William Friedkin would have turned 88 on August 29 and a few days later the Venice Film Festival would have celebrated his birthday worthily with the out-of-competition presentation of his new film "The Caine Mutiny: Court Martial".
The occasion will be sadder and his chair will remain empty in that Palazzo del Cinema which he had chosen as his second home, where in 2013 he had been awarded the Golden Lion for his career and where he had brought his latest, extraordinary works: "Killer Joe" (2011) and the shocking documentary "The Devil and Father Amorth" (2017).
Friedkin died yesterday in Los Angeles at the age of 87: he was the author of "The Exorcist" (1973), the most terrifying film ever, the one that brought Evil into our daily lives just like Ellen Burstyn did with the possession entering the body of his beloved daughter, the very young Linda Blair. If that was his moment of maximum popularity, in truth his career had begun much earlier and today he is remembered as one of the "giants" of American cinema, a forerunner and a master among those who transformed Hollywood in the 70s.
When in 1971 the Academy received him with full honors by assigning 5 Oscars to his "The violent arm of the law", few understood that with that work the American detective story turned the page.
Born in Chicago on August 29, 1935 into a family of Ukrainian immigrants, the young William scales success as in the most classic novels of American education: there is little money at home, the boy supports his studies by being a bartender, a cleaner glasses, the delivery man. He dropped out of high school for a contract at the local television station, but before long, he was a program producer and then a live teleplay director directing over 2000 live hours.
In '67 he made his debut with the romantic "Good Times" which brings the couple Sonny and Cher to the screen, but the consecration comes 4 years later with "The violent arm of the law" with Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider.
It has often been written that after "The Exorcist" Friedkin's career has not at most reached similar heights of quality. In truth, the subsequent titles did not hit the box office in the same way, but the quality of films such as the aforementioned "Cruising" (1980), "To Live and Die in Los Angeles" (1985), "Rampage" (1985) is undeniable. 1987), "Jade" (1995), "Rules of Honor" (2000), "Killer Joe" (2011).
He loved Italy, he adored good wine, he had a stormy and happy life marked by four marriages, the first with Jeanne Moreau and the last with his adored Sheryl Lansing.
(Unioneonline/L)