How Pizza Hut Caused a Really Weird Jump Cut in The 1982 Horror Film POLTERGEIST
I don’t know if you remember or not, but there’s a very strange and out of place jump cut in Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg’s classic 1982 horror film Poltergeist. This is something I don’t remember noticing as a kid, but watching it again as an adult you can’t help but think, “what in the hell was that!?”
The weird jump cut come during the scene where Diane is explaining to Steven about the feeling you get when the spirit pulls you across the floor. The scene jumps from right in the middle of a sentence to another scene where they are both on their neighbor's doorstep, again this cut happens in mid sentence.
I initially thought this might have some weird artistic decision, but nope. It was all because of Pizza Hut. The reason for the cut was because in the original scene, Steven talks about how much he hates Pizza Hut. The scene was edited after Pizza Hut took offense.
This is odd because Pizza Hut wouldn’t have been able to sue Spielberg or the studio for saying their pizzas suck, that's a first amendment issue! I’m not sure why the creative team cared so much about not offending Pizza Hut! It not like they were a sponsor of the film or anything. They crudely cut the scene at the expense of not offending them and it the one big glaring imperfection of the film.
You can watch the how the scene plays out below and then you can read an excerpt from the script showing how the scene was originally supposed to play out.
Here’s how the cut scene played out:
CAROL ANNE
Mommy didn’t cook any dinner.
DIANE
(loud)
We’ll go to Pizza Hut, all right?
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 shit.
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.
39
THRU OMIT
41
42 EXT. BEN TUTHILL'S FRONT PORCH - LIGHT
The front door opens and Tuthill steps into the bug light. An obvious strain in this conversation.
The motives various, the feelings mutual. About a thousand mosquitoes chow down on the Freelings while they talk.
STEVE
Hi, Ben.
DIANE
Mr. Tuthill.
TUTHILL
TV's off in here. If your set's acting up again...
What do you think about all this?
We talk about all kinds of this stuff on our podcast Secret Level. You should check it out!