Born on this day – William Brinkley:

William Brinkley

Writer

September 10, 1917 - November 22, 1993

When William Brinkley was a reporter for The Washington Post, he wrote the article covering the exorcism of a 14-year-old boy who lived in Mt. Rainier, Washington.

This case later became the inspiration for the novel The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty, published in 1971, and the movie of the same title, directed by William Friedkin and released in 1973.

Article in the Post was dated: Friday, August 20, 1949.

On this day in movie history - The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist

directed by William Friedkin,

written by and based on the novel by William Peter Blatty,

was released in the United States on December 26, 1973.

Music by Jack Nitzsche.

Excerpt from Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield.

Cast:

Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Father William O'Malley, Father Thomas Bermingham, Peter Masterson, Robert Symonds, Barton Heyman, Rudolf Schündler, Arthur Storch, Vasiliki Maliaros, Titos Vandis, Dick Callinan, William Peter Blatty, Mercedes McCambridge, Eileen Dietz.