Here’s Francis Ford Coppola eulogizing his dear friend William Friedkin, via Instagram:
William Friedkin was my first friend among the filmmakers of my generation and I grieve for the loss of a much-loved companion. His accomplishments in Cinema are extraordinary and unique. He is the only colleague I knew whose work actually saved a man’s life (THE PEOPLE VS PAUL CRUMP). Billy’s work represents true milestones in Cinema, a list which will never be forgotten; certainly THE FRENCH CONNECTION, THE EXORCIST and SORCERER, but all of his films are alive with his genius. Pick any of them out of a hat and you’ll be dazzled. His lovable, irascible personality was cover for a beautiful, brilliant, deep-feeling giant of a man. It’s very hard to grasp that I will never enjoy his company again, but his work will at least stand in for.
I’ve noticed in most of the tributes being showered towards Friedkin, including my own, that there’s been this itch to immediately mention his three best films (“The French Connection,” “The Exorcist” and “Sorcerer), but Friedkin was so much more than that and Coppola nails it, just pick any title out of a hat.
Save for the three landmark films already mentioned, Friedkin directed other strong films such as “To Live and Die in L.A.” “Killer Joe” “The Boys in the Band” and “Bug.” He continued on as a filmmaker and he has one last one (“The Caine Mutiny Court Martial”) set to premiere at Venice next month.