The classic movie Jane Fonda fiercely refused to star in: “A capitalist rip-off piece of shit”
Jane Fonda rose to prominence at a time when the film industry was rapidly changing. As people’s attitudes began to shift – the traditionalism of the past becoming slightly less prominent as the fight for civil rights and second-wave feminism took hold – so did cinema. For the first time, directors were able to work with more shocking or taboo themes and imagery, from nudity and sex to violence and nihilism.
The actor, the daughter of Hollywood icon Henry Fonda, started out young, following in her father’s footsteps. However, it didn’t take her long before she was starring in controversial movies, such as the French film Circle of Love, where she appeared naked. Fonda often featured in erotic roles, earning herself the title of ‘sex symbol’, which was particularly well established when she took the titular role in Barbarella, which saw her wield a ray gun while wearing skimpy little outfits.
Within a few years, Fonda had heavily aligned herself with the feminist movement, as well as advocating against the Vietnam War, making her one of the most politically active – and controversial – stars in Hollywood. Her beliefs affected her approach to picking out roles, such as Bree Daniels in Klute, which she almost turned down because of the character’s profession as a call girl.
In her memoir, My Life So Far, she revealed, “I’d begun to wonder if it wasn’t politically incorrect to play a call girl. Would a real feminist do that?”. It wasn’t until her friend said to her, “If you think you have room in this script to create a complex, multifaceted character, you should do it,” that she got on board with the part. It’s lucky she stuck with it – she ended up winning an Oscar for her performance.
There was one role, however, that she was staunchly against from the beginning, refusing to reconsider her opinion of the movie. Fonda was offered one of the leading parts in William Friedkin’s horror classic, The Exorcist – Chris MacNeil. The role was, of course, played by Ellen Burstyn, while the film itself became one of the most successful horrors ever made, unforgettable due to its depiction of a child possessed by the devil.
In the documentary The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist, Friedkin revealed Fonda’s very political reasoning for rejecting the role. She reportedly told him, “Why would I wanna be involved with a capitalist rip-off piece of shit like this?” Evidently, Fonda saw the movie as something far from her own beliefs, with Friedkin adding, “She was in her anti-Vietnam phase.”
The Exorcist was praised by critics, but Fonda didn’t seem to regret missing out on the role. She continued to work with acclaimed filmmakers like George Cukor, Joseph Losey, Alan J. Pakula and Sidney Lumet. She also earned another Oscar nomination a few years later for On Golden Pond – clearly, her decision to turn down such a monumental movie didn’t affect her success.