The Exorcist (1973)

Synopsis of 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, Rovi

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:

132 mins

Director(s):

William Friedkin, Jason Miller

Writer(s):

William Peter Blatty

Producer(s):

William Peter Blatty

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

R(Not For Children, Adult Language, Graphic Violence, Strong Sexual Content)

Categories:

Horror

• 1973 - Golden Globe - Best Picture - Drama
• 1973 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Screenplay
• 1973 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
• 1973 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Director
• 1973 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture - Drama

Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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