Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

The proof is in the finished product and the incontrovertible fact that visually, tonally and thematically Poltergeist resembles every movie Spielberg was making in the 70s/80s and nothing that Hooper did before or after.

Spielberg admitting the truth would not only be a DGA breach-of-contract, he'd be substantiating long-held-reports about Hooper's mistreatment on set and trammeling on his grave in the process.

Just like everybody embracing The Thing from Another World as a Howard Hawks film, it's borderline negligent to deny that Spielberg was the stagecoach driver of Poltergeist...with Hooper riding shotgun.

Spielberg's crew ind ILM as well as the composer might make people think Spielberg directed it. He's the producer. Spielberg's people are responsible for the look and sound. All the 'touching' Spielberg moments with the family and kids etc are in the script.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by prkchopexpress

it completely is not. it is rumor. unless you have some magical source of spielberg verifying it himself. which you don’t.

oh come on.... this has been talked about for decades.... I'm not saying that Spielberg directed the entire film... but just look at it! It's so obvious that his directorial style is all over! Look at Hooper's resume.... do you see much of him in the finished project??

[WKoA13]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

The proof is in the finished product and the incontrovertible fact that visually, tonally and thematically Poltergeist resembles every movie Spielberg was making in the 70s/80s and nothing that Hooper did before or after.

Spielberg admitting the truth would not only be a DGA breach-of-contract, he'd be substantiating long-held-reports about Hooper's mistreatment on set and trammeling on his grave in the process.

Just like everybody embracing The Thing from Another World as a Howard Hawks film, it's borderline negligent to deny that Spielberg was the stagecoach driver of Poltergeist...with Hooper riding shotgun.

Except for all the horror parts being pure Hooper. The family moments are very Spielberg...but it's his script, so of course they were.

It's not even a "widely accepted theory". Most people in the industry and many who worked on the movie itself, or were on the set have even regularly debunked said theory.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

oh come on.... this has been talked about for decades.... I'm not saying that Spielberg directed the entire film... but just look at it! It's so obvious that his directorial style is all over! Look at Hooper's resume.... do you see much of him in the finished project??

Does Lifeforce look like his other films?

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

oh come on.... this has been talked about for decades.... I'm not saying that Spielberg directed the entire film... but just look at it! It's so obvious that his directorial style is all over! Look at Hooper's resume.... do you see much of him in the finished project??

The rumor is based on it looking like a Spielberg film which it absolutely would since he produced it. Spielberg was originally going to direct it based on articles from that time period but it was done back to back with ET pretty much, so he had to bow out. He also stopped the evil ET film that was in preparation prior to this (another crazy story behind that).

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by vortexx

The rumor is based on it looking like a Spielberg film which it absolutely would since he produced it. Spielberg was originally going to direct it based on articles from that time period but it was done back to back with ET pretty much, so he had to bow out. He also stopped the evil ET film that was in preparation prior to this (another crazy story behind that).

Spielberg didn't just produce it, he wrote it...it was his baby, from birth to conception.

And you're misinformed about E.T.. It wasn't a case of fatigue from being made back-to-back, the two were shot concurrently. Being a member of the DGA, however, Spielberg was contractually barred from directing another feature film after committing to E.T..

So Spielberg gets a gun-fire-hire with some name recognition who he could essentially dictate and delegate with no push-back...and it worked. The advertising campaign for Poltergeist magnified Spielberg so much and marginalized Hooper to such a degree that an investigation was launched by the DGA and MGM decided to pay Hooper $15,000 to make him happy. That's why Spielberg remains quiet on the whole thing, it's a can of worms he'd rather not open.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Spielberg didn't just produce it, he wrote it...it was his baby, from birth to conception.

And you're misinformed about E.T.. It wasn't a case of fatigue from being made back-to-back, the two were shot concurrently. Being a member of the DGA, however, Spielberg was contractually barred from directing another feature film after committing to E.T..

So Spielberg gets a gun-fire-hire with some name recognition who he could essentially dictate and delegate with no push-back...and it worked. The advertising campaign for Poltergeist magnified Spielberg so much and marginalized Hooper to such a degree that an investigation was launched by the DGA and MGM decided to pay Hooper $15,000 to make him happy. That's why Spielberg remains quiet on the whole thing, it's a can of worms he'd rather not open.

So all the actors and crew members must have had death threats if they revealed who the real director was...?? How's that for the start of a conspiracy theory?
$15,000? Really? My first car from that time period cost more than that. He could buy a bunch of pop and cigars though.

[Rayjg]

I’m sure if Spielberg wanted you dead you’re dead. Has he ever said anything publicly about Poltergeist?

[RevengeOfToonces]

It's pretty obvious Spielberg was the primary director for Poltergeist if you're familiar with his and Tobe Hooper's work. Everything about the way he made movies in those days is all over the finished product. Spielberg micro-managed every aspect of that movie.

"Hey, guy who made Salem's Lot, I'm Steven. Maybe the camera should move this way. Now adjust the lighting that way. Good. Now say action."

None of Hooper's other movies resembles Poltergeist, but it's a perfect fit with pretty much everything Spielberg made before Schindler's List.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by revengeoftoonces

none of hooper's other movies resembles poltergeist, but it's a perfect fit with pretty much everything spielberg made before schindler's list.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

I’m sure if Spielberg wanted you dead you’re dead. Has he ever said anything publicly about Poltergeist?

No he hasn't. Also none of the actors have ever said anything more than Spielberg visited the set a few times (but maybe he has telepathic powers and directed it that way).

[vortexx]

Poltergeist looks and feels nothing like Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. Spielberg once had a photo sent out of the Close Encounters alien toy holding a mini chainsaw toy. I think the speculation over who directed it is probably based on most critics still hating Chainsaw at the time (Spielberg said he was a fan). They figure that someone who direct a low budget film that people had to be warned not to see because of how extremely violent and bloody they thought it was, couldn't possible make a movie like Poltergeist.

Edit
I'm going to bow out of this debate because I don't want to take things off topic. Yes, I did not ask Tobe if he directed it as I have heard of nobody connected to the movie say otherwise and I thought it would be insulting for me to bring that up.

My last contribution but since it's a Scream Factory thread, I included a pic of what I'll be watching tomorrow.

With the comments I made, you might think I'm making up stuff about things I know, well, I'm not and I do have things many people don't know about. I have a copy of this very rare script most people don't know exists.

[RevengeOfToonces]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

Fun movie, but way more in line stylistically with Lifeforce or even Funhouse than Poltergeist. I'm honestly surprised there's still any debate about this. Lighting, angles, edits, reaction shots, music cues - it's clearly all Spielberg.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by RevengeOfToonces

Fun movie, but way more in line stylistically with Lifeforce or even Funhouse than Poltergeist. I'm honestly surprised there's still any debate about this. Lighting, angles, edits, reaction shots, music cues - it's clearly all Spielberg.

Spielberg's people worked on it. Dykstra, ILM, the music composer, possibly storyboards, so why wouldn't it seem similar? Last post from me about this I hope. Perhaps someone should Facebook the living actors that worked on it and ask them. I have no plans to do so. I think Toby brought Craig Rearton (sp) for the makeup effects.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by vortexx

Last post from me about this I hope.

Ah, the famous "last post after the last post." Surely another "last post" is in the cards.

[sxerunner]

So with the F13 set coming out, what are the remaining “big” releases that Scream could release?

• An Elm Street set is obvious.
• Event Horizon’s lost footage would be a treat.
• Dawn of the Dead would be a huge get.

What else is there?

[deltatauhobbit]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

Originally Posted by RevengeOfToonces

Fun movie, but way more in line stylistically with Lifeforce or even Funhouse than Poltergeist. I'm honestly surprised there's still any debate about this. Lighting, angles, edits, reaction shots, music cues - it's clearly all Spielberg.

I think Invaders From Mars is closer in tone to Poltergeist than either Lifeforce or Funhouse, unless I missed all the violent murder and boob shots from Invaders From Mars haha.

It likely comes down to certain aspects of the film though. Hooper just didn't involve himself with the post-production as much as a normal director would and that's where the Spielberg touch was likely solidified since he was a very hands-on producer. That's why I've typically read quotes from the actors that defend Hooper while the technical side usually are the opposite.

I will say I remember reading this article awhile back though that casts more doubt regarding the actual on-set shooting of the film...
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...-a7846651.html

In the end though, I don't really care. It's a good film either way so good job to both of them.

[HipsterTrash]

So what everyone is saying is that Poltergeist needs a Scream release?

Originally Posted by sxerunner

So with the F13 set coming out, what are the remaining “big” releases that Scream could release?

• An Elm Street set is obvious.
• Event Horizon’s lost footage would be a treat.
• Dawn of the Dead would be a huge get.

What else is there?

Dawn would be a dream. Maybe SF could also nab both Martin and Bruiser while they're at it. (Seriously, the fact that Bruiser is unreleased is a shame, since SF went for most of George's work)
I also think some Craven, Raimi and Cronenberg titles need a release (Deadly Friend, Red Eye; A Simple Plan, The Gift; Existenz - all respectively and having a chance imo)

[sxerunner]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

So what everyone is saying is that Poltergeist needs a Scream release?



Dawn would be a dream. Maybe SF could also nab both Martin and Bruiser while they're at it. (Seriously, the fact that Bruiser is unreleased is a shame, since SF went for most of George's work)
I also think some Craven, Raimi and Cronenberg titles need a release (Deadly Friend, Red Eye; A Simple Plan, The Gift; Existenz - all respectively and having a chance imo)

Poltergeist would be neat, though maneuvering around all the tragedy involved in that movie would be tricky.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by sxerunner

So with the F13 set coming out, what are the remaining “big” releases that Scream could release?

• An Elm Street set is obvious.
• Event Horizon’s lost footage would be a treat.
• Dawn of the Dead would be a huge get.

What else is there?

Retirement.