Friedkin Quotes

You could kind of tell Leonard Maltin didn't seem pleased that Britney's name was mentioned in the same company as William Friedkin's, ... As I left the stage, Maltin said: 'You might want to bundle up all three volumes of your blues series and send them over to Britney and Kevin' (Federline, her husband). The audience found it very amusing. - David Peck

Violence is not funny. - William Friedkin

The leaders of the Catholic Church endorsed The Exorcist ; virtually promoted it as much as they could. The Cardinals of New York and Los Angeles and Chicago and the other big cities, all over the world, they endorsed it because it represents a literal depiction of the Roman ritual of exorcism which still exists in the Catholic faith. It's still there. The power of faith to drive out demons. And this film showed that and they embraced it. - William Friedkin

The informing idea of what you want to say and do, that's what will take you from film school to professional - the idea. That's what is original to you. - William Friedkin

The first work of the director is to set a mood so that the actor's work can take place, so that the actor can create. And in order to do that, you have to communicate, communicate with the actors. And direction is about communication on all levels. - William Friedkin

The audience was ready for that type of character, a cop who would take the law into his own hands and hold court in the street. - William Friedkin

Technique is of less interest than character and story. - William Friedkin

Style is something that's extremely important, but it must grow naturally out of who and what you are and what the material calls for. It cannot be superimposed. - William Friedkin

Of all the projects I've worked on, I've never worked with another director like Billy Friedkin. I think he's a genius. - Linda Blair