In this first of a multi-part exploration of William Friedkin's ground-breaking and massively successful adaptation of William Peter Blatty's best-selling novel 'The Exorcist':

Friedkin & DP Owen Roizman coming off 'The French Connection' and into 'The Exorcist'

Casting travails involving Jack Nicholson, Paul Newman, Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft, and Audrey Hepburn.

Jason Miller and Ellen Burstyn willing themselves into their roles.

Studio pushback on the film's prequel, set in Iraq, and Friedkin's demand that they film there despite political upheaval and a lack of an Iraqi film industry.

The search for a girl to pay Regan; over 1,000 seen, hundreds screen-tested, before Linda Blair walked into the film production's offices.

Special Effects approaches courtesy of Dick Smith and Rick Baker.

Soundtrack troubles with Bernard Hermann and Lalo Schiffrin and the saving grace of Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells'.

This episode features Friedkin, Blatty, Roizman, and Ellen Bursytn in their own words.

Other Friedkin Full Cast & Crew Episodes:

The French Connection

To Live And Die In LA

The best way to consume these 'The Exorcist' episodes is:

Listen to this episode before watching/re-watching.

Listen to episode 2 The Rewatch after watching/re-watching.

Listen to episodes 3 and 4.