‘The Exorcist’ Director William Friedkin Has Never Made a Film for Himself | TCMFF 2023

It is a drama. A poor 12 year old girl is overcome with demonic forces. This is a story of the drama of a young girl, her family and extended bystanders, gripped with her freedom. It is horrible. It is, grotesque. It is shocking. But it is, at it's core...strip away the horror of bodily effects and linguistics ( in the story).... this is a pure dramatic , cinematic film.

In cielo sia il regista.

Il film è un capolavoro mi dispiace tanto per il regista e gli altri attori.

re watched the hunted (2003) the other day, nowhere near as good as his other films but it's a solid film.

classics in films true scary movies in classics movies early days in horror don't sleep lol Facts on this Director classic above classics 🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥🎥😮

Look at sharp he is, right before his death.......What a guy, what a director, what an artist.

I was fortunate enough to bear witness to his 2 previous tcmff interviews. The first one was moderated by Alec Baldwin and followed a screening of 'French Connection' at The Chinese and he was quite the raconteur. He told stories about the casting and gave insight to his process. He said he wanted Jackie Gleason to play Popeye Doyle but he wouldnt come out of retirement for it. His next choice was Peter Boyle, who also passed. According to him, Gene Hackman wasnt even on his radar but time was of the essence and he was there...He wore it all on his sleeve. The late great Director John Singleton was in the audience and joined the conversation, questions of technique inevitably arose making for a well rounded discussion to say the least. That time they were wise to schedule the interview after the movie. It was the last screening of the night so there were no time constraints and lasted well over an hour. I believe that was 2015

There will never be another Billy friedkin ! You were able to scare the whole world with one movie nobody can top that

Exact same voice as Donald Trump.

I want to see ANDY HARDY GOES TO MINNESOTA.

Such a blessing to have an interview with this legend very close to the end. RIP , Bill

the exorcist's legacy is as the ultimate testament to what a horror film can be. not just great for what it was, but great, period. as great as any film ever made.

Legend

For my money,The scene of Lankester Merrin standing in front of the brownstone in the Exorcist,Is thee, Greatest visual scene in cinematic history,R.I.P. Genius!

His movies will always be highly regarded. Equally important, his interviews and lectures are extremely informative and will be valuable assets to film aficionados and future film makers. It would be great if someone would assemble his talks into a collection of DVDs. Thank you, William Friedkin. You will be immortalized through your works.

A brilliant, prickly pear to the very end. Love him.

Rest in Peace to the GOAT of all Horror directors. He will live on through his art.

I love Friedkin. I love his total allegiance to the material, William Peter Blatty's novel, in the effectiveness of The Exorcist. I also love, even this late in Friedkin's life, his wry sense of humor.

Still hilarious & a badass to the end. Genius & rockstar.

"and I don't call it a horror film"

Geez, when will they stop looking at the genre as some low, pulpy entertainment? I thought everyone has been proven through the last century+ of amazing movies that horror is a legitimate genre that should be respected.

I can never NOT listen when Friedkin talks.

Many of the academy awards are utter crap.
I love horror, but the exorcist doesn't get in my top 100..
You just can't understand the taste of those who decide what movie should win.

Also, we always had a feeling that the academy awards hate horror, thus they try to not label something like The Exorcist as horror, it is horror through and through, wither they like it or not. :^)
And Horror? Is the ONLY thing we care about in cenima. 99% of academy awards winning movies are utter garbage.

Also, making a film "for onself" is cringe..
Always make film for the audience, to entertain audience, to SERVE the audience.. not to just "express yourself".

William Friedkin's contributions to horror cinema will always remain unparalleled.

The Exorcist still remains the greatest horror film of all time. When he made that revolutionary masterpiece, he single-handedly changed the entire game.

People used to look down upon horror movies in general back then, it all changed forever in 1973. The amount of prestige he brought to the horror genre was unheard of, it still is.

Moreover, it was just after his Best Picture & Best Director Oscar win for The French Connection (another masterpiece of his).

His other underrated gems:
Sorcerer, Bug (another horror film), To Live & Die In LA, The Boys In The Band, The Birthday Party, The Night They Raided Minsky's, Cruising, Killer Joe and 12 Angry Men (remake).

Definitely one of the GOATs of cinema.
Gone too soon....

RIP, The Exorcist is one of the most influential movies ever made, not just for horror, but for movies in general.

Friedkin and Blatty are together for eternity! Thank you for scaring the crap out of me!❤❤❤

I will never get the whole Citizen Kane thing I’ll be honest 😂

Special movie that. So raw and had so much depth. Beautifully shot . Haunting. One off.

SIP William Friedkin u will be missed 😢😢😢😢😢

to Live and Not to Die in Celluloid

Amazing dircetor 🙏🙏😍🇧🇷🇧🇷

Legendary filmmaker. Loved his interviews where he would talk so passionately about film.

He was a Brilliant Dircetor..RIP Mr. Friedkin. The Exorrcist stands as one of the Best Films Ever Made!

RIP God

I always felt that Friedkin and Michael Mann have a similar style (or better: approach to film making). But while Mann is "just excellent", Friedkin belonged to the really great league, up with Scorsese and Coppola.

He has already said all to be said about this film. This is just a bit sad. Shame the interviewer didn't go with him on "the wrong" moment. I'm sure he had something to say, but was cut off.

.. Fantastic director. Great Man.

The story behind the car chase scene from FC.. is art in purest form. Rest in peace master of the craft.

OH come on! Stop it! You're making me cry in my beer! I knew Friedkin briefly when we were both swimming in the 2nd city pool in Chicago. He was a good soul. I liked him. We got along. But come on people! Be serious! He was not Fellini! Very, very far from Fellini! The Exorcist is what is know in the biz as......ready?.......(sorry Friedkin goupies). HOKUM! Nothing more and nothing less! Come on! Get real. If you don't believe me then go watch more Fellini.

The best horror movie ever made,superb.

I remember in the 70s how terrified I was when an Exorcist commercial would Suddenly come on while I was trying to watch Love American Style or Get Smart. It would just scare me where I couldn't sleep. I was 30 at the time.

What a down to earth, intelligent, kind and modest man he was. Most importantly a genius film maker. Rest in peace Mr. Friedkin.

Thank you very much
Mr.Friedkin 🎥







THE EXORCIST 1973

FOREVER

🫂

I'm 57 years old, and I only watch the Exorcist during the daytime. Never at night.

I was fortunate to have seen an met William Friedkin in , my state I was from NJ. He was filming the sororeos movie in Elizabeth nj.. they were doin the car chase scene! Billy friedkin you r a truly amazing dude ❤rip my man

Say what you will about the critic ratings, but his films stick with you

RIP to an absolute legend. Would have loved to have met the guy.

Great man.