"So long, Old Bill."
January 14, 2017 10:11 AM Subscribe
William Peter Blatty, dead at 89. Author and moviemaker, best known for writing The Exorcist (1971).
Tweeted by William Friedkin and Stephen King.
The Exorcist, read by Blatty.
Confirmed by Snopes.
Previously.
Tweeted by William Friedkin and Stephen King.
The Exorcist, read by Blatty.
Confirmed by Snopes.
Previously.
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posted by Token Meme at 10:24 AM on January 14, 2017
posted by Token Meme at 10:24 AM on January 14, 2017
*displays power vulgarly*
posted by jonmc at 10:26 AM on January 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by jonmc at 10:26 AM on January 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
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posted by Annabelle74 at 10:26 AM on January 14, 2017
posted by Annabelle74 at 10:26 AM on January 14, 2017
The Exorcist III, which he wrote and directed, is actually a very effective and chilling sequel to the film. (Not to be confused with The Exorcist II, which is by all accounts a travesty.)
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posted by Atom Eyes at 10:34 AM on January 14, 2017 [5 favorites]
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posted by Atom Eyes at 10:34 AM on January 14, 2017 [5 favorites]
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(that's a period shaped like Pazuzu)
posted by NoMich at 10:38 AM on January 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
(that's a period shaped like Pazuzu)
posted by NoMich at 10:38 AM on January 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've lived in Missouri for 25 years now, give or take, but apparently I'm a bit slow on the uptake. Because I learned literally just last week that The Exorcist was inspired by an actual exorcism that took place in St. Louis in 1949.
- Exorcism of 1949 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - St. Louis University (where many of the events took place)
- An in-depth look at Saint Louis University's part in the most famous exorcism of the 20th century
- The Devil Came to St. Louis - An excerpt from the 2006 book by Troy Taylor, subtitled "The True Story of the 1949 Exorcism Case"
I've lived in Missouri for 25 years now, give or take, but apparently I'm a bit slow on the uptake. Because I learned literally just last week that The Exorcist was inspired by an actual exorcism that took place in St. Louis in 1949.
I had a very staunch Catholic ex-girlfriend who insisted that her parish priest in Maryland was the inspiration for The Exorcist. She was completely insistent that the events that inspired the Exorcist were real & that her priest was permanently haunted for the rest of his life by his encounter with evil.
Wikipedia entry on Exorcism of Roland Doe
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posted by jonp72 at 11:48 AM on January 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
I had a very staunch Catholic ex-girlfriend who insisted that her parish priest in Maryland was the inspiration for The Exorcist. She was completely insistent that the events that inspired the Exorcist were real & that her priest was permanently haunted for the rest of his life by his encounter with evil.
Wikipedia entry on Exorcism of Roland Doe
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posted by jonp72 at 11:48 AM on January 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
Let's not forget The Ninth Configuration.
posted by Splunge at 12:15 PM on January 14, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 12:15 PM on January 14, 2017 [8 favorites]
Oops, it's in the previously. Sorry.
posted by Splunge at 12:17 PM on January 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 12:17 PM on January 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
William Friedkin had some good stories about meeting and working with Blatty in Marc Maron's WTF podcast last year.
posted by rory at 1:04 PM on January 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by rory at 1:04 PM on January 14, 2017 [3 favorites]
I cannot tell you how much I love The Ninth Configuration.
"Why are you doing Shakespeare for dogs?"
"Well, somebody has to!"
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posted by dannyboybell at 1:25 PM on January 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
"Why are you doing Shakespeare for dogs?"
"Well, somebody has to!"
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posted by dannyboybell at 1:25 PM on January 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
I cannot tell you how much I love The Ninth Configuration.
somewhere I've got a cassette tape full of audio samples from Ninth Configuration that served me well through many a late night 1980s radio show. It's that kind of movie -- heavy duty craziness all in aid of ...?... well that is the question. Makes me wish more ambitious writers got chances to to make movies, maybe not leading to all time cinematic classics or enshrinement at the AFI, but how can something like this be completely wrong?
posted by philip-random at 2:18 PM on January 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
somewhere I've got a cassette tape full of audio samples from Ninth Configuration that served me well through many a late night 1980s radio show. It's that kind of movie -- heavy duty craziness all in aid of ...?... well that is the question. Makes me wish more ambitious writers got chances to to make movies, maybe not leading to all time cinematic classics or enshrinement at the AFI, but how can something like this be completely wrong?
posted by philip-random at 2:18 PM on January 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by SageLeVoid at 2:34 PM on January 14, 2017
posted by SageLeVoid at 2:34 PM on January 14, 2017
Oh man. I had a wonderful conversation with a very old Jesuit about Blatty.
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posted by crush-onastick at 2:46 PM on January 14, 2017
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posted by crush-onastick at 2:46 PM on January 14, 2017
I mean, about Blatty's ideas on faith.
posted by crush-onastick at 2:46 PM on January 14, 2017
posted by crush-onastick at 2:46 PM on January 14, 2017
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posted by Silverstone at 3:07 PM on January 14, 2017
posted by Silverstone at 3:07 PM on January 14, 2017
I've got no opinion on the supernatural nature of the events that inspired Blatty's book, but I did know someone who was involved. I attended a Jesuit high school in the late 1970s, and Father Walt Halloran was my teacher & football coach. Thirty years earlier, he was in history graduate school for his Jesuit training when the priest doing the exorcism brought him along as muscle to restrain the kid during the violent physical occurrences, and he had a broken nose to show for it. I didn't learn about his involvement until after I'd graduated.
He was stern & demanding with the class & team, but was unflappable and used a sly smile to let you know when you'd done something well. I noticed at the time (not just in Exorcist-related hindsight) that he often seemed to be looking past you and his face had a dark expression when at rest.
If you only knew of him in connection with the exorcism story, you might pin those characteristics on that. However, when I read his obituary in 2005, I learned something else that gave me more context - and respect - for him.
He left a job teaching college history to enlist in the army as a chaplain. That might seem like a selfless move in itself. Then at 48, he volunteered for paratrooper duty and began jumping into combat zones in Vietnam, unarmed, just to bring some small amount of comfort to people who were wounded and dying there.
I don't know what he saw in 1949. From the interviews he gave, including this one (http://www.strangemag.com/halloran.html) looking back at various things he'd said over time, it seems he didn't know for sure either. But whether or not he'd actually wrestled with the devil, there's no doubt that he threw himself into an earthly manifestation of Hell for the sake of other people's souls. Any way you look at it, some oddness in the way he might have looked at a bunch of smart-ass teenagers was understandable and well-earned.
posted by NumberSix at 3:09 PM on January 14, 2017 [7 favorites]
He was stern & demanding with the class & team, but was unflappable and used a sly smile to let you know when you'd done something well. I noticed at the time (not just in Exorcist-related hindsight) that he often seemed to be looking past you and his face had a dark expression when at rest.
If you only knew of him in connection with the exorcism story, you might pin those characteristics on that. However, when I read his obituary in 2005, I learned something else that gave me more context - and respect - for him.
He left a job teaching college history to enlist in the army as a chaplain. That might seem like a selfless move in itself. Then at 48, he volunteered for paratrooper duty and began jumping into combat zones in Vietnam, unarmed, just to bring some small amount of comfort to people who were wounded and dying there.
I don't know what he saw in 1949. From the interviews he gave, including this one (http://www.strangemag.com/halloran.html) looking back at various things he'd said over time, it seems he didn't know for sure either. But whether or not he'd actually wrestled with the devil, there's no doubt that he threw himself into an earthly manifestation of Hell for the sake of other people's souls. Any way you look at it, some oddness in the way he might have looked at a bunch of smart-ass teenagers was understandable and well-earned.
posted by NumberSix at 3:09 PM on January 14, 2017 [7 favorites]
It was the late 1970s and I was at a church camp. I was desperate for something to read and somehow happened upon a copy of The Exorcist. It was very engrossing and I was sitting in a tent as dusk fell, trying to get a few more chapters in before it was too dark to read. One of the counselors thought it would be funny to stick his head in the tent and make a scary noise at me. I didn't know I could scream that loud.
posted by mogget at 6:03 PM on January 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by mogget at 6:03 PM on January 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:30 AM on January 15, 2017
posted by Mister Moofoo at 2:30 AM on January 15, 2017
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Mark Kermode: The only thing I’m certain about is that “The Exorcist” is both my own favourite film and the definitive Best Film Ever Made.
posted by On the Corner at 2:57 AM on January 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mark Kermode: The only thing I’m certain about is that “The Exorcist” is both my own favourite film and the definitive Best Film Ever Made.
posted by On the Corner at 2:57 AM on January 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
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Thanks for posting this doctornemo, I actually started putting together a FPP last week and then life happened. One link to add: Friedkin and Blatty revisit Georgetown shooting locations in 2013, on the 40th anniversary of the movie release.
The movie holds up well, if anyone's tempted to rewatch it. Also agree with Atom Eyes, Exorcist II is a sequel the studio demanded and it's objectively terrible, but Exorcist III (based on Blatty's Legion, the actual sequel to Exorcist) is much better and well worth a watch for fans of the original.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:15 PM on January 16, 2017
Thanks for posting this doctornemo, I actually started putting together a FPP last week and then life happened. One link to add: Friedkin and Blatty revisit Georgetown shooting locations in 2013, on the 40th anniversary of the movie release.
The movie holds up well, if anyone's tempted to rewatch it. Also agree with Atom Eyes, Exorcist II is a sequel the studio demanded and it's objectively terrible, but Exorcist III (based on Blatty's Legion, the actual sequel to Exorcist) is much better and well worth a watch for fans of the original.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:15 PM on January 16, 2017
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posted by Artw at 10:23 AM on January 14, 2017