Schrader's rejected script, military noncooperation, the alien performers, the $3.3 million effects budget, motion-control advances, and Truffaut's response to the sets
Fifty girls, each six years old and from Mobile, were cast as aliens after puppetry failed. — Bill Simmons
Douglas Trumbull supervised visual effects that advanced motion-control photography. — Bill Simmons
The visual-effects work is reported to have had a $3.3 million budget. — Bill Simmons
Ralph McQuarrie's contribution to the mothership is noted alongside his Star Wars work. — Bill Simmons
Truffaut reportedly ignored the giant landing-site set but praised the small hotel-room set as familiar to his filmmaking experience. — Bill Simmons
Truffaut's role is defended because communication beyond language is a central theme and his films influenced the filmmakers' generation. — Sean Fennessey
The Searchers is cited as a visual influence, including its doorway and horizon compositions. — Sean Fennessey
Topps reportedly issued sixty-six trading cards and eleven stickers, excluding Dreyfuss and Truffaut at their request. — Bill Simmons
Jaws, Rocky, Rocky II, and E.T. are cited as other films with card sets. — Bill Simmons
Who won: Schrader is proposed; a distinct George C.Scott choice cites his performance and the enduring meme. Seedy late 1970 scities are then floated as a playful alternative. — Sean Fennessey
Who won: the cities proposer settles on Schrader, and another explicitly agrees with Schrader while appreciating the Scott argument.
Scarfiotti is an alternative for designing the film; his nonunion visual-consultant status is said to have prevented an art-direction or production-design nomination. — Sean Fennessey
Schrader could have displaced one of the directing nominees: Redford for Ordinary People, Scorsese for Raging Bull, Lynch for The Elephant Man, Rush for The Stunt Man, or Polanski for Tess. First Reformed is recalled as his first nomination. — Bill Simmons
The slow opening and some dated effects are criticized; Exorcist II is described as a notorious failed change of direction. — Bill Simmons
Exorcist 3 is praised, while the prequel production involving Paul Schrader and Harlin is described as strange.
Blair’s post-film career is reserved for later discussion; a Toyota Pazuzu story is a joke, and the gray jogging sweatsuit receives affectionate attention.
The hosts describe injuries to the actresses, a gun fired near Miller, and the director striking the real priest before his scene. — Chris Ryan
Burke’s drunken and confrontational party behavior is criticized with some nostalgia. — Chris Ryan
