People & Arts: Movies, Books, Letters



Film director William Friedkin, author Gregory W. Beaubien, select correspondence: 2016–2019


May 18, 2024


WILLIAM FRIEDKIN—director of classic movies such as The French Connection, The Exorcist, and To Live and Die in L.A.—and Moresby Press editor GREGORY BEAUBIEN, author of the novel Shadows the Sizes of Cities, corresponded from 2016 to 2020, before the director fell ill. Friedkin died Aug. 7, 2023, at the age of 87. Published here for the first time is a selection of their correspondence.




Email from William Friedkin to Greg Beaubien, May 28, 2016

Please send the book, with a note.

Best,

Billy


Email from Greg Beaubien to William Friedkin, May 28, 2016

Dear Billy,

Thank you for your message. I will send you a copy of my novel and hope you like it. By the way, I enjoyed your memoir very much.

I live at Marine Drive and Gordon Terrace in Chicago, just a few blocks from your old neighborhood.

All best,

Greg Beaubien


Email from William Friedkin, May 28, 2016

Yes, I know that neighborhood well but I’m sure it’s changed...

What does your novel deal with?

Billy


Email from Greg Beaubien, May 28, 2016

Obsession, love, betrayal, revenge …

Greg


Letter to William Friedkin, June 8, 2016

Dear Billy,

As promised, here is a copy of my noir travel thriller Shadows the Sizes of Cities, which is set mostly in Morocco. I’ve long been an admirer of your work and hope you might connect with the book. Thank you for the opportunity to send you a copy.

Have a good summer.

Sincerely,

Greg Beaubien


Email from William Friedkin, June 13, 2016

The book arrived. I will get to it when I can but busy now.

Billy


Twitter message from William Friedkin, May 12, 2017

@GregBeaubien

Hey Greg...just got the Bulls basketball. Many, many Thanks


Email from Greg Beaubien, July 2, 2017

Hi Billy,

Happy 4th of July.

I saw the news that you’re making a documentary about Father Amorth. Congratulations. I assume you’re busy with that project, but there’s still no one in Hollywood who I’d rather have read my book than you. Who knows, maybe it’s a “gift from the movie god”?

Take care,

Greg


Email from William Friedkin, July 5, 2017

Dear Greg...

I’ve just finished my documentary, so I will start your book this weekend.

Look forward to it...

All best,

Billy


Email to William Friedkin, September 6, 2017

Billy,

Did you get a chance to read my novel?

Best,

Greg


Email from William Friedkin, September 7, 2017

Dear Greg...

I sent you an email some time ago telling you how much I loved the book.

Billy


Email from Greg Beaubien, September 7, 2017

Billy, for some reason I never got that email.

If I come out to L.A., would you like to get together and talk? Maybe sometime the week of Sept. 18?

Thanks, pal!

All best,

Greg


Email from William Friedkin, September 11, 2017

Dear Greg,

I’m in Europe from mid-September to the first of November — Given my travel schedule I can’t commit to a date at this time.

Billy


Email from Greg Beaubien, April 21, 2019

Happy Easter, Billy. I hope all is well.

It was good to see you at the premiere of The Devil and Father Amorth in Washington, D.C. last April.

As ever,

Greg


Email from William Friedkin, April 21, 2019

The same to you Greg, and my best wishes,

Billy




Greg Beaubien and William Friedkin




Thriller novel set in Morocco - 'Shadows the Sizes of Cities' by Gregory Beaubien - buy now




William Friedkin at the April 17 2018 US premiere of his documentary The Devil and Father Amorth in Washington DC Moresby Press photo

Related

At premiere of his real-life exorcism documentary The Devil and Father Amorth, director William Friedkin talks good and evil


 


© 2024 Moresby Press LLC. All rights reserved.