I've watched this movie on VHS years ago and on DVD. On both, there is a bad edit during the "pulling" scene after
Carol Anne is dragged across the tile floor. JoBeth Williams explains the experience to Craig T Nelson and in the middle of her sentence, the scene abruptly changes to them outside talking to the neighbor. Does anyone know why this is and what else was said during the cut out edit?
Never mind. Got my answer further down the message board.
shareThe above-mentioned bad edit has haunted me for years. Both Spielberg and Hooper are considered perfectionists. How they both ignored this obvious and annoying mistake is beyond me. You would've thought by now they would have made the edit look more smoother via computer technology for the DVD/Blu-ray.
Sincerely,
Steve :-)
Keep the faith!
Couldn't find the info on this post topic on this board, if anyone is game, I've been curious for years too. There are lots of weird edits in this movie to me (even before I knew about editing, as a kid), I'd heard rumors the thing was re-cobbled together by Spielberg's crew after the Tobe Hooper version didn't satisfy, but don't know details. Along with the kitchen/mosquito cut I was always bothered by the cut from everyone being knocked down to utter silence and Ms. Dunne getting up slowly right after, it seems like something is "missing" between those two cuts. And a lot of Dominique's inserts look like they were added arbitrarily because there was nothing else to cut to than her being strangely hysterical in that scene (again, just my opinion). There used to be a freeze frame when Diane ran into the house after trying to pull the neighbors with her but I think they fixed that for the DVD. All sorts of little odd, incongruous moments in the film I could point out but I'm not interested in attacking a film I truly adore, but just wondered if anyone had insights, I couldn't find them on this board anyway...
Nilbog! It's goblin spelled backwards! This is their kingdom!
The only one that is ever discussed is the kitchen scene. From the FAQ:
What's up with that bad edit right before the Freelings show up at the next-door neighbors' house?
As has been often noted, there seems to be a bit missing between when Diane is explaining to Steven about the "sliding phenomena" in their kitchen and when they suddenly appear on their neighbors' doorstep; the scene cuts right in the middle of Diane's line. The first draft of the script contained this additional material:
DIANE You can't believe the feeling.
STEVE What's the gag? There a magnet back there?
He looks behind the door in the dining room. Nothing. Steve just stands for a long moment in hapless silence, then...
STEVE I hate Pizza Hut! Where's supper? I don't understand, Diane. What the hell's going on around here?
Steve sidesteps the chalk marks, removing himself from the active area.
DIANE I figured I'd never explain it to you. So I showed you instead, but don't ask me how or what. Just help me figure out what to do.
STEVE You mean there's no gimmick?
DIANE Not from inside the house. Maybe Tuthill got himself a super remote from the Radio Shack.
Carol Anne adjusts her helmet and sits inside her launch circle. Diane and Steve are having the discussion across the room and aren't aware of her.
STEVE Maybe the shakeup and this thing...relate.
DIANE No *beep*
CAROL ANNE Daddy, look at me!!
They turn but it's too late. Carol Anne shoots across the room faster than before, and with no one to catch her.
ANGLE-KITCHEN WALL
At a sickening speed her helmet smashes into the wall. Diane SCREAMS. Steve runs over. An eight-inch hole in the wall and the cracked plastic on the helmet testify to the force of impact. Carol Anne is dazed but unhurt.
CAROL ANNE You promised pizza.
They could have just edited out the Hut part.
They skipped 1/3 of the scene for that?
Seems Pizza Hut didn't want them to utter not liking pizza at all.
Yep, bad edit within a pretty bad movie. I still like it better than E.T., but it's just not that great.
sharePoltergeist is an Iconic classic.
It's like you're trying to hate Shawshank Redemption.
Silly boy.
I think it's funny that the line "I hate Pizza Hut!" was at least included in the script! It's like that line in The Simpsons, "I'm so hungry, I could eat at Arby's!"
shareThey could easily restate that full scene today with perhaps a dub over with a fake pizza name.
shareThere's a lot of things removed that could/should go back in. Only problem is that outside of fans, no one wants to deal with it anymore. The controversy over who actually directed the movie, the half-assed attempt to release a 25th Anniversary dvd/bluray, and the cast and crew not wanting to waste time remembering the making of it.
Probably the last chance to get any actual Collector's Edition will be as a tie-in to the release of the upcoming remake.
There's a lot of things removed that could/should go back in.What other things could go back in?
Probably the last chance to get any actual Collector's Edition will be as a tie-in to the release of the upcoming remake.I suppose that means a 35th Anniversary is unlikely then..?
Only problem is that outside of fans, no one wants to deal with it anymore. The controversy over who actually directed the movie, the half-assed attempt to release a 25th Anniversary dvd/bluray, and the cast and crew not wanting to waste time remembering the making of it.I suppose the "curse" and deaths surrounding the series could also be to blame.
I actual really liked that cut. For me, it kept the film moving at a compelling place, it was just supposed to show that Jobeth was probably rambling on much longer, and the husband (and audience) would eventually tune her out.
The cut that always drove me up the wa was when was Jobeth is running in the rain outside to get help and "falls" in the pool. Watch closely, she's running in 2 different directions between a reSlly bad edit. Only thing in the entire film I would change.
I felt the cut was odd, but in the same way you did, that she was carrying on and it almost feed into the scene at the neighbors as she was still talking. Truly, one of the weirdest and worst editing jobs ever, but it certainly is a topic of conversation.
share