Abby (1974)

Director:

William Girdler

Writers:

William Girdler (story)
Gordon Cornell Layne (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 December 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

...the story of a woman possessed

Plot:

Director William Girdler's take on possession films about a marriage counselor (Carol Speed) who becomes possessed by a Demon of Sexuality...

Plot Keywords:

Orgasm | Seduction | Nymphomania | Suicide Attempt | Gospel Music

Cast

William Marshall	...	Bishop Garnet Williams
Terry Carter	...	Rev. Emmett Williams
Austin Stoker	...	Det. Cass Potter
Carol Speed	...	Abby Williams
Juanita Moore	...	Miranda 'Momma' Potter
Charles Kissinger	...	Dr. Hennings
Elliott Moffitt	...	Russell Lang
Nathan Cook	...	Tafa Hassan
Nancy Lee Owens	...	Mrs. Wiggins
William P. Bradford	...	Dr. Rogers (as Billy Bradford)
Joann Holcomb	...	Lois
Claude Fulkerson	...	Benny
Bill Wilson	...	Dan
Chuck Broadus	...	Joe
Don Henderson	...	Flip

Also Known As:

Possess My Soul

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

France:-12 | USA:R | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

The song that Abby sings in church, "Is Your Soul A Witness?", was written and performed by the actress herself, Carol Speed.

Quotes:

The Demon's voice: I don't need you! I've got Abby!

Movie Connections:

Version of Seytan (1974)

Soundtrack:

Will We Find Our Tomorrows

Why was there a law-suit between Abby and The Exorcist?

Rating- 3*** out of 4

Why was there a law-suit between Abby and The Exorcist? That is a frequently asked question. Abby is about a black girl(Carol Speed) who is possessed by a demon. So is Linda Blair in The Exorcist and it is up to a priest (William Marshall-Blacula) to help her. Just like Max von Sydow. According to an interview with Exorcist novelist/writer William Peter Blatty said- "Well I visited the set of Abby. To director William Girdler was just trying to make a different version of The Exorcist and I had no problem with that I actully liked Abby". Well even though Warner Bros. sued American International for making a so called rip-off of their film, Blatty himself refussed to act against Abby because Abby and The Exorcist were both the same but in different versions. Blatty could'nt stop Warner Bros. to sue William Girdler but today he still disagrees. Abby in my own personal opinion as always is a good film the only reason it is called a rip-off is because they are different versions but Abby is no rip-off at all. Abby also stars Terry Carter, Juanita Moore, Charles Kissinger, Austin Stoker and Elliot Moffitt. Girdler continued to make many other films before his death in a helicopter crash while Blatty made more Exorcist movies. Maybe Blatty will make a long awaited sequel to Abby? Maybe in years to come.