The Exorcist: The Making of a Classic (by Trevor Willsmer)

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  • #13511
    Justin
    Participant

    Real rarity – 48-page lavishly illustrated softcover book produced for the anniversary DVD boxed set but never released. Written by Trevor Willsmer with full access to Warner Bros. archives and production records, and drawing on new and exclusive interviews with William Friedkin, Linda Blair, Owen Roizman, Lalo Schfrin, Dick Smith and others, this is NOT the version by Mark Kermode released in the boxed set but an earlier edition that was sent out to promote the film's UK theatrical reissue.

    Anyone got a copy of this? I just bought one on ebay, eager to see what's inside!

    #23460
    Jason Stringer
    Keymaster

    Honestly never heard of it. Very interesting! Hopefully it contains even more rarities!

    #23461
    Justin
    Participant

    I had never heard of it before, either!

    There's another up on ebay from the same seller. Also on Amazon:

    This book was not given a proper release for unclear reasons,
    either because William Friedkin complained or because the same company
    commissioned two books at the same time. It depends who you ask.
    There's a book with the same layout and title by Mark Commode that
    went in the 25th anniversary video boxed set a few years ago.
    This one was sold only in cinemas showing the film in 1998 and is
    much better. The text is completely different and much more
    detailed about the making of the film. It doesn't just have
    interviews with lots of the main players like Friedkin or Linda Blair
    or makeup genius Dick Smith. It even interviews people like Lalo
    Schifrin who's score was thrown out of the film. There are quotes
    from studio memos, rare articles, great pictures, everything you
    ever wanted to know about the greatest horror film ever. It is a
    bit short on pages for the money but it's fact packed more than the
    other books on the film. This has been available at conventions and
    book fairs for a while but I think Amazon is the only bookshop to
    have this edition. Love The Exorcist? You'll want this.

    #23463
    Jason Stringer
    Keymaster

    I may have to bid on this. It's relatively low. (Tricky GBP, though).

    #23465
    DamienKarras
    Participant
    #23466
    Justin
    Participant

    ^ That's the Mark Kermode version, which is in the 25th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set.

    #23468
    fatherbowdern
    Participant

    Justin,

    Post some pics of this when you get it. I believe I have a version of this buried in a packing box. You can “ring some bells in my head” when you get it. Honestly, I'm a little ashamed at the stuff I bought over the years and just threw them in packing boxes when I moved. They will be wonderful memorabilia when I have the strength and time to unbury the goods.

    BTW, didn't someone post an exact picture of this BR saying it belonged to them? Look here. Maybe we have a CH.com fan and eBay seller all in one?

    Father Bowdern

    #23469
    fatherbowdern
    Participant

    Justin,

    The book (duh) that looks like this one?

    Father Bowdern

     

    Postscript: The link to this item located here. I had several copies of this at one time all signed by Blair on the Senitype. I would venture to say without 100% certainty that this copy is also signed by Blair. The seller guarantees it is new and “The Shrinkwrap Is Slightly Torn On The Side; It Still Remains On The Box, You'll Be The First To Remove It Completely.” Chuckles from a professional!

    #23470
    Justin
    Participant

    Yep, it looks like that – but that's the Kermode version, ain't it? The Trevor Willsmer one has the same cover but apparently different content.

    BTW, didn't someone post an exact picture of this BR saying it belonged
    to them? Look here. Maybe we have a CH.com fan and eBay seller
    all in one?

    I posted the picture from that auction just as an example.

    #23471
    fatherbowdern
    Participant

    Whew … thanks for the update on the pic. I thought I was seeing things.  Laughing

    Take a look at the above post about the current eBay auction. The thing I remember is that this soft-cover book didn't have Kermode's name on it. My box set included this and the smaller BFI Modern Kermode book.

    Let me know what you find out … then I'll go digging for the box sets.

    Father Bowdern

    #23474
    Jagged
    Participant

    I've got a couple of copies of that. It's not written by Kermode. It came from the large overpriced 25th anniversary VHS box set (the one with the lobby cards and senitype in). They are both over at my flat so I can't access them at the moment, but can tell you it's a great little book and well worth a read.

    #23475
    Jason Stringer
    Keymaster

    Jagged said:

    I've got a couple of copies of that. It's not written by Kermode. It came from the large overpriced 25th anniversary VHS box set (the one with the lobby cards and senitype in).

    I have the same 25th Ann VHS box set and double-checked just now: the book I have most definitely is by Mark Kermode.

    #23478
    Jagged
    Participant

    Yes, I popped into the flat on the way home from work to check the book and blow me down, it certainly was written by Kermode.

    You'd think after reading it half a dozen times I would have noticed.

    Doh!

    #23482
    fatherbowdern
    Participant

    Good … now I don't have to dig around!  Laughing  Let us know what you uncover, Justin.

    Father Bowdern

    #23487
    Jagged
    Participant

    Well I've ordered one too. We'll see what they turn out like.

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