'Poltergeist' trivia and fun facts
For the whole family
Initially, Spielberg planned for Carol Anne to die in the first act and become the one haunting the house. However, the idea was scrapped for being too cruel and because Spielberg wanted the movie to receive a PG rating (parental guidance suggested) so it could be shown as a double feature with his other film, 'E.T.'. In fact, the final version of the movie includes only one death—that of the pet bird. Even so, the film was initially rated 'R', but after an appeal from the studio, its rating was changed to 'PG'.
A Very Real Medium
In theory, actress Zelda Rubinstein, who played Tangina in the film, also claimed to have paranormal abilities like her character and to experience visions of events before they happened. She stated that during filming, she had a vision of her dog saying goodbye to her, and just hours later, her mother informed her of the animal's death.
Drew Barrymore could have been Carol Anne
Drew Barrymore was close to playing Carol Anne, but Spielberg wanted someone sweeter. As a result, he cast Barrymore in 'E.T.' instead and chose Heather O'Rourke after spotting her with her mother in a café.
A cursed movie
There is a belief that the Poltergeist series was cursed due to the strange deaths that befell members of the technical crew and cast. Perhaps the most popular is that of the protagonist, Carol Anne Freeling, who suddenly died at the age of 12 from septic shock. Dominique Dunne, who played the older sister, died a few months after the film's release at the age of 22, having been murdered by her boyfriend. The sequel also had its share of suspicious deaths.
The Lion's Roar
The sound made by the ghost attacking the house near the end of the film is the same one used by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its iconic opening featuring a roaring lion.
Directed by Steven Spielberg?
'Poltergeist' is based on a story created by Steven Spielberg. At the time of filming the movie, he couldn't work on another film while directing 'E.T.', so they chose Tobe Hooper as director. However, several sources claim that Spielberg was almost always present on set giving orders and should have been credited as co-director or even as the sole director. Spielberg always denied it and even published an open letter praising Hooper, but it will be difficult for us to ever know the truth someday.
They're here
Carol Anne's quote in the movie, "They're here," has been considered one of the most famous lines in American cinema history, ranking 69th in an AFI study.