The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972): Cast & Plot
The Possession of Joel Delaney is a 1972 horror film directed by Waris Hussein, starring Perry King as Joel Delaney, Shirley MacLaine and Marita Lindholm. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 45m (105 min)
- Director
- Waris Hussein
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Possession of Joel Delaney About?
The premise of The Possession of Joel Delaney without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
An upper‑class Manhattan divorcee becomes convinced that her brother is possessed by the malevolent spirit of a Harlem serial killer who once beheaded young women in Spanish Harlem. As strange phenomena intensify, she battles faith and doubt, desperate to free him from the deadly haunting.
The Possession of Joel Delaney Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- boy
- boy frontal nudity
- homosexuality
- stripping
- male nudity
- young nudity
- male undressing
- nude boy
- nudity
- nude young male
- voodoo
- tangier morocco
+38 more Show fewer
- undressing
- uncle nephew relationship
- reference to janis joplin
- record player
- new york public library
- lsd
- champagne
- torture
- psychopath
- new york city
- death
- possessed human
- voyeur
- striptease
- knife
- possession
- occult
- character name in title
- brother sister relationship
- severed head
- cake
- botanical garden
- psychotronic film
- downward spiral
- child in jeopardy
- killer
- brother
- women
- young
- incestuous kiss
- brother sister kiss
- suicide
- murderer
- morocco
- reference to leon trotsky
- writer
- wealth
- walking on fire
The Possession of Joel Delaney Cast & Characters
Perry King leads the cast as Joel Delaney, with Shirley MacLaine as Norah Benson and Marita Lindholm as Marita Benson. Directed by Waris Hussein; 19 actors are credited in all.
- Director Waris Hussein
-
Perry King as Joel Delaney -
Shirley MacLaine as Norah Benson - Marita Lindholm as Marita Benson
- Lisa Kohane as Carrie Benson
Also Starring in The Possession of Joel Delaney
· 15 more- David Elliott Peter Benson
- Lovelady Powell Erika
- Barbara Trentham Sherry
- Teodorina Bello Mrs. Pérez
- Miriam Colon Veronica
- Edmundo Rivera Álvarez Don Pedro
- Robert Burr Ted Benson
- Michael Hordern Justin
- Pat Ast Mental Hospital Patient (uncredited)
- Earle Hyman Charles
- Peter Turgeon Detective Brady
- Ernesto Gonzalez Young Man at Séance
- Aukie Herger Mr. Pérez
- Paulita Iglesias Brujo at Séance
- Stan Watt James
The Possession of Joel Delaney Plot Summary
What happens in The Possession of Joel Delaney from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Norah Benson, Shirley MacLaine, is an upper-class Manhattan divorcee living with her two children, Carrie Benson, Lisa Kohane, and Peter Benson, David Elliott. One night Norah invites her younger brother Joel Delaney, Perry King, to a party hosted by her psychologist friend, Erika Lorenz, Lovelady Powell. Norah’s refined world collides with Joel’s bohemian outlook, and while they clash, the siblings share a deep bond forged after their mother’s suicide years earlier, with Norah acting as Joel’s guardian since then. The gathering offers a prelude to a chilling unraveling, as the two youths’ paths begin to diverge under the weight of unspoken family trauma.
Full summary
The whole story of The Possession of Joel Delaney, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Possession of Joel Delaney?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress portrayed Norah Benson?
Cars in The Possession of Joel Delaney
34 cars on screen, including the 1971 Checker Taxicab and the 1971 Chevrolet Biscayne.
-
1971 Checker Taxicab Minor role -
1971 Chevrolet Biscayne Minor role -
1970 Dodge Coronet Minor role -
GMC unknown Minor role
The Possession of Joel Delaney Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “El exorcista de Puerto Rico” and “Possession meurtrière”.
- Also known as
-
- El exorcista de Puerto Rico
- Possession meurtrière
- Possuídos Pelo Mal
- Az ördög hatalma
- Távozz, barátom!
- Possession - Legame di sangue
- Opętanie Joela Delaneya
- Одержимость Джоэла Делейни
- Sapık ruhlar
- Legame di sangue
- 乔尔·德莱尼附身
- La posesión de Joel Delaney
Seen The Possession of Joel Delaney?
Movies Like The Possession of Joel Delaney
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Possession, Possession and Murder Obsession.
The Possession of Joel Delaney FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Possession of Joel Delaney, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Possession of Joel Delaney?
The Possession of Joel Delaney runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).
When was The Possession of Joel Delaney released?
The Possession of Joel Delaney was released on May 24, 1972.
Who directed The Possession of Joel Delaney?
The Possession of Joel Delaney was directed by Waris Hussein.
More films by Waris Hussein Who is in the cast of The Possession of Joel Delaney?
The Possession of Joel Delaney stars Perry King as Joel Delaney, Shirley MacLaine as Norah Benson and Marita Lindholm as Marita Benson, among 19 credited actors.
Does The Possession of Joel Delaney have a post-credit scene?
No. The Possession of Joel Delaney has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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