JoBeth Williams Reflects on “Poltergeist”
When my agent first mentioned “Poltergeist,” my initial reaction was, “Is it horror? No thanks.” But then he said, “Steven Spielberg is involved.” Curious, I read the script and fell in love with the dynamic family at its heart, especially the strong female characters like Diane and Dr. Lesh. Zelda Rubinstein, who portrayed the psychic Tangina, was vibrant and unforgettable.
While Spielberg was busy with “E.T.,” Tobe Hooper, known for “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” directed us. I hadn’t watched that film; horror scares me!
To create an authentic family vibe, we often improvised scenes. Craig T. Nelson, who played my husband, was hilarious. In one scene, while we were trying to act natural, he added his own twist about his stomach. Little Heather O’Rourke, just five at the time, amazed me with her intuition—if I cried, she cried. Despite freezing in cold goo during shoots, she never complained.
One memorable scene was when I walked through the kitchen, and the chairs stacked themselves on the table. It was all done in one continuous shot! The crew worked swiftly to switch the chairs, and I had to keep a straight face as they rushed about like a stampede.
Another iconic moment had me pulled across a bed and up the wall by an unseen force. This was filmed on a rotating set, like the one Fred Astaire danced on in “Royal Wedding.” The cameraman, strapped in, got dizzy and had to step off after a few takes.
The skeletons that appeared in the pool scene were shockingly real! I didn’t know at the time. I was more worried about safety with the lights and fans creating wind. Spielberg stood in the water for reassurance, saying if I got electrocuted, it would affect him too.
Martin Casella on His Role
For me, “Poltergeist” was my first film, and I was thrilled to act alongside Beatrice Straight as Dr. Lesh. My character, Marty, was the skeptic. It was quite fun, especially when I had to react to a piece of steak crawling across a countertop. That was all thanks to someone underneath the counter operating it with chopsticks!
One memorable scene involved my character hallucinating and clawing at his own face. They even made a dummy of me for it. The cost of the wig was staggering—$10,000 back in 1981! In the end, it was Steven’s hands doing the tearing, since I had to shoot additional footage later.
Back then, the PG-13 rating didn’t exist. “Poltergeist” received a PG rating, but some scenes nearly pushed it to R. One involved me being lifted into the air and bitten by a ghost, but it was cut. Steven decided it interrupted a crucial emotional moment with Diane.
Today, “Poltergeist” remains a classic because of its blend of family dynamics and suspense, and the unique insights shared by the cast still add to its mystique.
For further reading on the film’s impact, check out this Variety article.
