Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will celebrate the life and career of director William Friedkin with a programming tribute this September and November. Friedkin, who died August 7 at the age of 87, started his career by directing one of the last episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. He went on to be known as one of the iconic directors of New Hollywood in the 1970s with such hits as The Exorcist (1973) and The French Connection (1971), which won him the Academy Award for Best Director. William Friedkin was a great friend to Turner Classic Movies and he attended the TCM Classic Film Festival several times, most recently in April 2023.
TCM Remembers William Friedkin Part 1 – Thursday, September 14 (All times Eastern)
8:00 PM – The French Connection (1971) – Two New York narcotics cops set out to bust a French drug smuggling ring. [Read Chris Smits’ review.]
10:00 PM – To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) – A Secret Service agent becomes obsessed with tracking down a notorious and dangerous Los Angeles counterfeiter.
12:15 AM – The Boys in the Band (1970) – A gay birthday party turns into a night of soul-searching when the host’s straight college roommate turns up by mistake.
TCM Remembers William Friedkin Part 2 – Sunday, November 26 (All times Eastern)
8:00 PM – Friedkin Uncut (2018) – TCM Premiere – In this documentary, William Friedkin is interviewed about his career, alongside a number of his colleagues and industry admirers.
10:00 PM – The Exorcist (1973) – A priest battles to save a young girl possessed by demons.
