tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61206912011-04-21T20:45:10.364-05:00Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1162266433337413552006-10-31T19:04:00.000-06:002006-10-31T19:13:09.703-06:00

Compare the above screenshot (appears at time code 28:49 in the "Special Edition" version of The Exorcist) of the "McNeil House" with the actual structure as it appears today (below), minus the built-on mansard roof and side wing created for the film. While the screenshot is a bit vertically compressed, the core of the house and portions of the front gate are easily recognizable in both images.

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1162250097753964592006-10-30T23:14:00.000-06:002006-10-30T23:14:15.723-06:00

Renowned actor Ellen Burstyn ("Chris McNeil" in "The Exorcist," "Requiem for a Dream," "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood") will be signing copies of her autobiography, "Lessons in Becoming Myself," at Chicago's Swedish American Museum Center (5211 N. Clark Street, in the Andersonville neghborhood) tonight at 7:30pm, and tomorrow (Halloween!) at 12:30pm at Borders, 150 N. State Street,

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1159558344613994552006-09-29T14:29:00.000-05:002006-09-29T14:32:24.626-05:00

On my recent visit to Washington, DC, I took some new photos in Georgetown; this one's a slightly different angle, taken through an amber polarizing filter. The full size version is available at Flickr. Zoom in on the 1280 x 960 size, and you'll see a local DC news crew camera and reporter at the base of the steps - not sure what the occasion was.

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1158859789497552272006-09-21T12:29:00.000-05:002006-09-21T12:36:15.326-05:00

Note the distinctive clock tower - Wikipedia provides an interesting bit of trivia:A tradition at Georgetown involves students stealing the clock hands from the tower and mailing them to the Vatican, where they are supposed to be simply stamped 'return to sender' and returned to the university. One such incident caused significant damage to the clock mechanism, however, and security has been

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1158789116254501552006-09-20T16:50:00.000-05:002006-09-20T17:17:01.083-05:00

In case you hadn't found it yourselves already, IMDb has a comprehensive list of the locations used in filming The Exorcist.Here's what 3600 Prospect Street in Georgetown - the "McNeil House" - looks like today.Dahlgren Chapel in AugustNote, this new series of "Exorcist Revisited" photos is available on Flickr™ under a Creative Commons license.

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1155405988950064142006-08-12T12:59:00.000-05:002006-08-12T13:06:28.950-05:00

I've just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. with fresh 2006 images of the locales used in the original Exorcist film, including the "Hitchcock Steps," Georgetown University, and a peek behind the black fence at the real "Exorcist House" at the corner of 36th and Prospect. Stay tuned!

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1071262377596010272005-08-25T14:52:00.000-05:002005-08-25T09:15:41.683-05:00

William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel captured our imaginations with its tale of ancient evil and demonic possession striking at the heart of a vulnerable newly divorced American family. But before we talk about the Exorcist phenomenon's cultural significance, let's begin with a quick synopsis of the story."Evil against evil"The novel's opening scene is a sun baked archaeological dig in the desert

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1115245172868299672005-05-04T17:18:00.000-05:002005-05-04T17:19:32.876-05:00

On May 20th, Paul Schrader's "shelved" original prequel to the Exorcist film series will hit theaters, and from what I've read so far, this version of the film may be every bit as good as Renny Harlin's eleventh-hour reshoot was awful. I honestly never expected this version of the film to see any big screen time at all, despite the franchise's fan base clamoring, so news of its 110-screen

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-109234508381106292004-08-12T16:01:00.000-05:002004-08-18T15:52:57.296-05:00

The Independent and The Guardian have some very good interviews with Paul Schrader, discussing matters of film, esthetics and marketing...and yes, the Exorcist prequel:With hindsight, Schrader likens the whole farrago to "a simple case of buyer's remorse. Somebody goes out and buys a Lexus and they come home and say: 'You know what? I should really have bought a Hummer.' So they go out and buy a

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1091549951020435362004-08-03T14:40:00.000-05:002004-08-13T12:48:57.346-05:00

If you haven't visited already, be sure to check out Warner Bros.' official Exorcist: The Beginning site. You'll find some snazzy interactive animation, wallpapers and screenshots in addition to the usual film website content. The local Century Theaters in Evanston lists August 20th as the opening date. The curious can view the International Extended trailer on Apple.com [QuickTime™ required]

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1091555061125977642004-08-03T12:42:00.000-05:002004-08-13T12:49:13.226-05:00

Stairs leading to second floor of Healy Hall, which appear in the scene where Father Karras goes to meet with Church leaders to request permission for Regan MacNeil's exorcism. [Photo taken 2002]

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1091554589583574912004-08-03T12:34:00.000-05:002004-08-13T12:49:28.926-05:00

But he used to, or so I hear. This is 3618 Prospect Street, reportedly one of author William Peter Blatty's former residences during his Georgetown days.

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1091554335358033222004-08-03T12:29:00.000-05:002004-08-13T12:49:56.510-05:00

This is a front view of Healy Hall from the summer of 2002, showing the locale where the "film within a film" scene in the original Exorcist was filmed [below, image © Warner Brothers].

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1091554101250033992004-08-03T12:26:00.000-05:002004-08-13T12:50:12.920-05:00

This is a view through the archway of Dahlgren Chapel, looking towards Healy Hall.

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1086127664523024882004-06-01T17:07:00.000-05:002004-06-01T17:09:37.980-05:00

Mark Kermode ("The Fear of God") breaks the silence on Exorcist: The Beginning in a rare piece for the Guardian UK:Even by the bedevilled standards of Exorcist movies, which have legendarily fallen foul of fires, deaths, bans, reshoots, jinxes and law-suits, the problems haunting Exorcist: The Beginning are hellish. No wonder the writer and director of the original 1973 classic, about the

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1077569761902773132004-02-23T14:56:00.000-06:002004-02-23T15:12:44.403-06:00

Setting aside any preconceptions about the Exorcist prequel, allow me to direct you to a few links that may be of cinephilic interest:A three-part article with set coverage and photos from the set of Exorcist : The Beginning from JoBlo.comThe New York Times' brief-but-descriptive review of the filmHorrorexpress.com talks with screenwriter Caleb CarrCaptainHowdy.com has dedicated an entire section

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1071870519051211112003-12-19T15:48:00.000-06:002004-08-13T12:51:21.316-05:00

Another view of the Exorcist Steps taken August 2002, with three stairclimbers to provide a little scale; and yes, in person they do look even creepier and more gothic that their age would suggest. As you can gather, these steep steps are quite the challenge on the calves.

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1071260674892580682003-12-12T14:24:00.000-06:002003-12-12T16:05:50.153-06:00

Sad to say, but the latest series of developments in the Exorcist: The Beginning saga have made me give up on any sort of anticipation for the fourth film in the franchise. Quite honestly, it's expecting a bit much from fans and filmmakers alike to wait through the countless name, personnel, screenwriter and production company changes this project has seen to date. Though I'm not really one of

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-10710808444940902003-12-10T12:27:00.000-06:002004-08-13T12:51:44.256-05:00

Looking down the "Exorcist Steps", from the top landing on Prospect Street. I was happy to see that the graffiti and fan-related defacements (which you can glimpse during a scene in the BBC's Fear Of God documentary, hosted by Mark Kermode) that have plagued the site for years, are gone. The Key Bridge, Potomac River and part of Roslyn, Virginia can be seen in the distance, at top.

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1071079513544308162003-12-10T12:05:00.000-06:002004-08-13T12:52:05.366-05:00

A view up the 'Exorcist Steps' - which despite the warmth and brightness of the day, still have a cold, Gothic atmosphere. These are the steep stone steps Georgetown residents and students use to work out their cardiovascular systems; Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller), Burke Dennings (Jack MacGowran) and an Exorcist stuntman all took a tumble down them. Fortunately for the stuntman, the

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1070933837284218322003-12-08T19:37:00.000-06:002004-08-13T12:52:54.976-05:00

The "Exorcist Steps" (aka the Hitchcock Steps) as seen from their base, now the parking lot of a service station on M Street in Georgetown. Unless you're familiar with the "M" Street area, the steps are easily missed - they're located between a stone retaining wall and the Car Barn, spanning the deep drop between Prospect and "M" Streets. Tourists: the best way to view them is to take a left

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1070933502042044972003-12-08T19:31:00.000-06:002004-08-13T12:53:11.246-05:00

Interior of Dahlgren Chapel, showing the altar and stained-glass window at the rear of the chapel. Although this interior was not used in the original film (see above), I believe it was used for a brief scene in Exorcist III where Lt. Bill Kinderman (played by George C. Scott) interviews a crime witness.

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1070933043839216542003-12-08T19:24:00.000-06:002004-08-13T12:53:27.246-05:00

Dahlgren Chapel on the Georgetown campus, seen in The Exorcist as the site of a ritual desecration; however, the chapel interior seen in the film is not that of Dahlgren. Since church officials did not give William Friedkin permission to shoot the scene depicting a desecrated statue of the Virgin Mary (it was considered too blasphemous), a church in New York was used as a stand-in. Dahlgren

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6120691.post-1069614740174039622003-11-23T13:12:00.000-06:002003-12-12T14:51:56.976-06:00

Coming soon: Photos from Georgetown shown in The Exorcist, news on the forthcoming motion picture The Exorcist 4, and much more!

Lenkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05897151468257242033noreply@blogger.com0