Jason Miller mentioned that an old Jesuit at Georgetown gave him a medallon to protect him from the devil during the filming. I can't recall which it was. For some reason I didn't think it was the St. Joseph one used in the film. Anyone know?
shareYes, it was a St. Joseph's medal. This kind of medal returns in the film every time (Merrin's archaeological crew discovers one in Nineveh, Iraq! Karras' mother also wears one), but not so in the original book. William Peter Blatty's book 'On The Exorcist' recalls how director Friedkin put it in the story so that the audience could follow it as a visual theme.
"When there is no more room in the oven,
the Bread will walk the earth."
In The Fear of God documentary Blatty mentions that he was given a medal by an od priest to protect him from the Devil. It was a medal of the Blessed Virgin (mentioned at 20min 23sec).
"Remember, you have to make it home to get paid" (The Dogs of War)