Poltergeist (1982) (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

[HomerThompson]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

Just make a documentary with Spielberg featuring him setting the record straight.

Apparently he felt really bad that his "Steven Spielberg Presents" moniker led people to believe he directed films he produced. Joe Dante specifically said that he added A Joe Dante Film for the Innerspace poster because he felt bad for the confusion by the general public on Gremlins.

If you notice on the 80s Amblin posters post-Gremlins, each one has the A ... Film after the Steven Spielberg Presents line.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by ptsherm

No, the Making Of featurette actually only ever shows one or two instances of a director addressing actors before a camera, and in all those instances, it is Hooper in the actors' presence. A huge amount of what we see of Spielberg is at the ILM studios shooting the optical effects, months after principal photography wrapped. There is not one instance showing Spielberg "choosing shots."

You're right, I hadn't seen it in years. The vast majority of it is Spielberg giving instructions to the effects crew. The moment I was thinking of on set is at 6:00, but he's actually talking to the crew there, not to JoBeth Williams. Still, the featurette is 90% Spielberg talking, Hooper barely says a word in it, I'm not surprised the featurette has been absent from the DVD and BD:

The Making of Poltergeist (1982) - YouTube

[ptsherm]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

You're right, I hadn't seen it in years. The vast majority of it is Spielberg giving instructions to the effects crew. The moment I was thinking of on set is at 6:00, but he's actually talking to the crew there, not to JoBeth Williams. Still, the featurette is 90% Spielberg talking, Hooper barely says a word in it, I'm not surprised the featurette has been absent from the DVD and BD:

The Making of Poltergeist (1982) - YouTube

There's some covert Hooper in there.

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Good on you for looking back, though. I'll concede that we do see Spielberg seemingly alone shooting the "Outdoor Moving Van" scene, apparently shot late in the production as it was a mid-shoot rewrite.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by ptsherm

There's some covert Hooper in there.

Yep, I definitely noticed the occasional glimpses of Hooper there, but he's a bit "Where's Waldo?" and not easily visible.

Obviously this is a promotional piece, so the degree to which Spielberg is talking over much of it doesn't mean much, but the on-set footage is more telling, and it really doesn't answer the question definitively one way or the other. Instead, it definitely shows there's a case to be made for both of them.

[jaws3dfan]

Haunt-A-Thon 2020!

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=332935

[Ray Jackson]

4k release even a possibility anytime in the near future?

[BPW2016]

Originally Posted by ptsherm

There's some covert Hooper in there.

Trying to find glimpses Tobe Hooper on the set of Poltergeist is like attempting to find behind-the-scenes footage of Bryan Singer filming Bohemian Rhapsody.

[rcbetker]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

4k release even a possibility anytime in the near future?

Let's hope 😄

E. T. went wild for a 35th anniversary, with the neat booklet n all. For Poltergeist, Maybe 2022 for a 40th anniversary 4K scan/remastered release or trilogy set?

[jaws3dfan]

Originally Posted by BPW2016

Trying to find glimpses Tobe Hooper on the set of Poltergeist is like attempting to find behind-the-scenes footage of Bryan Singer filming Bohemian Rhapsody.

I disagree, Poltergeist is 100% Tobe Hooper, of coarse Tobe would have been a fool not to ask for direction from Spielberg who was the King of BlockBusters at the time but Tobe did all the Directing himself!

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by jaws3dfan

I disagree, Poltergeist is 100% Tobe Hooper, of coarse Tobe would have been a fool not to ask for direction from Spielberg who was the King of BlockBusters at the time but Tobe did all the Directing himself!

Well, debate over, thank God. Can’t argue with evidence like that!

[postmodel]

The movie was directed by - Just give us a damn 4K release already!

[BPW2016]

Originally Posted by jaws3dfan

I disagree, Poltergeist is 100% Tobe Hooper, of coarse Tobe would have been a fool not to ask for direction from Spielberg who was the King of BlockBusters at the time but Tobe did all the Directing himself!

You've got footage of Tobe Hooper from the set Poltergeist? Look at my post again and figure out where you went wrong.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

4k release even a possibility anytime in the near future?

Never say never. 2022 marks the 40th anniversary. Maybe WB will pull a Beetlejuice and release a big tat-filled edition to compensate for the lack of any interesting on-disc extras.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Never say never. 2022 marks the 40th anniversary. Maybe WB will pull a Beetlejuice and release a big tat-filled edition to compensate for the lack of any interesting on-disc extras.

[vortexx]

Originally Posted by Nicolawicz

Starting at 37:50.
Tobe Hooper, l'interview - YouTube

Tobe had Steven doing second unit shots but Tobe explains that he was the director.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by vortexx

Tobe had Steven doing second unit shots but Tobe explains that he was the director.

I'm shocked that he would say that. There's that question resolved.

[jaws3dfan]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Well, debate over, thank God. Can’t argue with evidence like that!

I'm glad you agree with me

[Nailwraps]

I can agree with that!

So it's settled; both did directed BUT Hooper had full direction, Spielberg handled second unit.

End of story!

Now it's time for a Scream Factory release. ^_^

In fact, make it a box set with ALL the films!

[James Luckard]

I feel like the Spielberg vs Hooper debate will go on long after we're all gone. It will be there, after the world has ended, along with the cockroaches and Cher, as they say. I find it somehow reassuring that it will remain one of the great mysteries, like Jimmy Hoffa and Jack the Ripper.

[Nailwraps]

There isn't anymore debate; Hooper fully directed, Speilberg handled Second Unit. End of story.