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Poltergeist is a 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, and Mark Victor from a story by Spielberg. It stars JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, and Beatrice Straight, and was produced by Spielberg and Frank Marshall.
Jun 29, 2024 · Spielberg went on to direct E.T., which came out on June 11, 1982, and was a box office sensation, making $359 million, setting a new record at the time.
- Shawn Van Horn
Jun 26, 2023 · Though the claims were made to believe that Spielberg was at the helm of Poltergeist, it was revealed by the movie's actors, Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams, that Hooper was the man behind the camera. That said, Nelson explained that Spielberg, as a producer, still had a hands-on approach.
- Nicholas Brooks
- Editor
- Gary Susman
- Freelance Writer
- Much has been made of the similarities between "Poltergeist" and "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial," two movies that originated from the same Steven Spielberg idea and were ultimately released just a week apart.
- One inspiration for "Poltergeist" was reportedly the story of Cheesman Park in Denver. A beautiful city park in a prestigious residential neighborhood, its rolling green lawns and Greek columns stand on the site of Denver's first graveyard.
- There was also an Indian burial ground unearthed in 1969 during the construction of a supermarket in Agoura Hills, the Los Angeles suburb where "Poltergeist" would film in 1981.
- Controversy over who actually directed "Poltergeist" -- Hooper or producer/co-screenwriter Spielberg -- began even before the film finished shooting.
- Joshua Rothkopf
- Steven Spielberg really wanted to direct Poltergeist, but was contractually forbidden. Few Hollywood directors were riding as high as Spielberg by the late ’70s.
- Spielberg wanted Stephen King to write Poltergeist. According to John Baxter’s unauthorized 1997 biography of Spielberg, the director met with the budding horror icon circa 1980 for an “amiable” lunch that nonetheless hit a brick wall.
- Drew Barrymore auditioned for Poltergeist. The future bad girl, then six years old, read for the role of Carol Anne and was impressive, but Spielberg spied young Heather O’Rourke in the MGM commissary, dining with her mom.
- The production is on, with Spielberg constantly on set. Spielberg is the executive producer, with Tobe Hooper the official director. But journalists observe the baseball-hatted wunderkind setting up shots, coaching actors and conceiving grammar for entire sequences.
Sep 26, 2024 · Spielberg had a decisive influence on the entire film. He was the main author of the script, he oversaw all the scenes, including the chilling ones, he cast the actors, directed on set, chose the music, supervised the production of special effects, and, along with Michael Kahn, edited Poltergeist.
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Apr 17, 2024 · Such has long prompted fans of the movie to question whether Hooper directed the film at all or if Spielberg was actually the one pulling the strings, with reports from some of the leading cast members confusing this question further.
