8mm Forum: The Exorcist-18mins.

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Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on July 24, 2007, 03:52 PM:

I have read several comments on this forum recently with ref.to
features vs cut downs.In my view,if ever a cut down worked it is for this title.
Released in 1973,this was warner bros biggest box office hit of the
day.It took a then staggering $82 million at the box office.Big money back in 73.
This condesation opens in Iraq where we see a group of arcacologists busy on a dig.An edlery gentleman breaks opens a small rock,revealing a devils head.
Desert dogs howl,and it is clear that a evil spirit has been unleased.
We then move to Georgetown,USA,where a mother(Ellen Burstyn)is
worried about her twelve-year-old daughter,Regan(Linda Blair),who
is having constant nightmares.Those quickly develop into more violent outbursts as she physically attacks her own doctor.
The doctors are at a loss to help,but the mother is amazed when
one of them askes her if she has ever considerd a exorcism.
She must, however,admit that her daughter does seem possessed-
Regan begins speaking with a growling male voice and shouting obscenitices.That infamous scene with the crucifix is included,
before the mother calls in Father Karras(Jason Miller).
He is more than shocked,when Regan spews green vomit all over his
face.
Everthing is set for the final exorcism as Father Merrin(Max Von Sydow),is called in to begin the service...
As Regan,now a festering,twisted monster,screams the most foul language,we witnewss the quite shattering climax....
All the best remerberd scences are in this skilfully edited condensation are here.What more could you want.?Excellent.
PrintB
SoundC.

Posted by Dave Cragg (Member # 401) on July 24, 2007, 04:08 PM:

Great review Andy.
A friend of mine has this and I remember being impressed.
Don't suppose this made it out as a full feature or abridged?

Dave

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on July 24, 2007, 04:48 PM:

Dave,This was actually released by Columbia US as a very skilfully edited 3 x 400ft version which is well worth tracking down!

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on July 24, 2007, 09:50 PM:

Andrew,

Thanks for the review. Warner Bros. did a great job on this one and I dare say that some of the decisions made in this edit would've made the full length version even better.

Dave,

As Mark said, the 3x400' is very well done. There have been a few threads on the Forum about adding footage from the 400 footer to the longer version. One thing to note: the color on the 400' version is superior to it's three reel sibling.

Doug

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on July 25, 2007, 04:00 AM:

Andy
Great kids film, "just kidding" I bought this film when it was new watched it once, that was enough your description "Green vomit" etc [Eek!]

I still remember it was to much for me, decided to stick to good old fashioned "Tom and Jerry" violence instead.

Graham [Smile]

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on July 27, 2007, 10:42 AM:

Graham,we in the UK coudn't watch THE EXORCIST full lenght at home,
because of the Video recording Act.That means that it was Banned
in the UK,for over ten years.The only place on the planet that this title was bannded in the home.As for the other fellow members who
do'nt like cut downs/digests,then search out this one to see why it
works better than the feature.Andy.

Posted by Andreas Eggeling (Member # 105) on July 28, 2007, 04:18 AM:

An example about big office with super8:

The german theatrical box office:

Visitors: appr. 4.600.000 (in 1973)
Average ticket price in 1973: 4.50 DM
Conversion: appr. 4.600.000 x 4.50 = 20.700.000 DM

UFA was known for high editions when releasing new films.
Have heard about 4000 or more prints for Germany and making further edtions when the title was succesful. "The Excorist" was announced as one of UFA´s succesfull titles in 1980/81.

The one reeler was published in 1980:
Let us assume that 5000 copies for Germany were manufactured.
Marketing, UFA and piccolo film had a uniform price.
149,- DM for a 120 m (400ft) color sound reel.
5000 x 149,- = 745.000 DM (appr. 3,6 % of the theatrical box office of Germany)

Similar targets might have had UFA with the three parter.
If the market would not have broken in, the three-parter would have made a conversion of over 10 per cent of the german theatrical box office.

One must mark to the fact that the number of parts of a film on were dependent which companies cooperated with one another.
The German Super8 companies began to bring in the early 70's multipart films on the market. This had influence on how US companies brought out later films on the market.

Simple example:
If universal with UFA had cooperated, we would have today a three-parter of "Earthquake".

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 28, 2007, 07:29 PM:

Personally, I think this would work better as the 3X400ft. version, and I'd love to read a good review of that version as well.

It just seems that for the horror of this particular title to have it's desired effect, you need at least a little build-up, instead of just erupting into projectile vomit after a minute or two.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on July 28, 2007, 08:08 PM:

Osi,

The 3x400' version is terrific, but it's nice to see how well the 400 footer works and how much thought went into it. Also, the shorter version has the opening archaeological dig scene in Iraq, missing from the other.

Doug

Posted by Andreas Eggeling (Member # 105) on July 29, 2007, 02:40 AM:

I prefer the 3x400 plus scenes from the 400er.

The 400er only is like a promotion reel and no uncanny tendency arises.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on July 29, 2007, 03:47 PM:

Andy
Was surprised that the film was banned for such a long time, I agree it was well edited as a 400ft, it was the content that put me off, its the only Super8 film that I have ever returned and made an excuse that there was a fault with it, just to get my money back. I should have checked it out a bit more before buying it, mistake on my part, I simply did not want to watch it again.

Graham.

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on July 30, 2007, 03:54 PM:

Graham,thats ok.As for me i never considerd THE EXCORCIST a great
film.The first hour is scrappy and just plain boring.The 400ft
version is in my view does what a cut down should do..Gets rid of the driftwood and leaves the shock moments.As for the 3x400footer,i
am unable to make any comments.Andy.

Posted by Trevor Collett (Member # 5465) on July 22, 2016, 12:05 PM:

Put this Warner Bros digest through last night (haven't seen this digest for 15+ years). This is surely one of the most intense 17 minutes ever put to super 8. Most of the critical possession and exorcism scenes linked by brief storyline (with more emphasis on the possession for the horror impact). Certainly no concern about providing home viewing for the family!

Opens in Iraq with discovery of demon mini-statue, Von Sydow senses the evil. Cut to first major possession scene on bed, throat extending. Brief interludes of interviews with doctors and psychiatrist (includes the testicle-grip scene) then full-on possession scenes ('let Jesus f*** you' - head turning - projectile vomit). Iconic scenes included - arrival of exorcist shot used in posters - Regan on bed with demon appearing beside her. All the exorcism scenes condensed and combined into one exorcism sequence, works very well. Brutal language is intact.

This is a great selected highlights edition, circa 1975 (of 1973 film). I'm not sure if this was released to super 8 in a longer format.

My print at 40-odd years old shows no signs of color fade at all. Really nice colors and blacks throughout (no hint of red). Sharp clear print. Does change from 1.85:1 to full frame between shots, not sure why some were released like this - perhaps so that critical information wasn't omitted.

The only real downside is the soundtrack is quite low, but this may be a fault with just my version. But no hiss with playing on Elmo ST1200HD, just have the volume higher than normal.

Highly recommended if the price isn't too high (it's still just a highlights reel after all).

My print is not for sale.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 22, 2016, 12:08 PM:

Good review there Trevor, i sold my 400 footer and wished i kept it now. I sold it because we bought,(and still have) the 3 x 400 footer.
The shorter version actually has parts of the exorcism the the 3 x 400 foot version didn't have. Only short snippets but this does make a difference. There was no question of cutting it up as the qualities were different. The 6 reel featurette is very good but i found the sound on the 400 version better but also like yours, lower. The Feature also has some parts where the sound is quite low.
Of course the boys who re-record would have sorted this but also the frame lines and focus were also different.
The two version stand perfectly on there own without chopping them up [Wink]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 22, 2016, 12:09 PM:

Trevor ...

The reason for the change between letterboxing and full frame is that this 400ft print was taken from a full frame 35MM or 16MM which, when originally released, has different shots, due to processing of shots (special effect and such), and those shots were already matted for the aspect ratio that it would have theatrically, and when shown in theaters, there would be masking added to the whole print to make it all the same aspect ratio throughout.

I have a super 8 optical print of "Greystroke: The legend of Tarzan" that is in the ame category. The print was taken from the original shooting negative ratio,and the very last shot, a scenic shot of the jungle, was actually a large matte painting, but you can actually see the edges of the matte painting as well as the easel it standa on, on the top and the bottom but, of course, when properly matted to ggive it it's theatrical aspect ratio, those things would be unseen.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on July 22, 2016, 06:00 PM:

Is it me?
I'm no prude by any stretch of the imagination, but this is one film I've only ever watched all the way though once and to be honest, I always thought it to be tasteless.

One of those films that shocks just for the sake of it to me.

I feel other sicko productions like Saw or Silence Of The Lambs have far more cleverly written storylines and don't just capture the imagination with nothing more than crudeness.

Sorry but that's just mine for what it's worth.

I actually found the first hour of this film completely boring if I'm honest.

It's one I've never owned on Super 8mm in any format and judging by what has been said plus the images I've only ever seen of this film since being back in the hobby, it's one I'm never likely to own either.

Posted by Trevor Collett (Member # 5465) on July 23, 2016, 02:46 AM:

Thanks for the heads-up Osi. Makes sense now (why some super 8 prints change aspect ratios).

Agree Andrew that THE EXORCIST is extreme and not for all - but horror is my favourite genre and nothing is too extreme as long as the work of effects artists. And for pure sensationalism THE EXORCIST digest is superb!

General note: I see now that THE EXORCIST was released 3 x 400-ft. Shame I never got to have that version.

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on July 23, 2016, 12:01 PM:

Watched this at the Barnsley Odean I almost nodded off, plus had to laugh when her head went round. Has for the 'green' stuff a normal Saturday night in Barnsley.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 23, 2016, 01:43 PM:

I do like the film but agree at the time of its release it was very extreme. I guess as always now it's quite tame by modern standards. There are some very good moments in there though, especially the scene where the car drives up to the house.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on July 23, 2016, 07:40 PM:

I would have much preferred the Candyman or Christine to be available on 8 than this one. And that's just off the top of my head for the genre.

From a different genre...Jackie Brown also.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=110+street&view=detail&mid=E88D84BB1EAE4F1125A6E88D84BB1EAE4F1125A6&FORM=VIRE

Posted by Douglas Warren (Member # 1047) on July 24, 2016, 07:47 PM:

I think you have to be a fan of the genre, which helps shape opinion on " The Exorcist". Having read the original book plus the back story on the actual incident gives the film more weight. But again it all boils down to what you enjoy. I collect aviation and war movies on film which is a niche within a niche hobby.

Posted by David M. Ballew (Member # 1818) on July 25, 2016, 04:26 PM:

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

A major theme running through acts one and two of The Exorcist is Father Karras’s ongoing worry that his decision to become a priest has been for naught. He feels that if he had pursued a secular career, he would be in a better position to help his declining mother. Over and above that, his counseling of other priests is causing him to doubt his faith—perhaps even lose it altogether. The director, William Friedkin, explores this (and the film's other themes) with very deliberate observational filmmaking. I can see where this approach might seem boring to many people, especially those for whom the film overall is not their cup of tea. But I want to underline that I personally place great importance on all that is said and shown prior to the climactic exorcism.

All Father Karras's doubt is fully and firmly resolved for him in the third act. I know we are not meant to delve into religion on this board, so I will limit myself to saying that, after Regan levitates from the bed, there is a mighty change in Father Karras. He begins to see that he has made the right choice from the beginning. And I feel that this character arc only resonates as powerfully as it does because we have been permitted to walk a mile alongside Father Karras, so to speak, during a substantial portion of the film’s running time. Instead of an empty shell of a horror film, as we so often get, we are offered instead a probing and unusual drama in which carefully textured characters encounter the supernatural—and not merely the evil side of the supernatural, not by a long shot!

Having said all that, I will add that there are moments I feel are a bit excessive. But I accept William Peter Blatty’s explanation, that he really sought to illustrate the depravity of evil. He felt that pulling his punches would undermine the stark contrast he was trying to draw between evil and good.

I am now very intrigued at the prospect of tracking down a 400-foot extract of The Exorcist.

[ July 26, 2016, 10:16 PM: Message edited by: David M. Ballew ]

Posted by Douglas Warren (Member # 1047) on July 27, 2016, 03:14 PM:

David: That's a great observation about the film,and is very much a big part of the book as well. Hopefully you'll succeed in finding a copy of the 400' digest. When I was getting into Super-8 films seriously for the first time (1986) I lucked into a nearly new copy. As others have noted it is well edited and contains most of the famous scenes. A side note that members here may not be aware of,is that there was a promotional reel from "The Exorcist" released. I cannot recall if it was a 200' or 400' reel. That's how I wound up with my 400' copy,as I called to reserve it from a film list (Roger Williams of Media Arts Associates) and the promo reel was sold. He had the digest for sale and offered it to me instead.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 29, 2016, 11:42 AM:

Nawww ...

For me, "Cujo" has my money! Something about a humungous rabid dog that just gets me!

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on July 31, 2016, 10:39 AM:

I have never quite understood why the 3x400' does not have footage that the 400 footer has and vice versa.
Was this not also the case with Superman The Movie ?

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