William Friedkin: The Life and Films of a Cinematic Risk-Taker

The first biography of acclaimed American film director known as “Hurricane Billy.”

William Friedkin—"Hurricane Billy"—was a fearless, trailblazing filmmaker of the 1970s American New Wave. Born a streetwise kid in Chicago, he burst onto the scene with The People vs. Paul Crump, a documentary that helped commute a death row inmate’s sentence. His eclectic early work included a film with Sonny and Cher and an adaptation of Harold Pinter’s first play.

Friedkin soared to fame with The French Con...