Who is Mary Jo Perrin?

Mary Jo also had a very small speaking part in the film, but it was cut. Hence, her name in the credits. Merry Jo was the first to appear at Chris's party along with her teenage son, Robert, who came with her. Mary Jo's primary role was the introduction of the Ouija Board. This is the one that Regan stumbles upon in the basement closet. However, Mary Jo's part is more mysterious in the novel, adding yet another layer to what Regan's “condition” might be attributed to (Ouija Board and a book on witchcraft).

Sofia is the best source for answering questions regarding the novel.

Father Bowdern

Also note the “err” in Mary Jo Perrin's name – different in only one letter from hero Merrin's name.

Blatty named characters that have an “AIR” sound in their pronunciation, e.g. “Merrin/Perrin” = “mAIRen/pAIRen”.

There's also “Jerris”, Chris' manager, and, of course, Damien Karras.

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?

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

Father Bowdern said:

 “Mary Jo's primary role was the introduction of the Ouija Board. This is the one that Regan stumbles upon in the basement closet. However, Mary Jo's part is more mysterious in the novel, adding yet another layer to what Regan's “condition” might be attributed to (Ouija Board and a book on witchcraft).”

 

Seems her role was too important to keep unmentioned in the film. I always thought (even when I was a kid) that extra scenes of Regan playing with the Ouija board would have been not only appropriate, but necessary to the narrative in the movie. It's one of my few, yet longstanding gripes with the film. 

 

“Incidentally”, how did the Ouija board end up in the downstairs closet? Chris MacNeil didn't know it was in there, and Regan “found” it there. So who put it there? Mary Jo herself? Hmm….