Poltergeist is a 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg. It is the first and most successful film of the Poltergeist film trilogy. The film stars JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, and Beatrice Straight, and was produced by Spielberg and Frank Marshall.
Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer through MGM/UA Entertainment Co. on June 4, 1982, Poltergeist was a major critical and commercial success, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 1982. In the years since its release, the film has been recognized as a horror classic.
Theatrical release poster
Production Timeline
The production of Poltergeist involved a series of key events and decisions that shaped the final film.
- April 21, 1981: DV announced that writer-producer Steven Spielberg would reteam with Raiders of the Lost Ark producer Frank Marshall for Poltergeist, to be directed by Tobe Hooper.
- May 11, 1981: Principal photography began in Simi Valley, CA.
- August 1981: Principal photography had concluded two days early at M-G-M’s Stage 30.
The 13 Aug 1981 LAT stated that Spielberg visited the set in order to urge production to finish before the anticipated Directors Guild of America (DGA) strike in Jul 1981; he was often accompanied by friend and Industrial Light & Magic Co.
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Poltergeist - E! True Hollywood Story (2002)
Behind the Scenes
Production notes in AMPAS library files indicated that storm scenes were filmed on Stage 12 of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (M-G-M) Studios in Culver City, CA, while a swimming pool and crawlspaces were built on three additional soundstages.
Poltergeist had an estimated total cost of $15 million, with an additional $9 million for prints and advertising.
For a flat fee of $425,000, M-G-M/UA was granted supervision of theatrical distribution on all SLM films, as well as a 22.5% fee on all theatrical rentals. The article claimed that M-G-M relied on the film’s financial success to help alleviate the studio’s $600 million debts.
A later home video release names the following production screen credits, which may not have been included in the original theatrical release: leadman Gary Lynch; assistant to Mrs. Kennedy, Denise Durham; production illustrator Dick Lasley; set designers Bill Matthews and Martha Johnson; furniture supplier Grand Tree Furniture Rentals and Sales; music supervisor Harry V. Lojewski; and stunt performers Bobby Clark, Donna Garrett, and Chuck Waters.
The reissue cast credits also list Craig Simmons as “Implosion man,” and Allan Graf and Joseph R.
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The Spielberg-Hooper Controversy
During production, a 2 Jun 1981 LAHExam article fueled speculation that, due his heavy involvement on set, Spielberg actually served as the project’s co-director. A follow-up LAHExam story on 5 Jun 1981 included a statement from Hooper clarifying that Spielberg had not overstepped his bounds as a producer, and had been preoccupied with preparations to direct another film, beginning Aug 1981. The 1 Feb 1982 DV stated that Spielberg was editing E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982, see entry) and working with composer Jerry Goldsmith to score Poltergeist before both pictures’ scheduled openings in Jun 1982.
Despite a clause in Spielberg’s Universal Pictures contract preventing him from working on any motion picture while directing E.T., the filmmaker remained closely involved with Poltergeist to attempt to keep the budget within 10% of the approved $9.5 million limit set by M-G-M.
Although Spielberg and Hooper insisted the arrangement was amicable, the 25 May 1982 HR announced that the Directors Guild of America (DGA) had begun a formal investigation to determine if Spielberg’s actions were “detracting from the director’s credit,” but made no mention of specific guild rules that may have been broken.
Two weeks later, the 18 Jun 1982 DV reported that M-G-M was required to pay Hooper $15,000 in damages for deliberately attempting to “enhance the box office appeal” by displaying “A Steven Spielberg Production” twice as large as Hooper’s name in promotional trailers.
Although the DGA originally demanded $200,000 in damages and correction of all trailers, the case arbitrator ordered M-G-M to correct only trailers circulating in Los Angeles, CA, and New York City, in addition to all future trailers. The studio was also required to issue a public apology to Hooper and the DGA, which ran in the 9 Jul 1982 HR.
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Tobe Hooper (left) and Steven Spielberg (right) on the set of Poltergeist
MPAA Rating Controversy
The 5 May 1982 Var reported that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Classification & Rating Appeals Board agreed to change the film’s rating from 'R' to 'PG' after hearing statements from Spielberg, M-G-M chairman Frank Rosenfelt, and psychiatrist Dr. Alfred Jones in New York City on 30 Apr 1982. A 25 May 1982 HR item claimed the R-rating was assigned due to “children in peril,” despite no actual gore or bloodshed; however, the vote to appeal was unanimous.
Meanwhile, the 3 Jun 1982 Evening Outlook stated that the city Motion Picture Classification Board of Dallas, TX, filed suit against M-G-M/UA to stop Poltergeist’s local release, arguing that the film was “not suitable for young persons.” In response, M-G-M/UA countersued, planning to ignore the motion and continue advertising. The 5 Jun 1982 LAT claimed that the film would be shown in seven Dallas theaters under the MPAA-issued PG rating until the local jury made its decision.
According to the 17 Jun 1982 HR, the Dallas board argued that the graphic nightmare scene featuring Marty Casella’s character, “Dr. Marty Casey,” made the film too violent for children under sixteen years of age.
Post-Release
A 7 Jun 1982 M-G-M press release announced a three-day box office return of $6,896,612 in 890 theaters.
According to a 27 Oct 1982 M-G-M announcement, the film was re-released in 864 theaters for Halloween, beginning 29 Oct 1982.
On 18 Sep 1982, Var stated that The Beast Within (1982, see entry) actor Paul Clemens and screenwriting partner Bennett Yellin, planned to sue Spielberg and M-G-M for $37 million, alleging copyright infringement.
A 25 Feb 1983 DV item reported that composer Jerry Goldsmith received the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Musical Score from the National Horror Motion Picture Association; the picture was also honored as Best Film.
Legacy
Following the film’s sequels, Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986, see entry) and Poltergeist III (1988, see entry), the 25 Jan 1989 HR announced M-G-M/UA Television’s plans to develop a syndicated television program titled Poltergeist: The Series.
The 20 Aug 2008 HR indicated that writers Juliet Snowden and Stiles White had written a script for M-G-M/UA’s planned motion picture remake of Poltergeist. Five years later, the 26 Sep 2013 HR announced that producer Sam Raimi and director Gil Kenan had cast Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt for the lead roles in another "reboot" script by David Lindsay-Abaire.
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