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Originally Posted by Joshitaka
Does anyone know of a good resource where I can at least READ about the production of Poltergeist? All I know is there is controversy as to who actually directed it; I have no idea why. I'd really like to know so much more about this one.
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There is little collected and comprehensive accounts of the production, only a scattering of different articles (many when the film was being released) for magazines like Fangoria, Cinefax, Cinefantastique, etc. that you can find for the most part on the internet. There has been very little since. As for the directing controversy, it’s hard to take articles from the time (1982) at face value all the time, as they were largely influenced by the rumors that were, more often than not, barely substantial and exaggerated, and likely encouraged by the film’s publicists and marketers (thus resulting in a DGA lawsuit right before the film’s release, presumably on behalf of hooper, suing MGM for trying to discredit Hooper).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Filmmaker
The credits say Produced by Steven Spielberg and Directed by Tobe Hooper. Now, go watch ANY 1970s-1980s-era Steven Spielberg film and ANY film from Tobe Hooper of any era and the controversy over who directed POLTERGEIST will become abundantly clear.
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But it’s not, and many disagree with your assessment. Especially as he went to work with Allen Daviou and Spielberg’s work took on a look that seemed far from the anamorphic, classical look, while Hooper continued this look for both <i>Lifeforce</i> and <I>Salem’s Lot</i>.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TripleHBK
On the topic of "who Directed Poltergeist" rumors from the set were already leaking out while the film was in production. I've been slowly working my way through every issue of Fangoria magazine and recently came across the following in the Monster Invasion section of issue #16...
"The Most startling rumor about the film-that it was actually directed by Spielberg-does seem to have basis in fact. All the crewmembers we have spoken to say that Spielberg was very active on the set, to the point where he should at least be considered co-director, though Tobe Hooper will have the sole director's credit."
This was issue #16 from 1981, BEFORE the film was even released. Just something interesting to think about.
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Fangoria’s repeating of the rumors shouldn’t be too revealing, as the rumors were “leaking” as soon as barely the film’s first week finished. This was in LA rags like the LA Herald, as mentioned in the Fangoria article. The funny thing is they are exactly as Fangoria described - people were “confused” and “seemed to look like both were directing.” Now considering Spielberg’s role producing and Hooper’s penchant to work with collaborators, this doesn’t seem like much warrant to throw a filmmaker under the bus. Of course Spielberg was active on set. That doesn’t mean a reporter’s third person view and anonymous “crew” have much of a story by saying “Spielberg seems very involved!” Little do they know of creative deliberations nor does any Joe Schmoe want to know about Hooper’s creative process. And after the first week? Meaning before Beatrice Straight yelled at Spielberg for butting in and contradicting Hooper? Give me a break about going off rumors as the film was shooting, which is really all this Fangoria editorial has behind it. These “off-the-record” crew members are poor and very vague-speaking sources. We should listen to the most recent comments from principle players in the production. Any actor still speaking about the film will full-stop support Hooper’s role directing.
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Originally Posted by Filmmaker
Yeah, go read James Luckard’s post and get back with me. There’s no end of expert testimony from “prominent interviewees” who say Tobe directed it, Spielberg directed it, it directed itself, et al.
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The prominent Spielberg accounts have leveled off and/or contradict themselves. There are two, maybe three people who want to insist Spielberg directed, but can’t even say Hooper wasn’t there all the time as well. A Hooper accountant will often say “Only Hooper directed me” or “Spielberg actually wasn’t there all the time.” I think it should be very clear that Spielberg accounts go off a lot of assumptions, while Hooper accounts (of which there are more of) are more upfront and less evasive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1924
Isn’t it obvious who directed this movie? Watch Tobe Hooper’s other films. This Feels absolutely nothing like them. This feels like a Spielberg film, because he pretty much ghost directed the film
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Many feel the film far more reflects Hooper’s more detached, clinical style and not Spielberg’s overt kinetics. More indicative is how the film reinterpreted and altered Spielberg’s own script, three rather drastic scene rewrites occurring mid-production, storyboards often largely ignored.
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