howdy subliminals were spliced in from a test reel, suggesting that there would be more of this footage.
No you got it right. It is supposedly just a short reel of Dietz mouthing and stretching her face. I don’t think you are missing much of anything.
LOL! Yes. You could be reading more into what Kermode wrote. I would think (not convinced though) that Dietz had to have been shot for a pretty long length of time to get the “subliminals” we see. In fact, if you notice the lighting, background, angles, etc., I would say a pro (like an Assistant Director, etc.) shot the scenes for Friedkin to use.
Father Bowdern
I corresponded via email with Dietz a few years ago, and if memory serves me correctly, I believe she has a copy of this test reel.
What on Earth would possess (pun intended) WB to release a copy of the test reel to Dietz? After watching Dietz’s interview at Shockerfest 2009, she appears to think more of herself than what she really is. If you watch the entire episode, Dietz acts as if she played the role of Regan.
When asked about the Regan figurines released by NECA, she made some rather interesting statements about how odd it was to have figurines that look like her. Uh, I haven’t seen one of Captain Howdy yet. Plus, she has to backtrack about promoting the Planet of the Apes television series. She acts like she starred in the show, when in fact, she only did a small part on ONE show.
Shame on Dietz for saying she has a copy of the test reel. Get real, Eileen and stop making more out of yourself than what you are.
BTW: Dietz said she is writing her own book (yeah, right) about her adventures on the set of The Exorcist. I’m surprised since she sued WB for being uncredited for her bit parts in the film in ’73. I don’t suspect WB will be handing over any “behind-the-scenes” material to her ever. Oh, wait, that’s right … she can use her own copy of the test reel.
Yeesh!
Father Bowdern
Lets face it, near everyone working in Hollywood is prone to massive exaggeration when it comes to self publicity and they are all notoriously litigious to an extreme. In the end Dietz lied no less than Friedkin did, it was just their motivations that were different. Is it possible she has a copy of the reel? Entirely possible, but as a known fibber she can’t be trusted can she.
As to the shooting of the reel. It’s well documented that it was shot by Friedkin not an assistant (there is film of it on one of the youtube clips that Justin has linked to here) supposedly as a makeup test and later optically doubled onto Blair’s visage.
It was allegedly inspired by the Demon mask from Kaneto Shindô’s Onibaba, which Friedkin cited as inspiration, although I’ve always felt it was a direct rip of Lon Chaney Senior’s Phantom of the Opera makeup.
My own feeling was Friedkin probably knew what he was going to do with this footage quite early in production, if not all along. Hence his publicity claims of “strange double exposures” appearing and part of his motivation for wanting to keep Dietz’s involvement quiet and credit free.
Friedkin knew well that Movie Magic is greatly enhanced by the use of the rumour mill to spread disinformation and assist with the casting of the spell on the audience. With the Exorcist he used it to full effect. Even today I only trust 50% of what he tells us about it.
Jagged,
What an erudite commentary! I couldn’t agree more with you on every point.
On another note as to why I don’t believe this information about Dietz having a Captain Howdy reel: Well, if we eliminate Dietz’s grandstanding, I would find it ridiculous that anyone associated with this film would offer an uncredited bit player a test reel of anything.
Huge Hollywood productions like The Exorcist guard their intellectual property, as they should. Even Mark Kermode had to get approval before entering “the vaults of cutting-room floor material” for his FOG documentary.
Does Dietz owns a copy of the Captain Howdy test reel? Sure, she does … and the Pope lives in a dilapidated shack.
Father Bowdern
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