"David Furtney has been doggedly researching the various controversies surrounding Poltergeist's 'authorship' for years. He's got the most fascinating one-movie site I've ever encountered!"-Bob Martin, original editor of "FANGORIA" magazine http://www.facebook.com/UncleBob.Martin

"One of the best places to find more information is at super-fan David Furtney’s webpage on Poltergeist."-Jim Howard, Jr.-DVDFile.com http://www.dvdfile.com/reviews/review/poltergeist-25th-anniversary-edition-11553

 

"I have now spent HOURS surfing your meticulous and impressive site on the POLTERGEIST movie(s). Very informative and inspiring, especially as this movie has been very formative on my development as a film score composer. Kudos to you for doing this work."

-
Søren Hyldgaard
Screen Music - http://sorenhyldgaard.com
Copenhagen
DENMARK

"This article would not have been possible without the incredible archival material at Poltergeist: The Fan Site."- Devin Faraci, http://badassdigest.com/2012/01/08/schlock-corridor-poltergeist-1982-part-ii/

 

"'Poltergeist' is an effective thriller, not so much because of the special effects, as because Hooper and Spielberg have tried to see the movie's strange events through the eyes of the family members, instead of just standing back and letting the special effects overwhelm the cast along with the audience."

-Roger Ebert

"Don’t let the name STEVEN SPIELBERG or the PG rating fool you, this film has caused countless sleepless nights and it’s done so for decades. What’s so scary about POLTERGEIST? Well first of all, it takes place somewhere many kids can easily identify with, suburbia. Any child who has recently gained mastery over their fears of cobweb strewn mansions or gothic castles are instantly sent back to square one." -

www.Kindertrauma.com

"Probably the best ghost movie I have ever seen. The movie has everything going for it. Start with the characters. The Freeling family feels like a true one. The chemistry between all those who compose the unit is astounding. I swear to god I really believed Craig T. Nelson was married to JoBeth Williams…damn…I still do! The film establishes its character from the first frame and we really get to care about these people. The film’s interpretation of suburban life is on the money. From the football game gathering, the remote control wars (funny stuff) and the parents smoking a little bit of that sweet cheeba on the side."

-John Fallon, Arrow in the Head.com

http://www.joblo.com/arrow/reviews.php?id=588

 

 

 

 
News Updates
 
 
8/21/23
 
RARE DELETED SCENE DISCOVERED! 
 
Another fan has found the deleted scene with Dr. Lesh and her mentor at the university, Dr. Anthony Farrow (played by the late actor Edward Ashley). The scene would have taken place right after the scene of Steve and Mr. Teague on the hill overlooking Cuesta Verde. Here's the clip from YouTube! UPDATE: As you can see below, and as expected, Warner Brothers filed a copyright notice not long after the clip was posted and got it taken down. The scene was also removed from Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. It's really unfortunate, since the obvious question is, why didn't WB put this scene (and others) on the 40th Anniversary Blu-Ray last year? Or the 25th anniversary Blu-Ray? Or at any time in the past 25+ years after they acquired the rights to the film from MGM? While it's likely that WB/Amblin already had this footage in their archives, maybe they didn't? The copy of this scene came from the estate of late actor Edward Ashley. When he found out the scene was cut, he'd written a letter to Spielberg requesting a Beta copy of it back in 1982. In November of that year, Spielberg had someone on his staff mail Ashley the tape, which years later found its way into the hands of a collector. And then eventually to the fan who posted it online. 
 
Hey Warner Brothers...maybe you could stop treating this film so poorly and release a true special edition that fans have been wanting for decades?
 
 
Poltergeist (1982) - Rare Deleted Scene - YouTube
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Back in 2007, for the film's 25th Anniversary, I got to attend a screening at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica. Afterwards, there was a 30 minute Q and A with co-writer Mark Victor and actors James Karen and Zelda Rubinstein. Here it is.
 
 
 
 
 
10/7/17
I recently had the great pleasure of speaking with Cameron Cloutier for his podcast Obnoxious and Anonymous. We did a full-length audio commentary for "Poltergeist." Here it is. Enjoy!
 
 
"POLTERGEIST" (1982) / WATCHALONG - YouTube
 
 
 
 
 
 

Here's a "Variety" ad from Monday May 11, 1981 announcing the first day of filming.

Found it at this Ebay auction.

9-6-13

Deleted Scene featuring Beatrice Straight and a never before seen character!

 

 

 

Above is a deleted scene featuring Dr. Lesh (Beatrice Straight) and her mentor at the University, Dr. Anthony Farrow. Farrow was portrayed by the late veteran actor Edward Ashley, star of many classic Hollywood films including 1940's "Pride and Prejudice" (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039049/). This scene featured the two characters discussing the video tapes Lesh's team filmed at the Freeling house, and Farrow's suggestion that Lesh bring in "her big guns" to help (Tangina). It also featured a bit of foreshadowing as Ashley notices something interesting that materialized with the pile of jewelry that fell from the "bilocation" point in the ceiling. While sadly this scene was cut from the film, it was featured in the novelization by James Kahn. 

As to whether footage from this scene still exists, the answer is.....YES.