Poltergeist (1982) (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

[PowellPressburger]

I know people keep raising the issue over this missing "pizza hut" dialogue scene but I have to say I never saw the film theatrically. and grew up watching it on cable/ VHS then DVD and now Blu and only until the blu was released and the subject was brought up on this forum I never really thought much about the abrupt cutting of that kitchen scene to the Tuthill's front door. It always seemed fine but once it was called to my attention after all those years I will admit it feels like a more harsh cut than it ever seemed.

Since the full scene was never included on any home video release then I can't argue over it too much. However I think finally now I doubt Pizza Hut would even care about the dialogue it is free product placement. I doubt it will ever be re-instated but not having it there does't bother me much when watching the movie.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I know people keep raising the issue over this missing "pizza hut" dialogue scene but I have to say I never saw the film theatrically. and grew up watching it on cable/ VHS then DVD and now Blu and only until the blu was released and the subject was brought up on this forum I never really thought much about the abrupt cutting of that kitchen scene to the Tuthill's front door. It always seemed fine but once it was called to my attention after all those years I will admit it feels like a more harsh cut than it ever seemed.

Since the full scene was never included on any home video release then I can't argue over it too much. However I think finally now I doubt Pizza Hut would even care about the dialogue it is free product placement. I doubt it will ever be re-instated but not having it there does't bother me much when watching the movie.

I personally think they could have created a MUCH smoother edit without it being SO BAD and noticeable! It was LAZY to just CUT like they did. Almost like someone was angry and didn't care AT ALL what they were doing.

[redxrebellion]

Thanks for the good NFL guys. Much appreciated

Now I just need to find the digibook for a decent price. Any ideas?

[Nailwraps]

Wouldn't it be great a great surprise if Shout! manage to work something with Warner and instead of giving us CE of II and III, we get all 3 (with a new 4K transfer for I and new 2K transfers for II and III).

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

I personally think they could have created a MUCH smoother edit without it being SO BAD and noticeable! It was LAZY to just CUT like they did. Almost like someone was angry and didn't care AT ALL what they were doing.

Seen this movie a dozen times on home video and honestly never noticed. Not saying you're wrong, but it can't be THAT bad a cut if I never even thought twice about it.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Seen this movie a dozen times on home video and honestly never noticed. Not saying you're wrong, but it can't be THAT bad a cut if I never even thought twice about it.

I suppose calling the edit "BAD" is an opinion. If you never noticed, then you might say it was a Good to decent edit. But for those of us who DID notice it, we consider it to be rather HORRIBLE.

Just for reference sake, I have included a video of this edit, this video is taken straight from my television, with my iphone, so please forgive the quality, but you can see for yourself how the edit actually looks, In the middle of Diane's line, to a cut away to her and Steven standing outside their neighbors house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p03h5dMq22k&feature=youtu.be

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Seen this movie a dozen times on home video and honestly never noticed. Not saying you're wrong, but it can't be THAT bad a cut if I never even thought twice about it.

It's very noticeable if you're paying attention to the scene. It has bothered me since I was a teenager. It's a very hard cut. Very sloppy editing indeed. It literally cuts to the next scene in the middle of a sentence.

[master gandhi]

I've known about this missing footage for a while, and notice the cut, but I like it. To me, it's a humorous cut. Like she's explaining it to her husband and he's freaking out while she's excited. The cut supports his emotions. Like he hurried over to the neighbor's house as she was talking to see if they're experiencing anything like it. In my head, I see him standing up and rushing next door in between those scenes.

[ditcin]

I saw this movie in the theater and it never had the dialog you've mentioned. It must have been cut before it was released.

[Steve Freeling]

Originally Posted by ditcin

I saw this movie in the theater and it never had the dialog you've mentioned. It must have been cut before it was released.

Cut during its first week of release.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I've known about this missing footage for a while, and notice the cut, but I like it. To me, it's a humorous cut. Like she's explaining it to her husband and he's freaking out while she's excited. The cut supports his emotions. Like he hurried over to the neighbor's house as she was talking to see if they're experiencing anything like it. In my head, I see him standing up and rushing next door in between those scenes.

Yep, this. Watching the youtube vid above made me remember this is how I always took the cut. I read about the Pizza Hut thing of course, but when watching the movie never really thought twice about it because it feels like a humorous cut to his follow-up action.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by Steve Freeling

Cut during its first week of release.

I saw Poltergeist the first day, first feature in theaters, and I actually remember the "I Hate Pizza Hut" line, because I personally LOVE them, and I remember saying to my friend he could never be my dad for hating Pizza Hut.

I also remember seeing Carol Ann hitting the wall and putting the hole in it, because it was extremely funny.

Sure wish they would have only edited out that ONE line instead of the whole scene and in such a terrible fashion. That editor should have been fired.

[schusler]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

I also remember seeing Carol Ann hitting the wall and putting the hole in it, because it was extremely funny.

So this scene was actually filmed?

I saw Poltergeist too in the summer of '82. I'm thinking it was out for a while, since I have no recollection of the scene(s) mentioned here.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by schusler

So this scene was actually filmed?

I saw Poltergeist too in the summer of '82. I'm thinking it was out for a while, since I have no recollection of the scene(s) mentioned here.

Oh yes, it was. Most definitely. But as another posted mentioned, it was edited out within the first week of release, so I can only imagine it never saw the light of day on ANY home video or broadcast version to be preserved. Which is terribly sad.

[anephric]

I can understand hacking frames out of release prints, but why didn't they just loop it for home video?

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by anephric

I can understand hacking frames out of release prints, but why didn't they just loop it for home video?

I'd like to see the extended scene as a special feature, but the movie doesn't need it. The version we have is the version most people have seen, unless they saw it opening week. It's not like a whole subplot is missing, or it clarifies anything in the film. I'd just like to see it for curiosity's sake.

[chrismac87]

What's weird is if they cut this from release prints, it still should've been left in tact on the negative. At the very least, they would've had more time to make a more seemless cut and not just, a jump like that.

I recall noticing this scene pretty early on, and feeling like something was up. Found out much later it was a cut made due to the Pizza Hut line which is really, just, I dunno, odd at this point that it's STILL out. Probably at this point though the scene is long lost which sucks.

This film desperately needs a new release, one with actual supplemental features that pertain to the film. I can't imagine why Warner hasn't done more with it. Next year is another anniversary...so maybe we'll be in luck.

[SexySamSosa67]

Never seen this. It's really PG? How can it be scary if it's PG?

[formula_nebula]

Originally Posted by SexySamSosa67

Never seen this. It's really PG? How can it be scary if it's PG?

You should watch it..you might be surprised.

[OneWayFilms]

Originally Posted by SexySamSosa67

Never seen this. It's really PG? How can it be scary if it's PG?

It was released in a time before the PG-13 rating was introduced. If it didn't fulfill the R rating qualifications, then it went as PG.

As for being scary.....of course this is based on personal opinions. What scares ONE person might not ever scare another person.

And this movie came out LONG before we were overwhelmed with ghost stories and Haunted Houses which is so common these days, we have become numb to it's attempts to really scare us.

I LOVE Poltergeist for it's simple family setting and the events that happen around them contrasting their All-American lifestyle. Many middle class American's identified with them and once you feel connected....you FEEL their fear.