I agree that he was influential, especially if people hadn't already seen Costa-Gavras' Z. I used to live in Nice and saw French Connection locations all over.
Fun obit for a legend. You could make a strong argument that The French Connection was the best film made in the ‘70s. It rewarded close and frequent study in my film classes, especially for a master class in editing. Friedkin once visited BU late in his career for a screening of a new film that I can’t recall. He had certainly mellowed and was generous with his time.
"Sorcerer" remains one of my all-time favorites, and I only last year discovered, to my utter delight, "Killer Joe." I'm looking forward to seeing "The Caine Mutiny!"
I don't think there's ever been a film that made the supernatural as believable as the Exorcist did. Just about the only film that ever frightened me. I remember the first time I saw it to this day...was what? 1973, '74? Went to the movie, drove home....seriously rattled. I was in Kansas, and in the news was some California serial killer, maybe the Zodiac Killer, and I was getting out of the car, I was that person was going to shoot me. I can't remember if I've seen Sorcerer, and am much interested in anything with the Caine Mutiny though it's going to be hard to top the first one, what with Humphrey Bogart chasing strawberry thieves and Fred McMurray getting a glass of champagne in the face.
The Exorcist is up there for me. My first time watching it was the annual Halloween screening at Georgetown. I was in my first year. The screening was held in a building used as an interior for one scene. It's the scene in which Fr. Karras meets with the bishop--not scary at all, but the audience gasped as Jason Miller walked up the same staircase we all had ascended merely an hour earlier. The movie still terrifies me to this day, ranked 1b in my fright standings. (Death sits at 1a.)
A few years later, some friends and I were at a theater on Long Island watching the director's cut. Some millennial girls behind us kept laughing and talking throughout the film, surely masking their terror. I turned and sternly told them to stuff it. They did. I like to think Hurricane Billy would've been proud of me.
To Live and Die in LA is one of my favorite films, as much for its inherent greatness as well as for the greatness it doesn't quite reach, Also, just by coincidence, my son and I saw Sorcerer this last Saturday at The Beacon, a revival theater here in Seattle.
Good article, thank you. I’m reminded of the time I went to see 25th anniversary showing of The Exorcist at the old Cheri Theater in Boston, with additional footage added and Linda Blair in person. Early in the movie, doctors evaluate Regan and announce that she should be put on Ritalin, which elicited snickers from many of us in the audience who were all thinking, “Yeah, like that’s gonna work …”During a tense scene later, the phone rang on screen and everyone in the audience screamed! That film still had and continues to have an impact.
Good but not gr
Rocker Panels and the ever debonair and elusive Fernando Rey. :)
I agree that he was influential, especially if people hadn't already seen Costa-Gavras' Z. I used to live in Nice and saw French Connection locations all over.
Fun obit for a legend. You could make a strong argument that The French Connection was the best film made in the ‘70s. It rewarded close and frequent study in my film classes, especially for a master class in editing. Friedkin once visited BU late in his career for a screening of a new film that I can’t recall. He had certainly mellowed and was generous with his time.
"Sorcerer" remains one of my all-time favorites, and I only last year discovered, to my utter delight, "Killer Joe." I'm looking forward to seeing "The Caine Mutiny!"
I'll pass on these. But enjoyed your segment today on NPR's HERE & NOW.
I don't think there's ever been a film that made the supernatural as believable as the Exorcist did. Just about the only film that ever frightened me. I remember the first time I saw it to this day...was what? 1973, '74? Went to the movie, drove home....seriously rattled. I was in Kansas, and in the news was some California serial killer, maybe the Zodiac Killer, and I was getting out of the car, I was that person was going to shoot me. I can't remember if I've seen Sorcerer, and am much interested in anything with the Caine Mutiny though it's going to be hard to top the first one, what with Humphrey Bogart chasing strawberry thieves and Fred McMurray getting a glass of champagne in the face.
The Exorcist is up there for me. My first time watching it was the annual Halloween screening at Georgetown. I was in my first year. The screening was held in a building used as an interior for one scene. It's the scene in which Fr. Karras meets with the bishop--not scary at all, but the audience gasped as Jason Miller walked up the same staircase we all had ascended merely an hour earlier. The movie still terrifies me to this day, ranked 1b in my fright standings. (Death sits at 1a.)
A few years later, some friends and I were at a theater on Long Island watching the director's cut. Some millennial girls behind us kept laughing and talking throughout the film, surely masking their terror. I turned and sternly told them to stuff it. They did. I like to think Hurricane Billy would've been proud of me.
Typo - altho he'd probably get a chuckle out of it, it's Captain Queeg to you, son
To Live and Die in LA is one of my favorite films, as much for its inherent greatness as well as for the greatness it doesn't quite reach, Also, just by coincidence, my son and I saw Sorcerer this last Saturday at The Beacon, a revival theater here in Seattle.
Good article, thank you. I’m reminded of the time I went to see 25th anniversary showing of The Exorcist at the old Cheri Theater in Boston, with additional footage added and Linda Blair in person. Early in the movie, doctors evaluate Regan and announce that she should be put on Ritalin, which elicited snickers from many of us in the audience who were all thinking, “Yeah, like that’s gonna work …”During a tense scene later, the phone rang on screen and everyone in the audience screamed! That film still had and continues to have an impact.