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Poltergeist (1982)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
4 June 1982 (USA)
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Tagline:
They're here. more
Plot:
A family's home is haunted by a host of ghosts. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 4 wins
&
4 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(158 articles)
Uncanny Birthday Suits
(From FilmExperience. 23 November 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)
Promo Photos & Synopsis – Private Practive 6.09 "The Parent Trap" & 6.10 "Blowups"
(From TVovermind.com. 16 November 2009, 2:22 PM, PST)
(From FilmExperience. 23 November 2009, 7:30 AM, PST)
Promo Photos & Synopsis – Private Practive 6.09 "The Parent Trap" & 6.10 "Blowups"
(From TVovermind.com. 16 November 2009, 2:22 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A Truly Unique Film
more (241 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | 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 (as Marty Casella) |
 | Richard Lawson | ... | Ryan |
| Zelda Rubinstein | ... | Tangina |
| Lou Perryman | ... | Pugsley (as Lou Perry) |
| Clair E. Leucart | ... | Bulldozer Driver (as Clair Leucart) |
 | James Karen | ... | Mr. Teague |
 | Dirk Blocker | ... | Jeff Shaw |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby (35 mm prints) |
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)
Certification:
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) |
Iceland:16 |
Portugal:M/16 |
South Korea:12 |
Netherlands:16 |
Italy:VM14 |
Australia:PG (TV rating) |
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) |
USA:R (original rating) |
West Germany:16 |
Brazil:14
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Stephen King was briefly approached to write the screenplay. It would have been the first written by King directly for the screen, but the parties could not agree on the terms.
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Goofs:
Continuity: When Tangina is talking to Diane and the others about Carol Anne she tells them that she can only hear her mother's voice, but in the next scene she tells Steven to threaten to spank her if she doesn't answer them.
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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.
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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.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "20 to 1: 50 to 01: Great Movie One Liners (#4.10)" (2007)
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Soundtrack:
The Star-Spangled Banner
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FAQ
What is the light?What's up with that bad edit right before the Freelings show up at the next-door neighbors' house?
Why did the tree go after Robbie when the poltergeists were really after Carol Anne?
more
more (241 total)
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Poltergeist was one of the films of the 80s that many kids of that era remember renting when VCRs were already a very popular thing. Like The Exorcist, it has been embedded into our movie culture as one of the great scary movies.
This film has been credited as having great special effects. But what I love about this movie is that, like other Spielberg films, the FXs are not offered to us at the expense of the film. That is, the effects aren't used to cover up holes. This is very popular in movies today. With the advancement in computer technology, many filmmakers decide that they can write their script on a POST-IT note and fill in the missing pieces with million-dollar special effects. But Spielberg films do not do this. Even in films like Jurassic Park which was a special effects showcase, the computer technology did not cover for anything. It enhanced the film to make it absolutely spectacular.
Poltergeist seems to be in the same vein as JAWS in that the monster is not shown right off the bat. Though a film like this is intended to be far-fetched and exploding, it is done in such a way that we almost could believe that this is what a real haunting would be like. We don't see a slimy creature around every corner. Instead, fear of the unknown is used. And Spielberg was a genius in tapping into childhood fears. Clowns, trees, lightning, closets...genius! Because, though we all tend to grow out of our childhood fears, there is still something terrifying about looking at them as an adult.
A great concept and great acting come together to make a truly unique movie. The long-debated question as to whether Tobe Hooper (the film's credited director) actually directed much or whether Spielberg took over for most of it, has never been satisfied. However, the film seems to show more tones of Spielberg than anything.
See it. * * * 1/2 out of * * * *