William Friedkin, the iconic director known for his groundbreaking films such as The French Connection and The Exorcist, passed away on Monday at the age of 87. His wife, Sherry Lansing, confirmed his death in Los Angeles. Friedkin was revered for his exceptional visual eye, his ability to take genre subjects and treat them with high seriousness, and his mastery of sound to create a sense of dread, mystery, and dissonance in his films.
Friedkin emerged as part of a brilliant generation of filmmakers in the 1970s who disrupted the traditional studio system. Along with his peers, he sought independence and creative control over their projects. They formed The Directors Company, although disputes and disagreements led to its dissolution, which is famously known for turning down the opportunity to direct Star Wars. Friedkin stood out among these talented directors with his willingness to challenge the establishment, as demonstrated when he cheekily responded to Alfred Hitchcock’s criticism for not wearing a tie on set by jokingly yanking his bow-tie and saying, ‘How do you like the tie, Hitch?’
Despite this playful banter, it would have surprised Hitchcock to know that Friedkin held his work in high regard, along with the work of Orson Welles. Friedkin’s passion for cinema and his commitment to his craft earned him the admiration of a younger generation of filmmakers. Damien Chazelle, who became the youngest director to win an Oscar, sought out Friedkin to meet him before his own triumph. Friedkin’s talent and originality shone through, even in films that could have been dismissed as B movies in the hands of another director.
The Exorcist, released in 1973, is considered one of Friedkin’s most revered works. The film opens in a Middle Eastern desert, creating a sense of dread and foreboding through its desaturated visuals, naturalistic performances, and a haunting soundtrack. The film was not intended as a horror story but rather as a fully explored drama. Friedkin’s fascination with the subject of possession extended throughout his career, culminating in his final film, The Devil and Father Amorth, a documentary about the oldest-living exorcist, in which he personally operated the camera during an exorcism.
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Similarly, The French Connection, for which Friedkin won an Oscar, could have been a routine crime thriller. However, Friedkin transformed it into an atmospheric masterpiece by capturing the bitter cold of a New York winter, elevating the bleak urban landscape into a character itself. Evil lurks in these mean streets, just as it does in the elegant home of a possessed young girl in The Exorcist. Friedkin’s films often blurred the lines between good and bad, exploring the intentions rather than the actions of his characters. He believed in the ethical complexity of human nature and reflected this in his movies.
Friedkin’s films were rooted in the cynicism and moral ambiguity that characterized the 1970s, influenced by the Vietnam War and Watergate. He approached filmmaking with a deep pessimism, which was evident even in his more commercially successful films like The Exorcist and The French Connection, which ended in partial failure rather than triumph. Despite this pessimism, Friedkin possessed a wit, humor, and engagement with life that stayed with him until the end.
Born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Friedkin grew up in a poor household and was not exposed to art, literature, or morality. It was during his time working at a local TV station that he discovered his passion for film and began to explore the wider world of art and artists. He started as a mailroom worker but quickly advanced to become a director of live television. His career took a significant turn when he made a documentary about a death row inmate, which led to both the inmate receiving clemency and Friedkin’s move to Los Angeles to work in the film industry.
Friedkin’s early career was marked by a series of successes and failures, culminating in his breakthrough with The French Connection. He met Phil D’Antoni, the producer of Bullitt, in the Paramount steam room, who gave Friedkin the opportunity to direct the film based on a book about two New York City detectives. The French Connection went on to win him an Oscar and solidify his status as an influential filmmaker.
William Friedkin leaves behind a legacy of groundbreaking cinema that pushed the boundaries of genre and storytelling. His films were undeniably visceral, exploring themes of fear, paranoia, and moral ambiguity with a unique vision. Friedkin will always be remembered as one of the great directors of his generation, whose impact on cinema will continue to be felt for years to come.
