The Emergence of a Leading Master of New Hollywood
William Friedkin, who lived from 1935 to 2023, inscribed his name in film history as a director emblematic of 1970s New Hollywood. Born into a Jewish immigrant family in Chicago, he began as a mailroom worker at a local television station, became an assistant director on programs, and then distinguished himself as a documentary filmmaker. His 1962 documentary The People vs. Paul Crump achieved a social result by contributing to the release of a young Black man wrongfully sentenced to death, giving him an experience of changing reality through the power of film. The documentary methods and commitment to realism developed during this period became the foundation of his distinctive approach to dramatic filmmaking. He moved to Hollywood in 1965 and made his theatrical feature directing debut with a comedy in 1967.
The New Standard Set by The French Connection
The French Connection, released in 1971, established Friedkin’s reputation. Based on an actual drug investigation, this crime thriller shook the film world with its rigorous realism and substantial story. It won five major awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, at the 44th Academy Awards and became an enduring masterpiece that profoundly influenced subsequent police action films. The high-speed car chase beneath an elevated railway is especially famous as a landmark scene in film history, becoming a standard imitated by later films. Shooting entirely on real New York streets without using sets, and capturing many scenes through guerrilla filming without permits, Friedkin incorporated passing pedestrians and scattered trash as parts of raw reality. This innovative approach brought documentary authenticity to a dramatic film, powerfully drawing audiences into its world.
The New Territory Opened for Horror by The Exorcist
The Exorcist, released in 1973, is another of Friedkin’s landmark achievements. This occult horror film depicts the struggle between a demon possessing an adolescent girl and Catholic priests. By portraying supernatural events with a realistic, convincing touch, it elevated horror from a low-budget sideline to a major genre. On release, it became a cultural phenomenon, with reports of viewers fainting, and enjoyed theatrical runs in the United States lasting more than two years. At the 46th Academy Awards, it received 10 nominations, including Best Picture, becoming the first horror film nominated for that award. Its intense exorcism scenes and religious themes shook audiences worldwide and paved the way for major-studio horror productions such as The Omen and The Shining. It also established exorcism films as a major horror subgenre, significantly raising the genre’s standing.
Innovation in Film History and an Enduring Influence
Friedkin’s influence on later generations is immeasurable. The documentary-style police action established by The French Connection became a model for later works, including Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Its realism-oriented visual techniques, with extensive use of handheld cameras and actual locations, have been passed down to contemporary filmmakers. More recently, David Gordon Green, director of an official sequel to The Exorcist, revealed that he cast paramedics and police officers in imitation of Friedkin’s approach of using real people. Friedkin occupies a firm position as an emblematic figure of New Hollywood alongside Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg, and his films continue to captivate new generations of creators and audiences. His compelling direction that seems to pull audiences into reality, his courage in confronting taboos, and his tireless passion for cinema continue to stimulate and inspire the film world.
