Poltergeist (film series)

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Laserdisc cover of the first Poltergeist film
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Laserdisc cover of the first Poltergeist film

The Poltergeist movies are a trilogy of horror films produced in the 1980s. Steven Spielberg co-wrote, co-produced, and some say directed the first Poltergeist although Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) was billed as the director. Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Poltergeist III each had a different writer, producer, and director. Brian Gibson directed Poltergeist II: The Other Side, whereas Poltergeist III was directed, co-written, co-produced and storyboarded by Gary Sherman. Michael Grais and Mark Victor co-wrote the first film with Spielberg, wrote the second film on their own and also co-produced it. Brian Taggert and an uncredited Steve Feke co-wrote the third film. Spielberg's long-time friends (and then-married couple) Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy co-produced the first film. Freddie Fields and Lynn Arost co-produced the second film, and the third film was co-produced by Barry Bernardi. The scores of the first two films were composed by Jerry Goldsmith. H.R. Giger did conceptual designs for the second film.

Contents

[edit] Films

  • Poltergeist (1982): In the first and most successful film (released on June 4 1982), a group of seemingly benign ghosts begin communicating with five-year-old Carol Anne Freeling in her parents' suburban California home via static on the television. Eventually they use the TV as their path into the house itself.
  • Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986): This sequel exists to explain in much greater detail why Carol Anne was targeted in the first film. As it turns out, the Freelings' house in the first movie was built over a massive underground cavern that was the final resting place of a utopian cult that died there in the early 1800s. This cavern was even below the graveyard that wasn't relocated in the first film. The cult was led by Rev. Henry Kane, and this man did not have the best intentions. He was power hungry, anxious to control the souls of his followers in both life and death.
  • Poltergeist III (1988): Apparently, between the second and third films, the Freeling family has had quite enough of all supernatural activity, and have decided to cut it off at the source: Carol Anne is now living with her aunt Pat (whom Carol Anne insists on calling Trish, a common nickname for Patricia; this is important later in the film as a way of identifying an imposter Carol Anne) and uncle Bruce Gardner.

[edit] Trivia

  • Some of the stars in the movie, such as Dominique Dunne and Heather O'Rourke died young. As a result, an urban legend has grown up asserting that the cast was cursed. See Poltergeist curse.
  • The line "They're here!" was voted on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes at number 69.
  • H.R. Giger was responsible for The Beast's creature design.

[edit] Partial credits

  • Craig T. Nelson, Steven "Steve" Freeling (first and second films only)
  • JoBeth Williams, Diane Freeling (née Wilson) (first and second films only)
  • Oliver Robins, Robert "Robbie" Freeling (first and second films only)
  • Heather O'Rourke, Carol Anne Freeling
  • Dominique Dunne, Dana Freeling (first film only)
  • Lara Flynn Boyle, Donna Gardner (third film only)
  • Tom Skerritt, Bruce Gardner (third film only)
  • Nancy Allen, Patricia Wilson-Gardner (third film only)
  • Zelda Rubinstein, Tangina Barrons, Clairvoyant
  • Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jessica "Gramma Jess" Wilson (second film only)
  • Beatrice Straight, Dr. Lesh (first film only)
  • Richard Lawson, Ryan (first film only)
  • Will Sampson, Taylor (second film only)
  • Julian Beck, Reverend Henry Kane (in the second film)
  • Nathan Davis, Reverend Henry Kane (in the third film)
  • Corey Burton, Reverend Henry Kane (in the third film, voice only, uncredited)
  • Jaclyn Bernstein, Young Diane (in the second film)
  • Kelly Jean Peters Young Jess (second film only)
  • Martin Casella, Dr. Marty Casey (first film only)
  • Richard Fire, Dr. Seaton (third film only)
  • Noble Craig, the Great Beast a.k.a. "Vomit Creature" (second film only)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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