[Sofia]

“It is great seeing all that amazing on the Blu-ray, but I’d also like to just watch it by itself without it being wrapped up in those (kinda cheesy) documentaries.”

I put together the making of footage of the arteriogram scene with some sounds from the movie in the background. I think that scene was actually shot in two days. Friedkin was wearing an orange sweater one day and the next he’s wearing a greenish checkered blouse. –

[fatherbowdern]

Sofia said:

(Although I
have been very curious about what went wrong during those particular scenes …
perhaps an assistant director filmed it … perhaps Blair was having a few “off
days” … we will never know).

 

That was one of the first scenes (if not the first) to be shot with Linda, maybe she was nervous and very camera conscious. She seems more comfortable and natural in the scenes in which she talks about the horse, ouija board, & birthday ideas. What do you think of her acting in those scenes? I love to read your comments on this subject. 🙂

Sof … excellent capture of the dated clapboard! Filming began on August 14, 1972. Therefore, your rationale for Blair's camera-conscious, sophomoric acting is perfectly sound. It certainly would explain why the acting is so inconsistent with the remaining performance that Blair pulled off so effectively. You may agree that I don't think we can isolate the doctor's office visit to just Blair as Blatty and Friedkin did not flesh out or work more thoroughly on the realism. For that, I can see why Friedkin removed the scene from the original.

Blair's other scenes? Again, I can't imagine another actress in the role. The part required a newbie with the elements that Blair possessed (no pun intended). Casting an unknown actress who worked well with mostly seasoned professionals was a slam dunk.

In the non-possessed Regan role, Blair stands out in the Chris/Regan bedroom/birthday-discussion scene. That scene offers a genuine insight into the closeness of the mother and daughter relationship. When Burstyn removes the eyelash from Regan's cheek and repeats the action because she didn't get it the first time is either extremely well-written and well-delivered or it was an incredible ad-lib that Burstyn added and Blair followed along with perfectly.

Father Bowdern

[Sofia]

“It certainly would explain why the acting is so inconsistent with the remaining performance that Blair pulled off so effectively.”

 

This sequence was also shot in September of 1972 and I thought her acting was better here than in the first doctor's office scene.

 

 

oh gosh, some of the exorcism scenes were shot in the summer of 1972 so those were the first scenes to be shot with Linda! I remember someone saying in “Fear of God” how weird it was to see actual breath in the middle of the summer..

 

“Blair's other scenes? Again, I can't imagine another actress in the role.”

Touchy subject for me.. 😉 I can never imagine Linda as Regan while reading the novel.

 

In the non-possessed Regan role, Blair stands out in the Chris/Regan bedroom/birthday-discussion scene.

Yeah, I think she's really natural there. That scene was shot months before the ouija board scene, the ouija was one of the last scenes to be filmed with Linda. I think that was a mistake, she looks 14 there when she's supposed to be playing an 11 year old.

[fatherbowdern]

Sofia said:

“It certainly would explain why the acting is so inconsistent with the remaining performance that Blair pulled off so effectively.”

 

“This sequence was also shot in September of 1972 and I thought her acting was better here than in the first doctor's office scene.”

 

It makes sense that this scene was shot then as well for some continuity and financial reasons. This is the scene in which we see the other side of Regan … the rebellious; the exhausted from torment; the spit-in-your face, “You fuckin' bastard!,” and exposed Regan. Captain Howdy's influence is certainly wearing off on Regan.

It's pivotal scene regarding Regan's character and I can imagine that Friedkin worked more on this scene to show that transitional side of Regan than any other as we can see from the other unestablished scenes of Blair's acting in the doctor's office.

 

 

“oh gosh, some of the exorcism scenes were shot in the summer of 1972 so those were the first scenes to be shot with Linda! I remember someone saying in “Fear of God” how weird it was to see actual breath in the middle of the summer..”

I can imagine that the roster of shooting is still around somewhere. It did “snow in the middle of summer” in that freezer room.

 

“Blair's other scenes? Again, I can't imagine another actress in the role.”

“Touchy subject for me.. 😉 I can never imagine Linda as Regan while reading the novel.”

This is why novels from the masters like Blatty allow the readers to envision their own version of characters through either subtle or extremely explicit descriptors.

 

In the non-possessed Regan role, Blair stands out in the Chris/Regan bedroom/birthday-discussion scene.

“Yeah, I think she's really natural there. That scene was shot months before the ouija board scene, the ouija was one of the last scenes to be filmed with Linda. I think that was a mistake, she looks 14 there when she's supposed to be playing an 11 year old.”

Fourteen? I think she looks likes she's ready to ask her mom for the keys to the car!  Oh, God, I grimace at the clothes back then as I remember them well. Talk about mistakes!

 

Love,

FatherB
 

[Sofia]

“It makes sense that this scene was shot then as well for some continuity and financial reasons.”

 

Friedkin said that the Doctor's office scenes/ bedroom scenes/ Exteriors, were the first scenes to be filmed and they were all done together.

 

“This is why novels from the masters like Blatty allow the readers to envision their own version of characters through either subtle or extremely explicit descriptors.”

 

when you are reading the novel, who do you visualize as the characters?

 

“Fourteen? I think she looks likes she's ready to ask her mom for the keys to the car!”

LOL! Not that old! But I read that scene was shot around April/May 1973 so Linda was already 14.

 

Aww, I love 70s clothes!

[fatherbowdern]

Sofia said:

“It makes sense that this scene was shot then as well for some continuity and financial reasons.”

 

Friedkin said that the Doctor's office scenes/ bedroom scenes/ Exteriors, were the first scenes to be filmed and they were all done together.

 

Sof, do you remember where when Friedkin was talking about this? I really wish there were shooting timeline script just out of curiosity.

 

“This is why novels from the masters like Blatty allow the readers to envision their own version of characters through either subtle or extremely explicit descriptors.”

 

when you are reading the novel, who do you visualize as the characters?

 

My sister-in-law gave me the book after she read it when it was a phenom. I can't really recall how I defined each character in mind, but I could envision what Blatty described. No celebrities came to mind except perhaps the character of Chris because she was an actress just like our beloved Shirley who should have had the role.

 

“Fourteen? I think she looks likes she's ready to ask her mom for the keys to the car!”

LOL! Not that old! But I read that scene was shot around April/May 1973 so Linda was already 14.

 

Ah well, Linda did fit the role perfectly as far as body size and stature.  🙂

 

Aww, I love 70s clothes!

 

That's fine … let's just keep the bell bottom blue jeans and polyester leisure suits out.

 

XXOO,

FatherB

[Sofia]

“Sof, do you remember where when Friedkin was talking about this? I really wish there were shooting timeline script just out of curiosity.”

 

Yes, FatherB =D He talks about this on the Fear of God commentary.

This is what I remember him saying: “We didn't really shoot in continuity. All of the exteriors were done together. Some of the Doctor offices were filmed in New York.. everything that had to be done in New York was filmed at one time.”

 

“Linda did fit the role perfectly as far as body size and stature.  :)”

 

She didn't have the body size of a slender eleven-year-old.

 

I take it that you read the novel before watching the movie, FatherB?

 

“let's just keep the bell bottom blue jeans and polyester leisure suits out.”

 

HAHA! you're so funny! I do love bell bottom blue jeans, though. =D

Much Love back, Xxx

[fatherbowdern]

Sofia said:

“Sof, do you remember where when Friedkin was talking about this? I really wish there were shooting timeline script just out of curiosity.”

 

Yes, FatherB =D He talks about this on the Fear of God commentary.

This is what I remember him saying: “We didn't really shoot in continuity. All of the exteriors were done together. Some of the Doctor offices were filmed in New York.. everything that had to be done in New York was filmed at one time.”

 

Sof, it does make sense because producers don't like wasting the money for back and forth locations. “Northern Iraq” scenes began filming last vs. first as they appear in the film. 

 

“Linda did fit the role perfectly as far as body size and stature.  :)”

 

She didn't have the body size of a slender eleven-year-old.

 

Awww … in the 1970s, Linda was considered slender … she just happened to be well-endowed up top!

 

I take it that you read the novel before watching the movie, FatherB?

 

As I recall, I had read the novel prior to seeing the film. However, my mind is beginning the lapse on early childhood references.

 

“let's just keep the bell bottom blue jeans and polyester leisure suits out.”

 

HAHA! you're so funny! I do love bell bottom blue jeans, though. =D

Much Love back, Xxx

As always, much love back at you … even if you are wearing bell bottom jeans with a polyester knit top! (I love your awesome inset picture of The Brady Bunch!)

 

Father B

[Sofia]

“Awww … in the 1970s, Linda was considered slender … she just happened to be well-endowed up top!”

 

I mean slender like Sachi was or Nicoletta Elmi was. 😉 I really can’t say that Linda fit the role perfectly because she doesn’t look anything like Regan of the novel.

 

 

 

“

As always, much love back at you … even if you are wearing bell bottom jeans with a polyester knit top! (I love your awesome inset picture of The Brady Bunch!)”

 

LOL, actually I'm not wearing any bell bottom blue jeans.

Yeaaah I Love The Brady Bunch! 😀

 

[fatherbowdern]

Sofia said:

“Awww … in the 1970s, Linda was considered slender … she just happened to be well-endowed up top!”

 

I mean slender like Sachi was or Nicoletta Elmi was. 😉 I really can't say that Linda fit the role perfectly because she doesn't look anything like Regan of the novel.

 

 

 

“

As always, much love back at you … even if you are wearing bell bottom jeans with a polyester knit top! (I love your awesome inset picture of The Brady Bunch!)”

 

LOL, actually I'm not wearing any bell bottom blue jeans.

Yeaaah I Love The Brady Bunch! 😀

 
 

Sof,

I wonder if we look really closely at the film that Linda's body indeed matures a little. She was 13 when filming began and then had a her 14th birthday, right? Didn't it take almost a year of sporadically filming Blair? That could explain some of the differences. For instance, I think Blair looks much older in the introductory scene in the kitchen where Regan explains what she did for day to Chris; i.e., riding the horse in the park. Then she looks younger during the doctor's office visit.

Looking at the pictures above, I agree that stature would have made quite a difference. However, Blair already outgrew the size that Sachi and Nicoletta represent in the pics and Friedkin interviewed over 200 actresses, right?

Oh well, coulda, woulda, shoulda.

I'm going to the mall now to buy you a pair of bell bottom jeans! 

Father B

[Sofia]

 

What do you think of my edited Linda looking like Regan of the novel, FB?  😉 If she looked anything like this, then she would have fit the role perfectly.

Will you mail the jeans to me? 😀

xxHugs

[fatherbowdern]

Sofia said:

 

What do you think of my edited Linda looking like Regan of the novel, FB?  😉 If she looked anything like this, then she would have fit the role perfectly.

Will you mail the jeans to me? 😀

xxHugs

 

Sof,

How the heck did you edit that? It's great! It looks like Regan with braces and all (something that not a lot of film viewers know about).

Yes, I will mail you the jeans as long as you put a picture right here on the site!  🙂

xxxooo back at ya,

Father B

[Sofia]

Father Bowdern said:

 

Sof,

How the heck did you edit that? It's great! It looks like Regan with braces and all (something that not a lot of film viewers know about).

Yes, I will mail you the jeans as long as you put a picture right here on the site!  🙂

xxxooo back at ya,

Father B

 

I edit the pics on Photo Express! :D   Here's another -  Yep, with braces/red hair/freckles/blue eyes.

She really looks like Regan of the novel in my edited pix. xxx

OH, sure, I'll put a pic of the jeans on the site, haha!

 

Here's the original capture in case you'd like to compare the two - 

[epicwin123]

Wow Sof, that is amazing! She looks really sweet and innoccent!

[fraroc]

I still think Linda Blair is too perfect for Regan. The beautiful clear skin, brunette hair, and sweet little innocent round face 🙂 I hope one day I have a daughter that looks like her 🙂

[Author]

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