The Filming of "The Exorcist"

An Exhibition from the Georgetown University Archives

Stephen Richard Kerbs Exhibit Area

In October and November 1972, scenes for the movie, The Exorcist, were filmed at sites on or close to the Georgetown University campus. The Quadrangle, Dahlgren Chapel, Healy Hall, Old North, Kehoe Field, the Lauinger Library steps, and the “Exorcist Steps” (74 stone steps offering a convenient route between Prospect and M Streets, known prior to the film as the M Street steps), all feature in the movie.


William Peter Blatty (C'1950) adapted his 1971 novel of the same name for the screen, winning the Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 1974. He also produced the movie which was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in all. His novel was inspired by an exorcism performed in 1949 on a 14 year old boy who lived in Mount Rainier in Prince George’s County, Maryland. This exorcism was reported in the Washington Post and Blatty saw the coverage while a Georgetown student.


To mark the 50th anniversary of the movie's shooting, this exhibition documents the filming process through photographs, clippings and other records.
 

Black and white, head and shoulders photo of William Peter Blatty

William Peter Blatty, C’1950.  Pictured in Ye Domesday Booke, 1950

A native of New York City, New York, William Peter Blatty was an author, producer and director, best known for his 1971 novel, The Exorcist. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1950 with a B.A. in English. As a student, he was active in Mask and Bauble and WGTB, the campus radio station. He also wrote for The Hoya and the Georgetown College Journal.

In 1978, Georgetown honored him with the John Carroll Award, the award given to alumni whose achievements and record of service exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown University and its founder.  

 

Ad for "Movies Extras" including good tennis players

Ad for extras. The Hoya, October 13 (a Friday), 1972

Around 300 Georgetown students, staff  and faculty, including Jesuits, feature as extras in the movie. Assuming the roles of passersby, tennis players, and protestors in front of Healy Hall, they earned salaries ranging from $35 to $128 per day.    

 

Typed list of shooting locations and shooting dates
Page 2 of a typed list of shooting locations and shooting dates

Warner Brothers shooting schedule

Gift of Professor Emeritus Clifford Chieffo who, while chair of the Fine Arts Department, acted as Georgetown University Liaison  Agent with Warner Brothers for filming on campus property.

The studio was charged the standard commercial rate for use of University property, $1000 per day.

 

 

Photograph showing scaffolding in front of 3600 Prospect Street

Temporary wing being added prior to filming at 3600 Prospect Street. Georgetown Today, November 1972

Photograph of movie camera outside the 1789 Restaurant
Photograph of filming at the corner of Prospect and 36th Street
Photograph of filming at 3600 Prospect Street NW

Filming: Night shooting on Prospect Street

Gift of Professor Emeritus Clifford Chieffo who, while chair of the Fine Arts Department, acted as Georgetown University Liaison  Agent with Warner Brothers for filming on campus property.

Director William Friedkin is seen in cap and sheepskin coat.

The tree pictured in front of 3600 Prospect Street caused some concern as shooting on schedule was contingent on it having dropped most of its leaves by the beginning of November. Luckily, it obliged.

 

 

Photograph of crowd at the north entrance to Healy Hall
Close up photograph of crowd at the north end of Healy Hall
Photograph of Ellen Burstyn wearing a hot and jacket, walking down the steps beside Lauinger Library

Filming: Crowd scenes in front of Healy Hall and Ellen Burstyn (Chris MacNeil) walking down the Lauinger Library steps

Photograph of "Exorcist" actors on the steps of Old North

Filming: Jason Miller (Father Damien Karras) and Lee J. Cobb (Lt. William Kinderman) in the Quadrangle. Georgetown Today, March 1974

Black and white photograph taken from the lobby of Healy Hall showing Jason Miller walking up the stairs

Filming: Jason Miller (Father Damien Karras) walks up the steps at the north end of Healy Hall

Jason Miller, who stars in the movie as Father Damien Karras, spent a week on campus during the summer of 1972 studying the lifestyle of the Jesuits. 

Miller, a playwright as well as an actor, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best supporting actor in 1974 for his portrayal of Father Karras. After The Exorcist, he was offered the lead role in Taxi Driver but turned it down for Robert Mulligan's The Nickel Ride.    

 

Newspaper clipping including the photos of Father Thomas King and Professor Clifford Chieffo

“Exorcist Mishaps.” Georgetown Voice, March 6, 1973

A series of accidents related to the movie’s production led Father Thomas King, S.J., professor of theology at Georgetown, to bless the set on more than one occasion.

 

Poster publicizing the screening of Bladerunner and The Excorcist

“GPB presents Halloween 1993.” Georgetown Program Board poster, October 1993

A screening of the movie on campus is something of a Halloween tradition. In 1993, the venue was Gaston Hall.

Newspaper clipping including photograph of William Peter Blatty at the foot of the Exorcist Steps
Newspaper clipping including photograph of filming in front of Dahlgren Chapel
Check made out to Father Durkin dated September 8, 1997

Filming The Exorcist III, The Hoya, September 8,1989. Residual royalty check for Father Joseph T. Durkin, S.J.,1997

Scenes for The Exorcist III were also filmed at Georgetown in June 1989. Among the extras was Father Joseph T. Durkin, S.J., professor of history. His payment in 1997 netted out to $1.90 per week.

 

Acknowledgments

Curated by Lynn Conway, Georgetown University Archivist