The Exorcist Voice is Silenced

A Hollywood legend has fallen. Oscar-winning actress and clenched-fist fireball Mercedes McCambridge has died at age 87. Although she's famous for being the demonic voice of Linda Blair in "The Exorcist," my favorite role for McCambridge was as the repressed coil of lust, greed, and envy that she played in "Johnny Guitar." The role required her to match the assured power of Joan Crawford, and McCambridge was more than up to the task. Her frenzied voice, frantic movements, and revenge-fueled righteousness was the perfect compliment to Crawford's steady solitude. McCambridge began in the days of radio, and appeared in at least three of the great movies ever made (Touch of Evil, Giant). Of course, great actresses never die -- they're just neglected during their lifetimes and leave behind great DVDs to watch over, and over, and over.