Poltergeist (1982)

Director:

Tobe Hooper

Writers:

Steven Spielberg (screenplay) &
Michael Grais (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

4 June 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

From a dimension beyond the living, a terror to scare you to death.

Plot:

A family's home is haunted by a host of ghosts.

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Moving | Television | Brother Sister Relationship | Alternate Dimension

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Craig T. Nelson	...	Steve Freeling
JoBeth Williams	...	Diane Freeling (as Jobeth Williams)
Beatrice Straight	...	Dr. Lesh
Dominique Dunne	...	Dana Freeling
Oliver Robins	...	Robbie Freeling
Heather O'Rourke	...	Carol Anne Freeling
Michael McManus	...	Ben Tuthill
Virginia Kiser	...	Mrs. Tuthill
Martin Casella	...	Marty
Richard Lawson	...	Ryan
Zelda Rubinstein	...	Tangina
James Karen	...	Mr. Teague
Lou Perryman	...	Pugsley (as Lou Perry)
Clair E. Leucart	...	Bulldozer Driver (as Clair Leucart)
Dirk Blocker	...	Jeff Shaw
Allan Graf	...	Sam
Joseph Walsh	...	Joey (as Joseph R. Walsh)
Helen Baron	...	Woman Buyer
Noel Conlon	...	Husband
Robert Broyles	...	Pool Worker #1
Sonny Landham	...	Pool Worker #2
Jeffrey Bannister	...	Implosion Man
William Vail	...	Implosion Man
Craig Simmons	...	Implosion Man
Phil Stone	...	Football Announcer - NBC Sports (voice)

Directed by
Tobe Hooper

Writing credits
Steven Spielberg		(screenplay) &
Michael Grais		(screenplay) &
Mark Victor		(screenplay)
Steven Spielberg		(story)

Produced by
Kathleen Kennedy	....	associate producer
Frank Marshall	....	producer
Steven Spielberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Matthew F. Leonetti		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Michael Kahn

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Marci Liroff

Production Design by
James H. Spencer

Set Decoration by
Cheryal Kearney

Makeup Department
Dorothy J. Pearl	....	makeup artist (as Dottie Pearl)
Craig Reardon	....	special effects makeup
Toni-Ann Walker	....	hairdresser (as Toni Walker)

Production Management
Dennis E. Jones	....	production manager (as Dennis Jones)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pat Kehoe	....	first assistant director
Bob Roe	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Michael Muscarella	....	construction coordinator (as Michael L. Muscarella)
Craig Raiche	....	prop master
Ed Verreaux	....	production illustrator
Brent W. Bell	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Martha Johnston	....	set designer (uncredited)
Dick Lasley	....	production illustrator (uncredited)
Scott W. Leslie	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Greg Lynch	....	lead man (uncredited)
William F. Matthews	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor
John Dunn	....	sound effects editor (as John Chih Chao Dunn)
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	supervising sound editor
Warren Hamilton Jr.	....	dialogue editor
Alan Howarth	....	special sound effects
Bonnie Koehler	....	dialogue editor
Mark A. Mangini	....	sound effects editor
Steve Maslow	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Art Rochester	....	sound mixer
John Roesch	....	foley walker
Joan Rowe	....	foley walker
Richard Thornton	....	boom person
Bill Varney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ed Golya	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Tim Mangini	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Curt Schulkey	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Jarvis	....	special effects foreman
Michael Wood	....	mechanical effects supervisor (as Mike Wood)
Mike Berro	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Robert Cole	....	special effects hydraulic foreman (uncredited)
Thaine Morris	....	pyrotechnician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
José Abel	....	animator: ILM (as Jose Able)
Peter Amundson	....	assistant visual effects editor: ILM
Charles Bailey	....	model maker: ILM (as Charlie Bailey)
Craig Barron	....	assistant matte photography: ILM
David Berry	....	optical printer operator: ILM (as Dave Berry)
Mike Bolles	....	design engineer: ILM
Conrad Bonderson	....	machinist: ILM
Ed Breed	....	production procurer: ILM
Marty Brenneis	....	electronic engineer: ILM
Kris Brown	....	electronic system software: ILM
John Bruno	....	animation supervisor: ILM
Conrad Buff IV	....	visual effects editorial supervisor: ILM (as Conrad Buff)
Laura Buff	....	production accountant: ILM (as Laura Kaysen)
Scott Caple	....	assistant animator: ILM
Melissa Cargill	....	electronic technician: ILM
Sean M. Casey	....	model maker: ILM (as Sean Casey)
Dave Childers	....	stage technician: ILM
Wade Childress	....	equipment maintenance: ILM
Terry Chostner	....	still photography: ILM
Bob Chrisoulis	....	optical technician: ILM
Donald Clark	....	optical printer operator: ILM (as Don Clark)
Harold Cole	....	stage technician: ILM
Sam Comstock	....	technical animation supervisor: ILM
Jay Davis	....	matte animation: ILM
Dick Dova	....	stage technician: ILM
Richard Edlund	....	visual effects supervision
Judy Elkins	....	matte animation: ILM
John Ellis	....	optical printer operator: ILM
Chrissie England	....	administrative supervisor: ILM
Rick Fichter	....	effects cameraman: ILM
Bob Finley III	....	stage technician: ILM (as Bobby Finley III)
Pat Fitzsimmons	....	stage foreman: ILM
Barbara Gallucci	....	model maker: ILM
Steve Gawley	....	model maker: ILM
Tim Geideman	....	optical technician: ILM
Ray Gilberti	....	second assistant cameraman: ILM
Ralph Gordon	....	optical line-up: ILM
Milton Gray	....	animator: ILM (as Milt Gray)
Mary Lou Hale	....	production secretary: ILM
David Hanks	....	apprentice machinist: ILM
Toby Heindel	....	model maker: ILM
Robert Hill	....	first assistant cameraman: ILM
Edward Hirsh	....	stage technician: ILM
Renee Holt	....	animation assistant supervisor: ILM
Paul Huston	....	chief model maker: ILM
Jerry Jeffress	....	electronic system design: ILM
Ed Jones	....	optical line-up: ILM
Paula Karsh	....	production procurer: ILM
James Keefer	....	animation camera supervisor: ILM (as James C. Keefer)
Kim Knowlton	....	matte animation: ILM
Neil Krepela	....	matte photography: ILM
Rob LaDuca	....	assistant animator: ILM (as Bob DeLuca)
Kathryn Lenihan	....	matte animation: ILM
Gary Leo	....	electronic engineer: ILM
Michael Lessa	....	key assistant: ILM (as Mike Lessa)
Ellen E. Lichtwardt	....	assistant animator: ILM (as Ellen Lichtwardt)
Mike MacKenzie	....	electronic engineer: ILM
Jeff Mann	....	model maker: ILM
Kim Marks	....	first assistant cameraman: ILM
Scott Marshall	....	model maker: ILM
Cristi McCarthy	....	electronic coordinator: ILM (as Christi McCarthy)
Roberto McGrath	....	still photography: ILM
John McLeod	....	stage technician: ILM (as John McCleod)
Marghi McMahon	....	model maker: ILM (as Marghe McMahon)
Ted Moehnke	....	supervising stage technician: ILM
Jack Mongovan	....	assistant animator: ILM
Thaine Morris	....	stage technician: ILM
Lisa Jean Mower	....	special wardrobe: ILM
Duncan Myers	....	optical technician: ILM (as Duncan Meyers)
Bill Neil	....	effects cameraman: ILM
Bruce Nicholson	....	optical photography supervisor: ILM
Kerry Nordquist	....	still photography: ILM
Ease Owyeung	....	model maker: ILM
Udo Pampel	....	machinist: ILM
Michael Pangrazio	....	matte painting supervisor: ILM
Paula Paulson	....	special wire performance: ILM
Lorne Peterson	....	modelshop supervision: ILM
Gary Platek	....	laser and cloud effects: ILM
Chris Rand	....	apprentice machinist: ILM
Bruce Richardson	....	model maker: ILM
Nilo Rodis-Jamero	....	effects art director: ILM (as Nilo Rodis)
Pete Romano	....	first assistant cameraman: ILM (as Peter Romano)
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical line-up: ILM (as Tom Rosseter)
Michael Shannon	....	additional matte photography: ILM
Kathy Shine	....	production secretary: ILM
Grant Smith	....	model maker: ILM
Michael Smith	....	equipment maintenance: ILM
Thomas G. Smith	....	production supervisor: ILM (as Tom Smith)
David Sosalla	....	model maker: ILM (as Dave Sosalla)
Howard Stein	....	visual effects editor: ILM
Peter Stolz	....	stage technician: ILM
Mitch Suskin	....	visual effects coordinator
Larry Tan	....	model maker: ILM
Ed Tennler	....	draftsman: ILM
Marc Thorpe	....	model maker: ILM
Peggy Tonkonogy	....	assistant animator: ILM
Mark Vargo	....	optical printer operator: ILM
Jim Veilleux	....	cameraman: additional scenes: ILM
Laurie Vermont	....	production coordinator: ILM
Art Vitello	....	key animator: ILM
Garry Waller	....	first assistant cameraman: ILM
Gene Whiteman	....	equipment engineering supervisor: ILM
Bess Wiley	....	electronic technician: ILM (as Bessie Wiley)
Terry Windell	....	animator: ILM
Jammie Friday	....	rotoscope (uncredited)

Stunts
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (as Jean Epper)
Cindy Folkerson	....	stunts
Dana Gendian	....	stunts
Jaimi Gendian	....	stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts
Beth Nufer	....	stunts
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Felix Silla	....	stunts
George P. Wilbur	....	stunts (as George Wilbur)
Bob Yerkes	....	stunts
Bobby Clark	....	stunts (uncredited)
Donna Garrett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Waters	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Averill	....	dolly grip
Pat Blymyer	....	gaffer
Hugo Cortina	....	best boy
Tommy Klines	....	second assistant cameraman (as Tom Klines)
John R. Leonetti	....	first assistant cameraman (as John Leonetti)
John J. Linder	....	key grip (as John Linder)
Dennis Matsuda	....	camera operator
Bruce McBroom	....	still photographer
Bruce Hill	....	ultra high speed photography (uncredited)
Albert Hood	....	electrician (uncredited)
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles DeMuth	....	costumer: men
Ann Gray Lambert	....	costume supervisor (as Ann Lambert)
Buffy Snyder	....	costumer: ladies

Editorial Department
Albert Coleman	....	assistant editor
Rick Fields	....	associate editor (as R. Fields)
Mel Friedman	....	assistant editor
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Bruce Botnick	....	scoring mixer
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Ken Hall)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Gary Hellerstein	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Richard L. Calkins	....	owner: Rip
Richard L. Calkins	....	trainer: Rip
Don Levy	....	unit publicist
Gerald Moore	....	craft service (as Jerry Moore)
Jerry Moore	....	craft service
Paul Pav	....	location manager
Janice Pober	....	assistant: Mr. Spielberg
Christopher Reynolds	....	production associate
Patty Rumph	....	assistant: Mr. Marshall
Daphne Stacey	....	assistant: Mr. Hooper
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor
Beverly Webb	....	production coordinator
Denise Durham	....	assistant: Ms. Kennedy (uncredited)
Dixie Fusillo	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Randee Lynne Jensen	....	substitute production coordinator (uncredited)
Kevin King	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Theresa Shepherd	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
• SLM Production Group

Distributors

• MGM/UA Entertainment Company (1982) (USA) (theatrical) (as Metro Goldwyn Mayer)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1985) (USA) (TV)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Esselte Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• MGM / UA Home Video (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1990) (2003) (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• MGM Title Department  titles (as MGM Title)
• Leonetti Cine Rentals  provider: Ultracam 35 cameras and JDC anamorphic lenses (as Leonetti Cine Rentals Hollywood)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) (as Dolby Stereo) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

UK:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1982) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:PG (re-rating after appeal) | West Germany:16 | Brazil:14 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:16 | Italy:VM14 | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

4267 Roxbury Street, Forest Hills, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Heather O'Rourke, who played the little girl Carol-Anne, and Dominique Dunne, who played the teenage daughter, are buried in the same cemetery: Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Dunne was strangled into brain-death by her boyfriend in 1982, the year of the film's release. Six years later, O'Rourke died of intestinal stenosis.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): After Carol Anne's abduction, when he brings the parapsychologists to the house for the first time, Steve tells them that they keep the kids' room locked at all times and is seen using a key to unlock it when showing it to them. Yet later Diane is seen briefly opening the door without using a key.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Carol Anne:Hello? What do you look like? Talk louder, I can't hear you! Hey, hello! Hello, I can't hear you! Five. Yes. Yes. I don't know. I don't know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in House of the Damned (1996)

Soundtrack:

The Star-Spangled Banner

Now THIS is a horror movie!!

There are two types of "horror" films:There are the scary ones, which is what the word "horror" means in the first place,and then there is the bloody,gory kind.Perhaps the latter kind should be categorized under another name.At any rate,Poltergeist is a good horror film.It goes beyond the idea of typical ghosts in sheets jumping out of nowhere and saying "boo!".Most of the adventure takes place in their world rather than ours,although we cannot see what is going on there.This is a very thrilling movie.It has great special effects and all of the scare elements that make a horror film what it is supposed to be.The clown in the chair at the foot of the boy's bed was a particularly tense moment for me.This is the only movie I went to see 4 times at the theater,partly to watch others' reactions.I have often heard that the film,and it's two sequels,were the victim of some type of curse,as after each film was released,a member of the cast passed away,including Heather O'Rourke,who played Carol Anne, after the 3rd film.She was only 10.Curse? Coincidence? Who knows? I guess anything is possible.All in all,this is one of the best films ever for the horror genre.