The Ninth Configuration (1980)
Saved on this device. to keep it.
Where to Watch
Stream
Rent
Buy
Source: JustWatch
Physical Media
Five years after The Exorcist, William Peter Blatty had a screenplay nobody wanted. Columbia developed it and let it go. Universal turned it down, according to him, just because Columbia had passed on it first.
PepsiCo had money in Communist Hungary it could not get out. They could spend the funds inside the country or not at all. The company just needed somebody with a reason to work there.
Blatty put up half the budget and decided to direct it himself. PepsiCo covered the rest, on the condition that he shoot in Budapest.
THE NINTH CONFIGURATION (1980) puts a Marine psychiatrist inside a castle the Pentagon has commandeered as an asylum for officers who may or may not be pretending to be insane. One is staging Shakespeare for an all-dog cast. Another is convinced he is Superman. Stacy Keach is the doctor. Jason Miller, Father Karras from The Exorcist, is one of the patients.
Warner Bros., which Blatty had recently sued over his share of The Exorcist profits, took the distribution rights, recut it, and released it under a different title.
Then it won the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay.
--
Release History:
February 29, 1980, Warner Bros. Test engagement in Los Angeles first, then wide in July, by which point Warner had recut it and retitled it Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane, including some 70mm bookings.
1983. Blatty's complete approved version finally played in full, in New York, advertised as never having been shown anywhere else. It ran as a midnight movie alongside Pink Flamingos and Pink Floyd The Wall. The film had been in release for three years by then.
Five versions exist, running anywhere from 99 to 140 minutes. Blatty disowned all of them except his own 118-minute cut.
About the Film
How do you fight a war called madness?
- Directed By
- William Peter Blatty
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
- Released
- February 29, 1980
- Certification
- R
- Country
- United States of America
- Starring
- Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Neville Brand
More Credits
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
- Language
- English
- Origin
- US
- Studios
- Ninth Configuration, United Film Distribution Company (UFDC)
- Written By
- William Peter Blatty
- Produced By
- William Peter Blatty, William Paul
- Cinematography
- Gerry Fisher
- Music
- Barry De Vorzon
- Also Starring
- George DiCenzo, Moses Gunn, Robert Loggia, Joe Spinell, Alejandro Rey
This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
“I claim this swamp for Poland!”
Steven F. Scharff I came here just to say this!
Sean Hert “Next time, I’ll use penguins…” I love this movie.
I remember the film played as a ‘sneak preview’ with SAINT JACK in New York in late May 1979. I wanted to see these, but my friend wanted to see THE CHINA SYNDROME. Over a year later, I saw it as TWINKLE, TWINKLE, KILLER KANE. Loved it. Saw it a few times while it had a short release. It would have made a ‘perfect’ midnight movie. In early 1979, I remembered Keach and Scott Wilson appearing on THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW promoting it.
Very strange film
I’m pretty sure Scorsese has seen this film. Check out “Shutter Island”.
Bob Ness Dennis Lahaye wrote the biok, so he probably saw it first
Yep.
Bob Nessthis trope has been used in MANY films/stories before shutter island
Thomas Smith Absolutely, I remember something like it in an old Inner Sanctum radio show.
Bob Ness thanks for the spoiler, smartypants. You can choose silence but no, better let the ego have his way. Congrats
Odd film , great cast , has good performance by Scott Wilson.
Blatty also wrote John Goldfarb, Please Come Home. One if the funniest comedies ever!
Blatty was a fascinating guy. He started off his career as a comedy writer, with his book “Which Way to Mecca, Jack” – and he spent about a year in LA posing as a Saudi prince. He even appeared on Groucho’s show as the prince.
Did not know that! Thanks for the cool info! I worked with the late, great Blake Edwards and I wrote an updated version of Peter Gunn back in 2009. He was quite a character! He told me that he stopped working with Blatty because he had a dirty mouth. I mean, come on…Peter Gunn?! it was a good script and he liked where Pete had his 50’s values in tge 21st Century. Fish out of water looking for the great whatsis! Blake passed away, but we tried to get George Clooney as Gunn and I knew Miguel Ferrar as Lt. Jacoby. They’re cousins and had never done a film together. Mikey passed on which was a shame and Clooney is an idiot.Blatty was an Air Force Intelligence officer and he said that low hums in the background leave people unsettled during interrogations. He convinced the director of the Exorcist to add this to the soundtrack. If you listen closely to the film you can hear it.
Anywhere But Hollywood Inspired by this 1938 Peter Arno cartoon (“Hey, Jack, which way to Mecca?”)? 🤔
Robert Ready was this the same Peter Arno who was an actor on The Avengers and Straw Dogs?
Peter No–he was a leading US cartoonist. “Curtis Arnoux Peters, Jr., known professionally as Peter Arno, was an American cartoonist. He contributed cartoons and 101 covers to The New Yorker from 1925, the magazine’s first year, until 1968, the year of his death…”
Whitney Scott Bain he also wrote A Shot in the Dark, the Pink Panther sequel!
Brian Fairbanks that’s right! Forgot about that one.
Brian Fairbanks IMO, the best in the whole Pink Panther series.
Whitney Scott Bain he started out as a comedy writer,
It has a slight Exorcist tie-in — the astronaut, Billy Cutshaw, is one of the guests at MacNeil’s dinner party — he (Cutshaw) is the one Possessed-Regan tells “You’re gonna die up there.”
Sven Skoog thanks for that info…
nah. blatty wrote the ninth configuration long before The exorcist
Craig A Hingley the film was made later, though, and couldve incorporated this element
Craig A Hingley not quite. He wrote “Twinkle, Twinkle Killer Kane” before the Exorcist. He later reworked the novel as “The Ninth Configuration,” and he wrote the Exorcist connection in himself.
Neil McAllister and the astronaut isn”t the same in killer kane as the exorcist however pazuzu does appear in the film for conyimuity Pazuzu is there as a stuatue in the castle
Albert Anders pazuzu made the cut He”s there in all his unholy glory The joker made exorcist III
Craig A Hingley It is the same astronaut in The Exorcist as in both the novel ‘The Ninth Configuration’ and screenplay/film. Blatty confirmed it a number of times. This is a direct Blatty quote: “After The Exorcist, I decided that I could develop the story a great deal. So I rewrote it and fleshed it out, Cutshaw became the astronaut in The Exorcist that Regan warns about going into outer space and fully developed the deeper implications and theological themes.” If you are talking about the earlier 1968 novella Twinkle Twinkle Killer Kane that’s fine but this post is specifically about the film (and 1978 novel).
Carl Murphy I said killer kane for a reason Pay attention The astronaut was unnamed in the exorcist book and film and if blatty wanted to establish continuity that was the time to do it
Craig A Hingley I like how you look at something the author has confirmed himself and then decide that you don’t believe what the author said.
Must be a nice little world you live in where you’re always right – even when you’re so very wrong.
Micah C Brown I don’t like anything you wrote
Craig A Hingley Ehh, no you didn’t. Stop trying to change your story. You said and I’m quoting you so you can’t weasel out of it: “Blatty wrote the ninth configuration long before the Exorcist”. This is a demonstrably incorrect statement. The Ninth Configuration was written in 1978 so you are wrong. End of. And again this post is about the film adaptation of The Ninth Configuration’ so your later comment about Twinkle Twinkle Killer Kane is irrelevant.
Sven Skoog I’m glad I’m not the only one that knows that
Sven Skoog don’t forget the shot of the statue of Pazuzu
Fun Fact: the Howie Scream stock sound effect debuted in this movie.
I came across it on TCM really late one night about twenty years ago and had NO idea what the hell I was watching.
Cary Allen Wilson I miss the old TCM Underground. There was always wild stuff on there.
Cary Allen Wilson I first caught it on a late night movie syndication package. Had a similar reaction. Probably the introduction to it.
Roger Dickens
“Infinite goodness consists of creating a being which you know in advance is going to complain.”
Awful film.
Great film
Really enjoyed
I’m paraphrasing a review I saw somewhere (I don’t recall where) because they hit the nail right on the head: “Funny and thought-provoking, with endlessly quotable dialogue and an amazing barroom fight scene” Terrific performances all around. It’s a shame Blatty didn’t get to direct more, he was extremely talented behind the camera.
Mike Gerstbrein Leonard Maltin I believe.
Why don’t you stick a pineapple up your ass and pretend you’re Hawaiian.
Great film! Scott Wilson was particularly good in it!
Great movie!
I saw one version on (I think) VHS. I don’t know the runtime.
In my opinion, it’s an excellent movie and one that deserves to be seen by anyone who appreciates great cinema.
Wonderful film – endlessly quotable dialogue. Was lucky enough to meet Scott Wilson at a convention and have him sign a still for me from the film. He said that until his role in The Walking Dead, The 9th Configuration was the movie most people wanted to talk to him about !!
Spike Maiden Mueller, take note!
Joseph Goodrich I have read the original book so many times, and Blatty’s rewrite once or twice. While the latter is definitely the product of a more mature writer, I vastly prefer the original. It leavened the serious material with good humor. I’ve been afraid to watch any of the movie versions, fearing they would be too close to the rewrite. Maybe it’s time to see them.
One of my absolute favourites
I saw this film at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood as “The Ninth Configuration”. I was 14 or 15 years old. It changed my life, and I loved it!
Dino Andrade Remember watching this?
Alan Kuehnau funnily enough I just did a digital rip of my Blu-Ray for my Plex Server. Love that film!
Dino Andrade Plex Server?! Why, you tech savvy sonova beach!
I saw this film back in the summer of 1980 as part of a double feature at a drive-in theater in Smithtown, NY. It was titled Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane. The scene where the astronaut encounters the crucifixion on the moon is quite memorable, as well as the scene where Stacey Keach encounters a group of bikers in a bar. I tried to find this movie On Demand several years ago but had no luck.
Sean Keddie is on Prime.
Sean Keddie also YouTube
its hot garbage
The sequence w/ Joe Spinell and his all dog troupe rehearsing Hamlet is one of the funniest bits I’ve ever witnessed.
‘You see?? We do the scene MY WAY!’ LOL
Love this movie. The dialogue is hilarious and thought provoking. And the acting is crackling
Seen it years ago. I remember a superb bar-fight scene and Stacey Keach in great form!
So there are five configurations of The Ninth Configuration you are saying? Pity they couldn’t do four more…
Stephen Bleil Sequel time!
A ‘midnight sleeper’ I first saw on Italian TV!
Unfortunately it was a commercial failure. Blatty financed most of it and directed it.
Brilliant brilliant movie, tho it should have been released w its original title, Twinkle Twinkle Killer Kane. Saw it on its first weekend and was shocked by the insane climax. Way ahead of its time.
I usually like Scott Wilson but he is a large part of why this movie doesn’t work for me. Stacy Keach is so good though, he almost saves this flick for me
“I believe we can walk through walls. You. Me. Cops. People in Nashville.”
Bradley Civick Those molecules better just get out of my way! Independent snots! Shape up or ship out!
I saw it when it came out in high school as “Twinkle, Twinkle Killer Kane” a few times and many times when they changed the name to “The Ninth Configuration.” It was a great time to have a friend that worked in the ticket window at the theater. I still have the VHS tape.
good flick.
Chr Ist Ian Greg Bell Patrick Tyler Ravida
Brilliant and heartbreaking.
I saw it at the 8th Street Playhouse in NYC at a midnite show. I was mezmerized. Great film.
Great movie!!
First time I heard about this movie was a preview on the Tom Schneider. Tomorrow show that movie has been on my mind for several decades. I actually got around to seeing it on youtube. Very weird to see this movie while stoned
The only part worth watching is the bar fight sequence .
I own it and it’s just weird .
Anton Quiksilver incorrect. That sleazy shit really shouldn’t even be in this film. Completely misplacement in terms of style, pacing and impact.
The incident could have been referred to without it becoming trashy and gratuitous
hey this must be where the idea for dog-shakespeare in Toast Of London comes from
I loved this movie. Especially the ending!
Tubi streaming it. Read the book 30 years ago and was it was Very Weird .
If you want to understand Catholicism, this movie is a must
Mark Kregel “Show me a Catholic and I’ll show you a junkie.”
– Capt. Cupshaw
I love the ninth configuration. It’s an odd little film though. Funny, serious, tragic, and also a bit sleazy
Wacky film, doesn’t really work though.
What if God is a foot. An all knowing all powerful foot???
The Ninth Configuration helped me crack the code to Shutter Island almost immediately.
Matthew Hoff same
Matthew Hoff how so?
Mark Stanley same twist
Matthew Hoff man I wish I wasn’t the other way around on this.
If you die first and there’s life after death, will you give me sign. ✝️
I feel that it’s the same location of Sidney Pollack Castle Keep 1969
This was my absolute fave movie ever when in saw it as a teen… I’d better not rewatch
The lunatics took over the asylum so to speak as Stacy Keech ,a Marine, cannot be a medical officer. They have no medical Corps.
Great movie
Yeah, this film is a ride. Everybody should take it.
Looks like a crap movie, Not shocked.
Highly recommend this bizarre movie. It’s very funny, goes off the rails in the last half, and would make a great play. Just saw it a few weeks ago for the first time.
Great movie! First saw it on VHS when I was a kid and it always stayed with me.
“The man in the moon fucked my sister and the queen of England owes me a blowjob!”
A line I’ll never forget 😊
Super odd film. Best thing about it is the fabulous location (which provides the burning question, “Is a gothic castle the best place to rehab crazy Vietnam vets?”)
..I LOVE this movie..!!
I read and enjoyed the book, but honestly didn’t realize there was a movie out there. Going to have to track it down.
Great movie !!! Great performances by all the actors !!! Love the book.
Terrific movie. Minus the horror (well, a little) it has much of the same “vibe” as Exorcist III; lots of philosophy and black humor.
Dlr MacKenzie Blatty started as a comedy writer (after he left the armed forces, where he worked in communications). He even appeared on You Bet Your Life, posing as an Arab prince – and he fooled Groucho. He was Lebanese and had a strong connection to middle eastern culture (hence the Iraq references in The Exorcist). He was also very close to his immigrant mother, much like Father Karras. I find him a fascinating character.
Dlr MacKenzie it does have the same weird slapstick feel as exorcist iii. Blatty can be very funny
Nick Messitte I know! That’s something no one ever mentions about Exorcist III; it’s quite witty!
Dlr MacKenzie
“what’s your favorite movie, father?”
croaking in reply, cigarette smoke spilling from his mouth: “the fly.”
It is a flat out masterpiece!
· “And you know what that heartless butcher prescribed” He said, ‘here, take this. It’s a suicide pill, with a mild laxative side effect.
Great film
Its superb! One of the few films everyone should experience…
Fairly good movie that didn’t age very well.
Absolutely fascinating film! Insane (appropriately) AND Stacy Keach goes berserk!
Patricio Pavez S.
Sepulveda Juan Pablo es buena, pero difícil de encontrar
It’s streaming on Prime for free right now. I’m about half way through it and it’s REALLY good. Also found the paperback book that I’ve had since high school. Gonna reread it once I’ve finished watching the movie. This is so cool!
Luke Searle I need to see this 🙂
Stuart Gray might be one for the weekend?? ‘Shakespeare with an all-dog cast’! 😃
The eyeliner leader of the bike gang always amused me.
Fantastic film 👍🏻
Phenomenal film.
Such a film.Great scene in the bar with the bikers
LOL i have this on VHS and DVD. Its worth it. It’s not Exorcist great, but its worth it.
LoL I thought Joan Crawford was somehow responsible for this with Pepsi but she was already gone ..
According to the author this is the true sequel to the exorcist.
Fantastic movie. Saw it in both “configurations.” Lol!
Very good movie.
John Hefner
It’s on Kanopy streaming which many people in the US have access to if they have a library card.
Jim Pyke ty!
Great recommendation. Thanks for featuring these lesser-known films.
That scene on the moon was chilling. I saw it is a kid and I couldn’t forget it. Through the years I’d been searching for this film and I actually forgot its title. Thanks, for this post. I’ve found my movie holy grail.
That is a weird fucking movie. I couldn’t get past the first 30 mins.
I love how unique this film is. Michael is right. It’s very quotable. It’s almost too difficult to put in any genre. It also happens to have a Golden Globe for best screenplay adaptation, so it’s definitely up there in quality. Like one of those indie films connected to The Exorcist universe that needs to get more discussion, either for its comedy or for its genuine intrigue in its story. I also own the novel and the other novel (Twinkle Twinkle Killer Kane) that inspired it!
Great, weird film…
Definitely one of the strangest “dramas” (I don’t know what other genre you can call it) ever filmed. I remember when it was released, it got both scathing and ecstatic reviews in pretty equal measure, but has become the very definition of a “cult favorite” in the years since.
“Don’t eat the swordfish…”
Dreadful
“Don’t order the Swordfish!”
Didn’t he also write “John Goldfarb please come home?’
I found it dated and just plain weird and drawn out , one man’s meat is another man’s poison , glad some enjoy it , I sold my 118 version blu ray after viewing
Timothy Morris I hated it too.
Is it any good
Alexander BC No
One of my late dads favourite films,saw it when I was about 15
I really enjoy this movie. It has its flaws, but overall, it’s incredibly clever, and features a glorious collection of oddball characters – played by an incredible ensemble of actors! Thanks for the reminder that I need to watch this again! 👍
One of my favorites..
One of the all-time quotable films. Intelligent, idiosyncratic, disturbing, entertaining.
I love that film. Saw it many times, and it always moves me.
Most brutal scene is in the bar and Stacy Keach hits his breaking point and goes off on the biker gang!
Hated the movie.
Damn, I did not know about this! I gotta check it out. But I gotta confess: I love the latter title ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane’ more. Will seek out the director’s preferred cut.
The auteur theory pisses me off. Friedkin ALWAYS gets credit for The Exorcist, NEVER Blatty.
Killer Kane is back
See also Shyamalan’s “Glass”
pro
Masterpiece
Love this one, and I was able to tell Mr. Blatty in person how much of I thought of it. Talented and gracious man.
Saw it in the theater in Houston when it first came out – the couple behind us got up about halfway through and the dude says “I thought this was gonna be some Exorcist shit” as they walked out – great movie
Interesting movie.
I adore this film. Imminently quotable, steeped in 70s bizarre.
Saw the 9th Configuration when it opened in Westwood. Thought it was a lame title but a great movie. They show it on cable now and then. Didn’t know there were other versions.
I SO wanted to like THE NINTH CONFIGURATION, since Exorcist III is a masterpiece, but an hour in I had NO clue what was going on.
The Ninth Configuration – Trailer
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8m75o5
Which movie has the more over the top fight scene?
The Ninth Configuration
Or
They Live?
Love that movie
It was classic for it time
Also known as “Twinkle Twinkle Killer Kane.”
Some amazingly quotable lines from the patients.
probably in my Top 10 / some of the most *cracking* dialogue since Sunset Blvd !
Physical Media – I got mine! 😸
You forgot to note Blatty was formerly CIA.
Never seen this one but its on my watch list.
Stacy Keach’s bar fight is the stuff of legend.
Heard about it from a Reddit comment as Blatty’s favored sequel to The Exorcist. Went in blind and loved it. The writing and acting are superb.
I have the 50th anniversary book about the film, and it gets into the series also, so this one gets discussed at length too.
Recommend especially if you can fund it as discounted as mine was from a clearance sale place, Hamilton Books or whatever.
Hardcover, and I think it was $5 or so.
One of my favorites!
sorry but this movie bores the living hell out of me.
The copy I have is 117 minutes long. How much approval does this get me?
I never heard of this movie. It is free on tubi.
I have a copy of the director-approved cut. It even includes an alternate ending that Blatty shot, just so he had options.
Even if you’re not religious, it’s an amazing, moving film.
I would be interested in a DVD boxset of all five cuts. It’s an intriguing novel and film that echoes CATCH-22 and MARAT/SADE.
I ❤️ The Ninth Configuration!
It was very interesting. Can’t say I loved it but I appreciated it. Probably should watch it again.
I really Loved this movie!!!!! Just discovered it recently and its ties to William Peter Blatty and The Exorcist however it plays incredibly well as a story of its own and message of Faith!
One of my all time favorite movies. You’re too human to be human.
I remember seeing the Twinkle Twinkle billboards back in the early 80’s. That campaign didn’t entice me to see the movie, but eventually saw it as The 9th…outstanding film.
I saw it in the theaters under the twinkle twinkle killer Kane title.