[fatherbowdern]

Jagged said:

You see now, I always thought The Exorcist was so successful because it made most of us consider the concept of the Devil's existence for the first time in decades. It was like being confronted with a new terrifying possibility.

People tend to forget we'd just been through a kind of new enlightenment in the 60s and religion had been pretty much disregarded in general culture. As I recall when the book and film appeared the word “Exorcist” was rarely bandied around, so much so that TV programs (at least here in the U.K.) had to go to the length of explaining it's meaning when discussing the film.

Whereas since The Exorcist appeared the concept of demon's and God and the Devil has been done to death in cinema and popular culture so many times the original work can't possibly have the same effect on new audiences.

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Jagged, these were the same observations for the U.S. I was raised Catholic and the words related to exorcism were never brought up in any fashion until the book and film hit. In particular, the film raised the most consciousness in all religions across the board. America was, and in many ways still is, anti-Catholic.

[fatherbowdern]

“… she probably in that age where she could of been going through poverty…”

Yes, “poverty” often works that in young girls.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

You both have great imaginations … onward!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

I'm losing focus on the members participating in the Sims. What are the ages, sexes, and locations of Sofia, Fraroc, and Epic? I'm getting you mixed up.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Justin said:

Father Bowdern said:

Mary Jo also had a very small speaking part in the film, but it was cut. Hence, her name in the credits.

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Is any of her dialogue present in that alternate/early draft of the script?

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Justin, from what I recall Mitchell had a short conversation with O'Malley on the couch during the party. I grew up in the era of daytime, afternoon, evening, and late night talk shows. When The Exorcist became a phenomenon, I can recall the film's major and minor actors hitting these shows to promote it even more (of course, WB was paying their bill). Honestly, I don't think we had a day go by without some kind of promotion on talk shows.

Perhaps this is also among the other lost treasures that you and I want to see on the 40th anniversary edition that we dream of having. I wish that WB would have bowed out regarding the running time and forcing Friedkin to cut out “unnecessary evils.”

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Count me in as supporter for including all the missing media … all of it. True fans could care less about quality in both terms of film or sound. WE are the ones that care and there are a lot of us from several different generations.

The Exorcist: The Ultimate Collection – 40 Years of Terror

Father bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Sofia said:

“Btw on the old novel cover, the one with the picture of the black haired grudge chick? Was that actually a pic of Sachi or another girl?”

 

Shirley says it is but Blatty says it isn't. ;) It does look like a distorted image of her face though.

 

 

 

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Sof, such a plethora of information! I'm still inclined to believe Shirley. I have no clue why she would spin the tale, when it is in fact easier for Blatty to negate.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

For the question about weaknesses, think toward the positives of what a 12-year-old may have on her mind. “Weaknesses” are not necessarily all-encompassing negatives; i.e., Regan has a weakness for cookies that may ruin her dinner.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Captain Howdy Dance Sequence – Song 11 – “Possession” by Whitechapel

Eyes are glaring red with a conscious set to kill
Nostrils flared and the eyebrows parallel
Thriving on the chaos and the suffering I have caused on you all
A dispute of man and diabolical beasts
How could one cipher such a malevolent being
I am certain of humanity's demise
We are the disease that spreads amongst this filthy race
I am certain of humanity's demise
Man will inspire the works of a new era of corruption
Now that I can control the orifice of mankind
I gladly inform, you're all in a world of shit
Coprophagia would be the only solution
Open your fucking mouth and ingest what you are
Silent you will remain while I invoke my presence on your world
Urges I must satisfy again and again
Inside a shell festering is the mind of a bastard child
Cover the earth with the blood of this lamb
We are the disease that spreads amongst this filthy race
Collect the dust of the ones who have fallen to the lies
It is your last resort to a wretched memory
Take this life for granted and hold it tight
For we have you all under control because
We are the disease
For we have you all under control
Man will inspire the works of a new era of corruption
God damn you all
Eyes are glaring red with a conscious set to kill
Nostrils flared and the eyebrows parallel
God damn you all

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

He's going on a “concert tour” with his almost-180-degree neck. LOL! I bet it will be short concert!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

I agree. I saw the 25th anniversary and the blu-ray version in theaters. I went to incredible theaters with outstanding sound. I do believe some of us were temporarily deaf after leaving the theater. I'd seen the movie a ton of times and I wasn't expecting the telephone ringing that scares Karras to ruffle my feathers as much as it did. Holy Cow! A theater employee said that WB's distribution channel asked for the loudest volume level as possible despite other films playing in the theater. I can’t imagine how the young kids felt when they passed the doors and heard some of Blatty’s incredible demonic dialogue.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

LMAO! We've needed a topic like this for quite a while now. See what you've done, Cap? You've released a twisted creative license to those who dwell here!
 

Regan and Captain Howdy Dance Sequence – Song 9 – “Shall We Dance” modified from the King and I:
 

 

Regan:

We've just been introduced,
I do not know you well,
But when the music started something drew me to your side,
You remind me of something perhaps from hell,
You possess so many girls,
I hoped my body would too be occupied

 
 

Captain Howdy:

Shall we dance, on the embers of my hell?
Shall we fly?
Shall we dance?
Shall we then say goodnight and mean goodbye?
Or per chance, when you believe I’ll lie?
Shall we still be together with our arms about each other?
And shall you be my new romance?
On the clear understanding that this kind of thing will happen?
Shall we dance, shall we dance, shall we dance?

 Father Bowdern

 
 

 

 

 

[fatherbowdern]

granville1 said:

Father Bowdern said:

Ah, got you … I will definitely look for this. BTW, I love those scenes in the Iraqi dig. Of particular note, whether by “nature or nurture,” I find it very unique that a fly lands on Merrin's hand when he inspects the Pazuzu amulet.

Father Bowdern

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Yes, like you say, whether by design or not, the sound engineers crank up the bee-buzzing around that moment, iirc – I thought it was flies buzzing until I found out it was really bees… first time I saw the Merrin fly and heard the bee-buzzing the thought popped into my mind, “How clever – suggesting Beelzebul, the 'Lord of the Flies'.”
Looking forward to more conversations, right now I need to head for bed.

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That's true about the bee-buzzing sound while Merrin breaks away the clumped soil and then brushes away a part of the dirt. I often played out a scenario in my mind that Friedkin intentionally had hundreds of flies released until he got that perfect shot. I guess I am truly easy to amuse with the musings running around in my head.

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Steve Dunlap said:

You're right, Father. :)  I completely misread….and forgot. :)  It was Chris, not Kinderman.   Oy…I need my Wheaties. 😀

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Oh, boy, we are probably the only two on here that remember the old Wheaties commericials!

Father Bowdern

[fatherbowdern]

Ah, got you … I will definitely look for this. BTW, I love those scenes in the Iraqi dig. Of particular note, whether by “nature or nurture,” I find it very unique that a fly lands on Merrin's hand when he inspects the Pazuzu amulet.

Father Bowdern

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