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A screen-matched evil clown doll from Tobe Hooper's supernatural horror film Poltergeist. As the supernatural occurrences began in the Freeling home, Robbie Freeling's (Oliver Robins) clown doll grabbed and dragged him under the bed where it tried to strangle him. The details in the face paint screen-match to shots of the doll attacking Robby under the bed and it is believed this is the only evil clown doll from the film.

Poltergeist became the eighth-highest-grossing film of 1982 and nominated for multiple 1983 Academy Awards®, including Best Visual Effects. In the decades following, the film has inspired numerous sequels, a 2015 remake, and various parodies and homages, with both the New York Times and American Film Institute ranking it in their top film lists.

Originating from a source close to production, this lot consists of a complete clown doll with an evil face made by dollmaker Annette Little. During pre-production, one complete clown doll was made with a smiling, friendly face, along with two other heads; with one having a distinctly malevolent-looking face and one notably "evil" looking face. Later, a second complete doll body was made and attached to the evil clown head. The second malevolent head did not appear on film and this evil clown doll was used once the clown turned evil. Over the course of filming Robbie's scene, the clown dolls suffered a degree of damage that production repaired between takes. These cracks to the plaster head can be seen on screen in several shots.

This clown doll features a plaster head with a hand-painted face and synthetic orange hair. It is hand-sewed onto the body by holes along the neckline. Both the hat and body are made of a poly-blend sateen fabric with decorative stars and moons adhered, internal wire armatures, and polyfill stuffing. The hat is believed to be from the happy version of the clown doll rather than the evil version; it was affixed to this clown doll during production, but after the evil clown sequence was shot. The design of this particular doll has exaggerated features such as a rounder body and longer limbs. The seams of the frills and vest still retain their original blue color, while the majority of the fabric on the cuffs and hat has faded over the years from the strong blue to a much softer pink tone. Also included is a promotional photograph of the Freeling family signed by Robins.

This doll exhibits cracks in the plaster head from filming, notable glue residue from on-set repairs, torn fabric, frayed threads, discoloration, and faded color. Dimensions: 53" x 18" x 7" (134.75 cm x 45.75 cm x 18 cm)

Estimate: $200,000 - 400,000

View all lots from POLTERGEIST (1982)