Did Spielberg Direct Poltergeist?
An overview of Steven Spielberg's sometimes controversial involvement in the creation of Poltergeist.
Creative credit
A clause in his contract with
Universal Studios prevented Spielberg from directing any other film while preparing
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
[6] Time and
Newsweek tagged the summer of 1982 "The Spielberg Summer" because
E.T. and
Poltergeist were released a week apart in June. As such a marketable name, some began to question Spielberg's role during production. Suggestions that Spielberg had greater directorial influence than the credits suggest were aided by his comments:
Tobe isn't… a take-charge sort of guy. If a question was asked and an answer wasn't immediately forthcoming, I'd jump in and say what we could do. Tobe would nod agreement, and that became the process of collaboration.
The
Directors Guild of America "opened an investigation into the question of whether or not Hooper's official credit was being denigrated by statements Spielberg has made, apparently claiming authorship." Co-producer
Frank Marshall told the
Los Angeles Times that "the creative force of the movie was Steven. Tobe was the director and was on the set every day. But Steven did the design for every storyboard and he was on the set every day except for three days when he was in Hawaii with Lucas." However, Hooper stated that he "did fully half of the storyboards."
[6]
The Hollywood Reporter printed an open letter from Spielberg to Hooper in the week of the film's release.
Regrettably, some of the press has misunderstood the rather unique, creative relationship which you and I shared throughout the making of
Poltergeist.
I enjoyed your openness in allowing me… a wide berth for creative involvement, just as I know you were happy with the freedom you had to direct
Poltergeist so wonderfully.
Through the screenplay you accepted a vision of this very intense movie from the start, and as the director, you delivered the goods. You performed responsibly and professionally throughout, and I wish you great success on your
next project.
[8]
Several members of the
Poltergeist cast and crew have over the years consistently stated that Spielberg was the '
de facto director' of the picture, while other actors have claimed Hooper directed the film. In a 2007 interview with
Ain't It Cool News, Rubinstein discussed her recollections of the shooting process. She said that "Steven directed all six days" that she was on set: "Tobe set up the shots and Steven made the adjustments." She also alleged that Hooper "allowed some unacceptable chemical agents into his work," and felt that "Tobe was only partially there."
[9]
According to the
Blumhouse Productions website,
Poltergeist assistant cinematographer
John R. Leonetti reported that Spielberg directed the film more so than Hooper, stating:
Hooper was so nice and just happy to be there. He creatively had input. Steven developed the movie, and it was his to direct, except there was anticipation of a director’s strike, so he was “the producer” but really he directed it in case there was going to be a strike and Tobe was cool with that. It wasn’t anything against Tobe. Every once in a while, he would actually leave the set and let Tobe do a few things just because. But really, Steven directed it.
