Episode 46: Remembering ‘The Exorcist’ and ‘The French Connection’ Filmmaker William Friedkin, RIP-SLIS Podcast

Last week lovers of intense cinema were saddened by the passing of director William Friedkin, who died on August 7 at the age of 87.

Friedkin was a true force of nature, an uncompromising director known primarily for two of the greatest films of the 1970’s (and of all time): hardboiled crime drama ‘The French Connection’ (starring Gene Hackman) and ‘The Exorcist’, one of the most iconic and terrifying films ever made (and which turns 50 this year).

While his career waned in ensuing decades, he remained a fascinating filmmaker, and on today’s podcast, Jack Sommersby and I cover it all, from the two award winning films that gave him his notoriety, along with some reviled flops ( ‘Cruising’ and ‘Jade’) and other films that became cult classics despite failing at the box office (‘To Live and Die In L.A.’, ‘Sorcerer’) along with some 21st century films like ‘Bug’ and ‘Killer Joe’ that garnered him a new audience.

So take a listen as we do a deep dive into a singular filmmaker’s body of work, and why his like will never come again. You can listen via the Spotify embed below, or all the podcast options at the bottom of the post.

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