"They're here..."This 1982 horror is famously always mistaken for a Steven Spielberg film, despite being directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre). It's easy to see why this misunderstanding arises, as Spielberg served as a co-writer/co-producer... and his fingerprints are all over Poltergeist...
Indeed, Spielberg's influence over Hooper's film is now legendary. To this day, people persist that Spielberg essentially directed Poltergeist, but Hooper took all the credit. The thinking goes that Spielberg (who couldn't direct because of a clause in his contract, which prevented him directing any other film whilst prepping E.T), took charge of the Poltergeist shoot because Tobe Hooper wasn't a very "take-charge sorta guy".
Co-producer Frank Marshall later confirmed that the creative force behind the film was Spielberg, who designed all the storyboards and was on-set nearly every day. However, with Time and Newsweek magazine claiming 1982 as the "Summer of Spielberg" (E.T and Poltergeist), the directing himself printed an open-letter to Hooper in The Hollywood Reporter, saying:
"Regrettably, some of the press has misunderstood the rather unique, creative relationship which you and I shared throughout the making of Poltergeist. I enjoyed your openness in allowing me... a wide berth for creative involvement, just as I know you were happy with the freedom you had to direct Poltergeist so wonderfully."
"Through the screenplay you accepted a vision of this very intense movie from the start, and as the director, you delivered the goods. You performed responsibly and professionally throughout, and I wish you great success on your next project."
But, whoever directed Poltergeist, the film still became a huge hit. It was made for $10 million and took £86 million, making it the 8th biggest film of 1982.
The plot revolves around a standard haunted house story, with the Freeling family facing the torment of various spirits inside their home. Craig T. Nelson played father Steven; JoBeth Williams his wife Diane; Dominique Dunne played eldest daughter Dana; Heather O'Rourke was youngest daughter Carole Anne; and Oliver Robins starred as son Robbie.
After Carole Anne begins to communicate with the resident poltergeist (famously through the television screen), the Freelings are subjected to other omens and paranormal activity, from twisted cutlery, to moving chairs and a tree "coming to life". It's not long before the Freelings call upon the help of a paranormal research team and, a little later, a creepy medium played by Zelda Rubinstein...
Along with The Omen and The Exorcist, Poltergeist (and its two sequels) are another source of urban myths, with the films often described as being "cursed". This seems to stem from the fact real skeletons were used in the swimming pool scene and the premature deaths of two stars -- Heather O'Rourke (died of a Crohn's disease complication whilst filming Poltergeist III, aged 12) and Dominique Dunne (strangled by her boyfriend months after Poltergeist's release, at the age of 22.)
JoBeth Williams also claimed picture frames at her house were constantly askew whenever she returned home from a day's filming, and child star Oliver Robins was genuinely choked by a malfunctioning puppet prop in one scene.
Trivia1. The film's location was at Roxbury Street, Simi Valley, California. The residents were and their houses given free landscaping as compensation for any disruption. However, they weren't told Steven Spielberg was involved, for fear some would as for more money.
2. A sign at the Holiday Inn reads "Welcome Dr. Fantasy and Friends." Dr. Fantasy is a nickname for producer Frank Marshall.
3. The film was originally R-rated, but was eventually cut for a PG certificate. It's considered one of the scariest PG-rated films ever made, with many people mistakenly considering it an "adult horror".
4. Drew Barrymore auditioned for the role of 5-year-old Carole Anne. She didn't get it, but her audition won her that famous part in E.T.
5. Unusually for a horror, there are no murders or fatalities in Poltergeist.
6. As a nod to his friend George Lucas, Spielberg filled the children's rooms with Star Wars toys.
7. Stephen King was approached to write the screenplay, but couldn't agree terms.
Links
Essay on Poltergeist
Poltergeist Curse
Poltergeist Movie
