A is for AIR CONDITIONING
The supernatural temperature drop during the exorcism scene required the actors’ breath to be visible. Easily done now via CG, but in 1973 a practical solution was required. “What we did was place a gigantic restaurant air conditioner across the top of the set,” director William Friedkin explained. “At the end of each day’s shooting, we turned on the A/C all night so by the next morning it was 40 below zero [4.4 C].” [1] Small clip lights were also attached to the back of furniture, so that the cast’s breath registered clearly.
B is for BAG MURDERS
Could the film feature a serial killer? Early on, Regan undergoes an angiography – a procedure for taking photos of the brain. Friedkin used a real NYU Medical Center radiologist for the scene, assisted by his technician, one Paul Bateson (pictured below on the right).
Four years later, Variety reporter Addison Verrill was found dead in his apartment. Bateson confessed to stabbing him after a sexual encounter, and was sentenced to 20 years. At the time, NYC police were investigating the “bag murders”: six gay men whose dismembered remains were dumped in the Hudson River inside garbage bags.
During a sentencing hearing, the prosecutor noted that Bateson had told a friend “killing is easy”, and talked about disposing of body parts in this fashion… Additional charges were never brought, though, due to lack of evidence.
C is for CURSE
The Exorcist acquired a reputation as “cursed”, due to calamities occurring on-set, or to loved ones of the cast. For example:
• The MacNeil house interior set was destroyed in a fire.
• Linda Blair’s grandfather died during production.
• So did Max von Sydow’s brother.
• Jack MacGowran (Regan’s first victim, Burke Dennings) died from flu shortly after finishing
