Five Questions I Had Re-Watching The Exorcist (1973)

Nashville, TN showing in 1973

I've never blogged about 1973's The Exorcist before, but it's a movie that I rewatch every few years, usually around Halloween time or in October. Recently, I watched it on a big screen in a theater for the first time, along with an audience/crowd. I felt less frightened with a crowd around, but I'm sure viewers in the 70s were horrified; I always remember the accounts I read about of "around-the-block" lines and how people walked out of the theater out of fear, disgust, or physical sickness/illness. I was hoping to re-live or re-capture that feeling in 2022 somewhat, but was a little distracted by the numerous cell phones flashing by enthusiastic millennials/Gen Z'ers taking pictures at key moments. And after several viewings of the movie, I guess I'm not as frightened as I once was of this film. However, I still think it's a great piece of filmmaking with great writing, directing, and performances.5 lingering questions that came to mind after this last re-watch.

1. If the mom character (Ellen Burstyn) is such a big movie star, and the British director "Burt" is fairly well known, wouldn't the murders and strange phenomena happening near the set attract and create extensive media and tabloid attention? This wasn't addressed in the film and not sure if it was mentioned in the book (I never read it). A minor issue, but it seems like it would be a big deal for a movie director's horrendous death to be national/world news. But there were no media reporters or crews outside the house at any time.

2. The alcoholic director "Burt" uses a profane adjective several times in the film and it's strange because I never heard it used by anyone in any film or real life. Is this a phrase unique to this director or something? Like when everyone says "broomhead" on the TV show Degrassi but no one else in world uses that term? Or was "c---ing" a common slang term in the 70s? Seriously, it's so bizarre. 

3. I don't quite understand the relationship between the live-in workers in the house. Are the German workers there full time, and attend to each new renter? Is Reagan's mom only renting the house? Are the Germans the owners? This still remains fuzzy. I don't get who the lady with the typewriter is either - is she Ellen Burstyn's personal assistant? Is she the older daughter (like the older daughter in Poltergeist?) Update: According to the commentary by William Friedkin, they are Ellen Burstyn's assistants that travel with her (but I don't think it's explicitly stated in the movie) 

4. When the detective (Lee J. Cobb) inspects the stairs for the first time, he picks up a small sculpture off the ground...I never noticed that before. Apparently, it's one that was made by Reagan and is suspiciously at the bottom of the stairs. Did Burt pick it up which prompted Reagan to throw him out the window? Was it a sculpture of a demon? 

5. Who put the crucifix under Reagan's pillow? Everyone in the house say they didn't, so I wonder if someone at the hospital gave it to Reagan (maybe a priest) and she kept it in the blanket with her as she came home, and put it under her pillow herself. That's my interpretation.  

What do you think?

12 Angry Men (1957) and a real-life jury duty experience

Earlier this month, I had my first experience as a trial juror. It was like watching a stage play: the judge, the lawyers, and the witnesses seemed as if they were all actors performing right in front of us. I had seen Witness for the Prosecution live on stage before - it was like that, like live theater.

When you're on a jury, you have the freedom to look around the room at anyone or anything at any time. When the lawyers were speaking, you could look at the judge or the defendant.

The accused was on trial for attempted murder.

During the course of the trial (two full days), seven witnesses testified, including several police officers, a prisoner, and the young man who was shot and full of scars.

The evening following the first day of jury selection, I went home and watched the 1957 version of 12 Angry Men for some inspiration.  I think it's the only movie ever made about a jury. I immediately felt a connection with the character played by John Fieder --- in the beginning of the film he tells Lee J. Cobb how excited he is to be a first time juror. I felt the same; it was all so new to me, too, and exciting. It felt good to be a part of the justice system.

Cobb's character then talks about being on many juries before. In our group, we also had some veteran jurors. Most of us, though, were first-timers.

To break the awkward silence, I tried to find things in common with other people just like one of the jurors does in 12 Angry Men.  It was a cramped space, and uncomfortable. The jury room in the movie was much larger than the one we were put into! Also in the movie, Jack Warden's character was so anxious to get out of the jury room and go home. That was how just about all of us felt! We all wanted to go home. Some people had an hour commute to the courthouse.

Another part of the movie that rang true was when Lee J. Cobb said how some of the lawyers went on and on talking "about nothing". Honestly, that's what it really felt like! Some of the lawyers just talked and talked and it was all seemed meaningless, certainly a waste of time. At one point, one of the witnesses - a police officer -  got so aggravated at the questioning from one of the lawyers. And public defenders kept asking the judge for time-outs, which meant more waiting for us, the jury.

I took lots of notes. The prosecuting attorneys brought forth some very good evidence. Four eyewitnesses all pointed to the defendant as the shooter. This appeared to be an "open-and-shut case",  as  Lee J Cobb referred to his case in the movie.

At times I got the feeling that the public defenders didn't always know how to defend him. This issue was touched upon in the movie, too.

After the lawyers gave their closing statements, it was time to go to the jury room to deliberate. The two alternate jurors were sent home (just like in the beginning of the movie). We chose a presiding juror (Martin Balsam in the movie).  And just like in the movie, we started with a secret ballot to see where everyone stood.

Believe it or not, the initial vote was 11-1 in favor of "guilty" ..just like the movie! No, it wasn't me who was the odd-man out, like Henry Fonda. It was the youngest person on jury. After about 25 minutes of deliberation, we all voted again, and unanimously agreed the defendant was "guilty" of attempted murder.

When the verdict was read in court, there was a loud scream from the visitor's section, which might have been the defendant's mother. There was also some clapping and cheering by some other people. It was eerie to hear that in real life (vs. on TV or in the movies).

When the trial ended, it was past 6 PM. And dark outside.

The jurors were given a police escort out of the courthouse to our cars in the parking lot.

After spending three days with all the other jurors, it was kind of a bittersweet feeling to say goodbye.

One of the men in our group was a recent immigrant from the Philippines; he became a citizen just two years ago, and now he and his wife are raising a family. I recommended he watch 12 Angry Men, and told him how much it was like our jury, with one major difference being that we couldn't smoke in our jury room.

Eventually we all parted ways, never to see each other again, just like the end of the movie.

The Luck of the Irish (1948)

What It's About
While in Ireland, an American political journalist with Irish roots (Tyrone Power) meets a Leprechaun (Cecil Kellaway) and falls in love with a lovely maidservant (Anne Baxter).

Once he's back in the United States, he lands a job a for a newspaper mogul (Lee J. Cobb) and gets tangled up in a relationship with the boss' daughter (Jayne Meadows).

The Leprechaun reappears in Power's life, and serves as his conscience of sorts. Power also meets up with the maidservant again in the most unlikeliest of places - on a New York subway.

Once the film is 3/4 over, Power must decide whether or not to pursue Anne Baxter. Luckily, the Leprechaun is there to help him make the decision.

My Take (some spoilers ahead):
I enjoyed the first 20 minutes or so, when the film takes place in the Irish village and Power meets Kellaway. They have some interesting banter. "Let me go you bosthoon, or I'll parch your bones with fever", says the Leprechaun when Power catches him and demands to see his pot of gold. Kellaway calls him an "omadhaun"; but when he finds out Power isn't interested in harming him or stealing his gold, he is forever grateful, and even offers him a good luck gold piece.

When the setting moves to New York, a "cold and inhospitable city" as its called, the magic seems to disappear. Power encounters the Leprechaun again, who has left his green coat and hat behind and has assumed the name of "Horace". When Power first sees him, he doesn't even recognize him. Even when Horace becomes a servant in Power's apartment, I still didn't understand what Horace's purpose was - was he going to grant a wish to the Power character? Or serve as his conscience?

I was a bit disappointed in this film, and odd romantic-drama fantasy with a touch of comedy. In one odd scene, Horace is caught having stolen the milk of everyone in the building (Leprechauns really like milk apparently). There's a bit of a gloomy tone throughout the film; by the end of the film, Horace gets a bit philosophical with Power, and I was left scratching my head. Laura reviewed this movie on her blog a few years ago and enjoyed it more than I did.

Kellaway is amusing as the Leprechaun, and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor of 1948. His cousin, actor Edmund Gwenn, won an Oscar the year before playing Santa Claus in Miracle on 34th Street (I was reminded of that film while watching this one). But this film is not nearly as good, in my opinion.

Somewhat recommended.

Available on DVD. Special features includes a remembrance by Jayne Meadows. The scenes in Ireland are tinted green (the movie in in black-and-white)

More thoughts on this film:

Classic Filmboy's Movie Paradise

I'm in agreement with with this review.

Best Actor/Best Supporting Actor Oscar blog

Louis reviews Cecil Kellway's performance.

Laura's Miscellaneous Musings

Laura points out the similarities to Brigadoon