MovieChat Forums > E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Discussion > If Spielberg wasn't allowed to direct PO...

If Spielberg wasn't allowed to direct POLTERGEIST, why didn't he...

posted 9 years ago by IMDB_Vits
4 replies | jump to latest

... just wait until this one was finished? Then there would be no debate about who really directed POLTERGEIST. Actually, that debate started because of how much he wanted to participate in the production, so it would've made more sense to wait and direct both movies.

[–] IceboxMovies 9 years ago

Spielberg owed Universal one more movie and wanted to get out if his contract with them, so he rushed E.T. into production.

[–] wwestar 9 years ago

Rubbish. Speilbergs contract with Universal ran out in 1975.

[–] IceboxMovies 9 years ago

Rubbish. Speilbergs contract with Universal ran out in 1975.

No, you must be thinking of an earlier contract. Spielberg really did owe Universal and Sid Sheinberg at least one more movie in the early 80's. Spielberg originally wanted to do a musical for them called Reel to Reel, but the studio turned it down, so Spielberg did E.T. instead, thinking it would be a smaller picture.

And you'll notice Spielberg didn't direct another movie for Universal for a good 7 years, before returning to them with Always.

[–] wwestar 8 years ago

The reason he didn't return was

1/ Two of his films (Indy) had to be done with Paramount.

2/ Warner's owned the rights to Color Purple and Empire of the Sun in novel form, plus Speilberg became best friends with the head of Warners during the 80's. But he did get Universal to finance Back to the Future and finance an animation company called Amblination which made An American Tail and they did Batteries not Included.