So who really directed Poltergeist? It’s a question that horror fans have been pondering for many years, and there are so many different insider stories that it’s become impossible to know the truth.
Recently, assistant cameraman John Leonetti, who was on set every day of the production, told the podcast Shockwaves that it was without question Steven Spielberg who directed the movie, with Tobe Hooper merely credited as the director to avoid various issues going on behind the scenes.
Of course, that’s just one side of the story.
On this week’s episode of Post Mortem, host Mick Garris had both Caroline Williams and Bill Moseley on to pay tribute to the late Tobe Hooper, and Garris took some time during the interview to tell *his* side of the story. From Garris’ vantage point, Spielberg had a whole lot of creative input, but Hooper deserves the credit for directing the film.
“I was doing publicity on Poltergeist, and a lot of people were talking about the Spielberg and Tobe Hooper situation,” said Garris. “From my perspective… it was Tobe’s first studio movie. Here he is on a studio lot. On a big sound stage. Steven Spielberg had written the shooting script, was on the set and was producing. And Spielberg is a consummate filmmaker. He lives and breathes movies. Very passionate, very intelligent, very articulate. And yes, I would see him climb on the camera and say, ‘Maybe we should push in on a two-shot here or do this/that there.’ And Tobe would be watching… Tobe was always calling action and cut. Tobe had been deeply involved in all of the pre-production and everything. But Steven is a guy who will come in and call the shots. And so, you’re on your first studio film, hired by Steven Spielberg, who is enthusiastically involved in this movie. Are you gonna say, ‘Stop that… let me do this’. Which [Tobe] did.”
Garris continued, making his point clear as day, “Tobe directed that movie. Steven Spielberg had a lot to do with directing that movie too. That controversy still hangs there, but Tobe is so much a crucial part of that movie. And watching both of them work on that film was a fascinating learning experience for me.”
“Tobe was a terrific filmmaker. I don’t think it’s that Steven was controlling. I think it was Steven was enthusiastic. And nobody was there to protect Tobe. But all of the pre-production was done by Tobe. Tobe was there throughout. Tobe’s vision is very much realized there. And Tobe got credit because he deserved credit. Including… Steven Spielberg said that.”
“Yes, Steven Spielberg was very much involved. It’s a Tobe Hooper film.”
