CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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Jane Fonda turning down the role of Chris MaCeil stating “Why would I want to be involved with a capitalist rip-off piece of shit like this?”.
I don't think this movie no matter how well written and directed would have been well recieved with that treasonous bitch in the lead role.
You know what’s interesting is that throughout Fonda’s career, she has never mentioned this statement publicly. What you are referring to is heresay only because Friedkin quoted Fonda as saying that. I believe it was used as a movie buzz to get even more attention to throw light on the film … and it’s been successful because people still believe it.
Father BI think this was mentioned for the first time in the book, “The Story Behind The Exorcist” (1974) by Peter Travers, and Friedkin talked about it in the “Fear Of God” documentary.
The Fonda incident, iirc, is recalled directly by Blatty in his The Exorcist from Novel to Screen, Bantam 1974.
granville1 said:
The Fonda incident, iirc, is recalled directly by Blatty in his The Exorcist from Novel to Screen, Bantam 1974.
Oh, yes, that's right, but I'm sure it was also mentioned in The Story Behind The Exorcist. Both books were published in 1974.
I think the biggest bullet this movie dodged was in the casting of Father Karras. I cannot even imagine another actor that could play his brilliant part…except perhaps for a young Robert De Niro. Friedkin was right on the money by hiring him and firing the other actor set to play him (I believe it was Stacy Keach…but I might be wrong). Jason Miller is the glue that holds this brilliant film together. Without him, I believe the film would not have worked so strongly.
Yes. I love Keach, but he just doesn't have “that dark Greek look” the the light-skinned, non-Greek Jason Miller still managed to get across, especially when his right profile is photographed. Something about the nose and the deep-set eyes, I think.
RatBoy said:
“Jane Fonda turning down the role of Chris MaCeil stating “Why would I want to be involved with a capitalist rip-off piece of shit like this?”. I don't think this movie no matter how well written and directed would have been well recieved with that treasonous bitch in the lead role.”
This is a new one for me. Never heard about that weird comment from Jane Fonda before. Thanks RATBOY. But was she refering to the movie or the role?
I know Shirley McLaine, Audrey Hepburn and Anne Bancroft were candidates for the Chris McNeil role.
jguthrie said:
“I think the biggest bullet this movie dodged was in the casting of Father Karras. I cannot even imagine another actor that could play his brilliant part…except perhaps for a young Robert De Niro. Friedkin was right on the money by hiring him and firing the other actor set to play him (I believe it was Stacy Keach…but I might be wrong).”
You are right. It was Stacy Keach. Jack Nicholson was also a very strong candidate for the role of Karras. Marlon Brando was also a candidate for the role of father Merrin. Friedkin rejected both. He did not want the audience to go see the movie because of Brando and Nicholson. Thats why he opted for virtually unknown actors for the movie, like Linda Blair. A decision that trully paid off.
The only person to have “suffered” from “THE EXORCIST”'s success was radio actress Mercedes McCambridge. She was un-credited for her voice of the demon in the movie. For some reason Warner Bros. tried to hide this from the public and lead to a lawsuit from McCambridge. It finally resulted in a open grudge between her and Friedkin that lasted until the day she died. So sad.
“For some reason Warner Bros. tried to hide this from the public and lead to a lawsuit from McCambridge.”
Mercedes McCambridge deserved the credit! Friedkin tried to hide it because he wanted the audience to believe that Linda had dubbed the demon's voice, so it wouldn't ruin her chances of winning the Oscar. 😮
*IF* anyone wanted the truth that Linda didn't voice the demon for the sake of her getting an Oscar, I'd say the studio would be more interested in that, rather than Friedkin.
Having said that, it is quite evident that Friedkin didn't want it known a popular actress voiced Pazuzu. The Exorcist was deliberately cast without A-list actors so the realism could be found in his documentary style. Knowing the demonic voice was Mercedes would have lessened the impact quite a lot for the audience, so I understand him wanting to keep the credit secret. I just wish they could have articulated this to her and avoided the debacle it became.
Captain Howdy said:
*IF* anyone wanted the truth that Linda didn't voice the demon for the sake of her getting an Oscar, I'd say the studio would be more interested in that, rather than Friedkin.
Having said that, it is quite evident that Friedkin didn't want it known a popular actress voiced Pazuzu. The Exorcist was deliberately cast without A-list actors so the realism could be found in his documentary style. Knowing the demonic voice was Mercedes would have lessened the impact quite a lot for the audience, so I understand him wanting to keep the credit secret. I just wish they could have articulated this to her and avoided the debacle it became.
So true. I can clearly remember in the 1970's when McCambridge went on every talk show to prove her presence in the film. I am old enough to remember the daily turmoil and chaos the film created and it was great fodder for most media outlets at that time.
Anyway, back to Fonda. Whether she was quoted directly (or more likely indirectly to arouse even more publicity), I can never see Barbarella playing Blair's mother!
Father B
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