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:: The Exorcist III (Film) - Inconsistencies
 
This page last updated: July 13, 2007
 
:: The Exorcist III (Film) - Inconsistencies
 


When it comes to the relationship between the original Exorcist novel / film and the Legion novel / Exorcist III film, there are a variety of elements that do not add up. Likewise, various parts of the Legion novel were alternated for its movie counterpart.

Listed below are all the inconsistencies I have so far identified. Do not hesitate to contact me if anything relevant is missing.

Note: the inconsistencies are listed in the order of which they were (are) discovered.

- Ryan S


 

» No. » Image(s) » The Exorcist (film) / The Exorcist III (film) inconsistencies:

#1

In The Exorcist III, the University President and Lt. Kinderman are discussing possible connections between the murders that have been occurring throughout Georgetown. They come up with a possible solution to account for Thomas Kintry's death (the black boy who was crucified on the dock):

"Damien [Karras] gave our School of Linguistics a tape he wanted them to analyze for him. The voice of the MacNeil kid, supposedly possessed. He wanted to find out if the sounds on the tape were a language, or just a lot of gibberish. He was looking for proof that the MacNeil kid was speaking in a language she couldn't possibly have known."

"And was she?"

"No. The tape was really English in reverse. But the expert who figured that out--"

"--Was Kintry's mother."

In The Exorcist, however, this is never mentioned, and we see a man inform Karras about the tape.

#2

In addition to the above inconsistency, and in the same scene, the University President accounts for Fr. Kanavan's death:

"And Father Kanavan?"

"Kanavan had my job back then. He gave Damien permission to investigate the case."

Once again, it is not explicitly mentioned in the original film that Kanavan is the man giving Karras permission to investigate the case; and it is Fr. Thomas Bermingham who had the occupation of University President, not Kanavan. Bermingham was also the technical / religious supervisor for the original Exorcist film.

It should also be noted that it is Fr. Bermingham who is murdered in this scene in the Legion novel. It was changed to Fr. Kanavan for the film of The Exorcist III.

It should also be noted that, in the Legion novel, Fr. Bermingham's first name is changed to Ken, and Bermingham is mentioned as giving Karras permission to investigate the case of possession, not Kanavan as stated in The Exorcist III.

#3

In both the Legion novel and The Exorcist III film, it is implied that Lt. Kinderman and Fr. Karras were very close friends. In one of the first scenes of the film, Kinderman is seen holding up a framed photograph of himself and Karras, while mournfully whispering the name "Damien".

Further dialogue is heard in the film:

"Father Karras was a Jesuit psychiatrist at Georgetown University. Man was a Saint; he was my best friend, I loved him."

In the original Exorcist novel and film, Karras and Kinderman barely encounter each other at all during the entire ordeal, making this supposed "friendship" between the two men extremely questionable.

» No. » Image(s) » Legion (novel) / The Exorcist III (film) inconsistencies:

#1

N/A

The time that elapsed between the events in The Exorcist and the events in Legion alternate. In the Legion novel, it is twelve years; in The Exorcist III film it is fifteen years, and in the unreleased trailer, it is seventeen years.

#2

In the Legion novel, the Gemini Killer's real name is spelt "James Vennamun," with a double 'n'. In the film, it is a single 'n'.

#3

N/A

In the Legion novel, Patient X is located in cell twelve. In the film, it is cell eleven.

#4

The following is written on page 148 of the paperback Legion novel:

Tacked against the side of the desk was the motto "An Alcoholic Is Someone Who Drinks More Than His Doctor."

In The Exorcist III film, the motto is framed and hung high up on the wall, with the text reading "A psychotic is someone more neurotic than his doctor".

#5

In the Legion novel, Nurse Allerton is described as a young woman in her twenties. Her first name is Emily. In The Exorcist III, she is much older, and her first name is Julie. Allerton is also the one who is questioned regarding Fr. Dyer's death in The Exorcist III film. In Legion, it is Nurse Keating.

It should also be mentioned that, in the Legion novel, the woman appearing in this scene is not Nurse Allerton, but a different nurse named Julie Fantozzi.

#6

N/A

The following is written on page 175 of the paperback Legion novel:

The Gemini killings were confined to San Francisco and had spanned a range of seven years from 1964 to 1971, when the Gemini was killed by a rain of bullets while climbing a girder of the Golden Gate Bridge, where the police had entrapped him after countless failed attempts.

In The Exorcist III film, we are told that the Gemini Killer died in the electric chair.

#7

N/A

In the Legion novel, the erratic Chief of Hospital staff, Dr. Tench, is renamed Dr. Freedman.

#8

N/A

In the Legion novel, the John Donne piece (Death, be not proud...) that is spoken by Karras / Patient X in his cell in The Exorcist III film, is extended and read aloud at Fr. Dyer's funeral by the University President, Father Riley.

#9

In the Legion novel, Fr. Karras' headstone reads the following:

Damien Karras, S.J.
1928 - 1971

In The Exorcist III film, his headstone reads that he was born on the 12th of April, 1935, and died on the 9th of October, 1975.

Interestingly, William Peter Blatty was born in the year 1928.

#10

N/A

In The Exorcist III film, it is Dr. Temple who describes the events of when Patient X was brought into the institution. In the Legion novel, Nurse Christine Charles describes it.

#11

N/A

In The Exorcist III film, Kinderman insists - violently - that the details he seeks about Patient X are "not in the file". This conversation is taking place between himself and Nurse Allerton, with Dr. Temple watching. In the Legion novel, it is entirely between Kinderman and Temple.

#12

N/A

In The Exorcist III film, Kinderman says that "only Richmond homicide knew," about the real details of the Gemini Killer's trademarks. In the Legion novel, "Richmond" is changed to "San Francisco".

#13

N/A

In The Exorcist III film, Karras / Patient X details picking Karen up in Richmond, then dropping her off at the city dump. In the Legion novel, "Richmond" is changed to "Sausalito".

#14

N/A

In The Exorcist III film, it is Nurse Allerton who guides Kinderman in and out of Patient X's cell, as well as witnessing his broken nose, and subsequently aiding Kinderman's swollen hand. In the Legion novel, it is Nurse Spencer.

 

 
     

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