Search - The Exorcist

Novelist William Peter Blatty based his best-seller on the last known Catholic-sanctioned exorcism in the United States. Blatty transformed the little boy in the 1949 incident into a little girl named Regan, played by 14-year-old Linda Blair. Suddenly prone to fits and bizarre behavior, Regan proves quite a handful for her actress-mother, Chris MacNeil (played by Ellen Burstyn, although Blatty reportedly based the character on his next-door neighbor Shirley MacLaine). When Regan gets completely out of hand, Chris calls in young priest Father Karras (Jason Miller), who becomes convinced that the girl is possessed by the Devil and that they must call in an exorcist: namely, Father Merrin (Max von Sydow). His foe proves to be no run-of-the-mill demon, and both the priest and the girl suffer numerous horrors during their struggles. The Exorcist received a theatrical rerelease in 2000, in a special edition that added 11 minutes of footage trimmed from the film's original release and digitally enhanced Chris Newman's Oscar-winning sound work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ellen Burstyn - Chris MacNeil
Linda Blair - Regan MacNeil
Max von Sydow - Father Merrin
Jason Miller - Father Damien Karras
Kitty Winn - Sharon

1973	Best Director (nominee)	Directors Guild of America	William Friedkin
1973	Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (nominee)	Golden Globe	Ellen Burstyn
1973	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominee)	Golden Globe	Max von Sydow
1973	Best Supporting Actress (winner)	Golden Globe	Linda Blair
1973	New Star of the Year - Female (nominee)	Golden Globe	Linda Blair
1973	Best Director (winner)	Golden Globe	William Friedkin
1973	Best Screenplay (winner)	Golden Globe	William Peter Blatty
1973	Best Actress (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Ellen Burstyn
1973	Best Adapted Screenplay (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	William Peter Blatty
1973	Best Art Direction (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	William Malley
1973	Best Art Direction (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Jerry Wunderlich
1973	Best Cinematography (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Owen Roizman
1973	Best Director (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	William Friedkin
1973	Best Editing (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Bud Smith
1973	Best Editing (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Evan Lottman
1973	Best Editing (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Norman Gay
1973	Best Editing (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	John C. Broderick
1973	Best Picture (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	William Peter Blatty
1973	Best Sound (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Robert Knudson
1973	Best Sound (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Chris Newman
1973	Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Jason Miller
1973	Best Supporting Actress (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Linda Blair

Demonic possession, vomited pea soup, and spinning beds all collide in the horrific film adaptation of The Exorcist. Warner's work on their initial 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is very nice if a bit flawed. Sporting solid black levels and eerie, vivid color patterns, the transfer appears to be void of any defects save for a few instances of edge enhancement and grain. Also included on side two is a pan-and-scan version of the film. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and works well with the film it supports, though for some reason, the 5.1 mix is only available on the pan-and-scan version, while the widescreen version only includes a Dolby 2.0 mix. While there aren't a horrendous amount of directional effects to be found on this 5.1 mix, overall, the soundtrack is clear of any excessive hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc is a French Mono soundtrack, as well as English, Spanish, and French subtitles. Extras on this DVD are at the bare minimum, including a few scant production notes, some info on the cast and crew, and a theatrical trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide

These movies have the touch and feel of The Exorcist...
S	The Ninth Configuration (R)
S	Two Undercover Angels (R)
1	The River Niger (R)
2	The Scarecrows (NR)
38	Christine (R)
S	J.D.'s Revenge (R)
These movies have the subject or theme of The Exorcist...
35	The Omen (R)
12	Damien: Omen 2 (R)
30	Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn [Widescreen] (R)
42	The Evil Dead [Special Edition] (NR)
46	Carrie [Widescreen] (R)
1	Crypt of Terror: Land of the Minotaur/Terror
3	To the Devil... A Daughter (R)
10	The Sentinel
14	Prince of Darkness (R)
4	Omen IV: The Awakening (NR)
3	Wes Craven's Invitation to Hell (NR)
10	Audrey Rose (PG)
These movies followed The Exorcist...
21	Exorcist II: The Heretic (R)
These movies share cast/crew with The Exorcist...
S	The Ninth Configuration (R)
4	The Guardian (R)
1	Sorcerer (PG)
29	Needful Things (R)
6	Hell Night (R)
3	Hour of the Wolf [Special Edition] (NR)
3	The Virgin Spring [Director-Approved Special Edition]
7	The Fearless Vampire Killers (NR)
6	A Kiss Before Dying (R)
3	The Night Visitor (PG)
S	That Championship Season (R)
5	The Seventh Seal [Special Edition]
11	Dreamscape [Special Edition] (PG-13)
These movies are similar to The Exorcist...
43	The Amityville Horror (R)
1	Shock (R)
12	Damien: Omen 2 (R)
5	Nomads (R)
35	The Omen (R)
33	Rosemary's Baby (R)
2	The Antichrist (NR)
2	Abby (R)
3	The Devil Rides Out (NR)
S	Beyond the Door (NR)
191	The Sixth Sense (PG-13)
69	Stigmata (R)
37	Bless the Child (R)
41	Godsend (PG-13)
S	Exorcismo
85	The Exorcism of Emily Rose (PG-13)