[fatherbowdern]

Okay, I started a fire with the eyebrows! 🙂 To answer the above blog entries, Regan’s eyebrows do disappear in the hypnosis scene (watch her mouth twisting and the sound of the demon coming out). Dick Smith used a very pale white makeup on her face along with cracked latex on the lips. She is sans eyebrows. This, of course, is prior to the masturbation scene when Regan starts the “gangrenous sores” by ripping through the flesh on her face.

I guess if we examine the makeup for Regan throughout the film, Dick Smith created a process (under Friedkin’s direction) by which she undergoes a form of mitosis that leads to the ultimate makeup in the exorcism scene. For instance, you’ll notice that Regan’s lips are severely cracked and her skin is extremely pale as she’s mouthing words on the hospital bed that’s she strapped down to while at the Barringer Clinic.

[fatherbowdern]

I wonder if that change from novel to screen wasn’t a big influence from Friedkin. I guess the culmination of Karras’ own “torment” throughout the exorcism could be viewed as the final straw when he sees Merrin lying dead on the floor and the demon laughing. Maybe the scene was shot to influence our thinking on how Karras erupted without much thinking … a knee-jerk reaction that he held so deeply in many instances. After all, they only showing him jabbing punches into the boxing bag and not the actual fight itself. The fight is the one in the book where he needs to make money from his former career as a boxer to help pay for his mother’s care. It’s right after the conversation at the hospital with his uncle about who’s going to pay his mother’s care.

[fatherbowdern]

Another “catch” is the direct full-on view when the levitation begins. It includes all three folks in their standard positions with the camera angle only slightly tilted to the right.

I think I’m bummed out by seeing these. But, of course, we know the wires were used including a small cherry picker (example only) that lowers Regan back on the bed at the … sans wires. I think they did a great job regardless.

[fatherbowdern]

Ghetto, I think the first time her eyebrows go missing is during the hypnosis treatment. It’s there to let us know something is amiss in little Regan and that Captain Howdy has taken his presence. And then of course we see the “eyebrowless” wonderment take over from then on in the film. Regan grows them back after the exorcism. As far as the scars, I do see them (very light scars that is) and I agree that we don’t know how long it’s been after the exorcism, so I think Dick Smith did a good job for whatever he was told in terms of the time span.
If I remember correctly, Dick Smith said that he wanted Blair’s face to have a more masculine look by adding the slightly bulging forehead. Worked for me.

[fatherbowdern]

Just watched the exorcism scene with the levitation. If you have a DVD player that can do a backward selection X2, you’ll really see the wires.

[fatherbowdern]

Well, after reading these posts, I have to admit when I saw this film as a kid, I believed what I was seeing was real in terms of how Captain Howdy disfigured Regan’s face during the masturbation scene. I don’t think it’s overboard, because it scared the shit out of me and that’s the face that entered my nightmares after seeing the film. So, hooray for Dick Smith for going this route instead of the one’s he started with. There was a joke on Ace of Cakes on Food Network when one of maestro’s of confections was creating a possessed Regan cake for an avid Exorcist fan’s party. She noted, “I wonder if everyone loses their eyebrows when you’re possessed?” Funny to think about because Regan’s eyebrows did come and go and her forward protruded just a wee bit to make her more demonic in appearance.

[fatherbowdern]

columbiancannon … cheers to finding this article! I agree with the writer because the proof is right there in images. HELLO! Subliminals do exist whether we think they do or not, so we should just “slam” the door on any kind of naysayers that always profess to know everything! 😉

[fatherbowdern]

I think Justin is pointing out the double-exposed image of Regan/Captain Howdy superimposed on top of one another. Regan (Blair) has the green/yellow cat eyes, while Captain Howdy’s (Dietz) eyes are dark brown. It’s not a mistake and if you listen to how they did the superimposing on the 25th Anniversary FOG, you’ll hear about how they did it back then. I think it was a thick sheet of glass with cellulose being filmed at the same time. I’m sure Justin can fill us in on that one too.

[fatherbowdern]

We wouldn’t have a story without both the Exorcist and the priest. After all, the demon was just getting revenge on Merrin after the battle in Iraq (which he obviously won) and Karras was an ideal target for getting Merrin into the exorcism. Karras was just a pawn in this game of chess. The checkmate was Merrin.

[fatherbowdern]

I saw the original when it was released three times. I saw the first and all subsequent airings on national television (I believe it was on CBS). I owned the first Beta copy. I owned the first VHS copy. I owned the first LP-sized laser disc (I’m that old and if you don’t know what that is, you’ll have to look it up on Google). And, of course, I own all of the DVD versions. Name a version, and I will guarantee to you that I’ve seen it. And, this bullshit with claiming that Burke’s death scene was filmed is a crock of shit and I don’t care what country you watched it in … it does not exist! Period. I’ll ask Mark Kermode if anyone wants a “real” answer. But, folks it just didn’t take place.

[fatherbowdern]

M.I.K.E., I agree with you about WB. Perhaps they will release a PSP version and a Blu-Ray version. The Exorcist: The PSP Version You’ve Never Seen BEFORE. The Exorcist: The Blu-Ray Version You’ve Never Seen AGAIN! 🙂

[fatherbowdern]

I have always thought the same thing about the woman in the carriage … just another foreboding of eerie things to come.

[fatherbowdern]

Could it be possible that Slam234’s idea that Karl is speaking in Swiss??? I’m sure that the direct translation from the novel that Justin provided is right, but it definitely changed in the movie … “Oh, Jesus,” missing; “I’m very sorry, madame, but you see, no rats,” changed from the novel. So, maybe Karl is speaking in Swiss although it may not make sense when speaking to Chris unless he had been standing on the attic stairs and the candle burst scared him too. Also, it may be plausible because Friedkin never added subtitles to the Latin conversation between the demon and Karras in the film so audiences could understand the exchange of words.

[fatherbowdern]

I think Kinderman’s comment about Mineo was a compliment at the time and a, “Let me break through your stone-faced facade, so you will answer my questions.” I never took the remark as ill-willed toward Karras. The scene just doesn’t work that way for me.

[fatherbowdern]

I think Kinderman’s comment about Mineo was a compliment at the time and a, “Let me break through your stone-faced facade, so you will answer my questions.” I never took the remark as ill-willed toward Karras. The scene just doesn’t work that way for me.

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