In 1982, viewers first encountered a friendly alien named ET Directed by Steven Spielberg, “ET, the alien” was a hit at the global box office, grossing nearly eight hundred million dollars. . An impressive figure which allows the feature film to exceed the revenues of “Star Wars, episode IV: A new hope” (1977). Further proof of his success were the numerous accolades won the following year: four Oscars (best music, best visual effects, best mixing and best sound editing), two Golden Globes and a Grammy Award.
Unforgettable scenes, cult gimmick, and music recognizable from the first notes: the cinematographic work of Steven Spielberg is not long in appearing among the essential films of the genre. Even today, we never tire of looking with children’s eyes at this touching fiction whose popularity has not weakened four decades later.
A new representation of extraterrestrials
Originally, Steven Spielberg wanted to make a horrific film intended for an informed audience. Finally, the American filmmaker operates a 360 ° turn and stages a disarming friendship between a lonely boy and a kind alien forgotten on Earth. “AND the extra-terrestrial” will then give the enigmatic inhabitants of space a touching and benevolent face. A representation at the antipodes of that conveyed at the time by the films “Rencontre du 3e type” (1977) or “Alien, the eighth passenger” (1979).
The realization of the character of ET
To bring the nice creature to life, four puppets were created as well as a twenty-kilo costume, worn by a small actor, Pat Bilon. A means found by Steven Spielberg to achieve movements which, at the time of filming, were not yet feasible with the help of machines. Another artist to have given of his person, the mime Caprice Roth. The latter indeed lent a hand to carry out the gestures of the hands of the nice AND by wearing gloves reminiscent of the skin of the alien. As for the face of the galactic hero, it would be inspired by the scientist Albert Einstein, the poet and historian Carl Sandburg as well as the singular face of a pug. An astonishing anecdote, but at the very least funny.
—-
© Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
Eternal scenes, lines and music
Like any good cult movie that respects itself, “ET, the extra-terrestrial” is made up of essential elements. We think in particular of the scene where the subscriber alien is hiding in a closet, among the young boy’s soft toys, so as not to be spotted by the mother. But also and especially the moment when Elliott, dressed in a red hoodie, gets on his bike and takes off with ET in his luggage rack. The silhouette of the two heroes passing in front of the moon has also become the logo of Steven Spielberg’s production company, Amblin Entertainment. Even today, it’s impossible not to have this image in mind when you think of the legendary film of the 1980s.
Another unforgettable element, the famous replica “ET phone – home” – “ET phone – home” in the original version. A recurring gimmick from the film uttered in abundance by the kind alien who desperately tries to contact his family in order to return home.
Finally, music also plays a major role in the popularization of feature films. It is also the soundtrack, recognizable from the first notes, imagined by John Williams that allowed the fictional work to win many laurels (an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy Award, among others). Fetish composer of Steven Spielberg, he is also at the origin of the music for the film “The Teeth of the Sea” (1973), but also of the first parts of “Star Wars” and its cult generic. Thereafter, the prolific music lover will work on the sagas “Indiana Jones”, “Mum, I missed the plane”, “Jurassic Park” and “Harry Potter”.
—-
© Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
The first role of Drew Barrymore
“ET, the extraterrestrial” allowed the revelation of the young Henry Thomas, in the skin of Elliott. After this cinematographic experience, the latter continued his career on the small and the big screen. We see him in “Gangs of New York” by Martin Scorsese (2002) as well as in “The Haunting of Hill House” (2018) and “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (2020), available on Netflix.
But the American blockbuster also signs the first role of Drew Barrymore, 7 years old. The actress in the making – whose godfather is none other than Steven Spielberg – plays Gertie, the cute little sister a bit sticky of the siblings. First noticeable steps in the seventh art that will propel the girl to the forefront of the Hollywood scene. His career then took off in the 1990s never to run out of steam.
—-
Drew Barrymore © Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
“ET, the extra-terrestrial”, a legendary film that has become a reference
“ET, the extra-terrestrial” is undoubtedly one of Steven Spielberg’s many masterpieces. A cinematographic work, a true benchmark of the genre and strongly rooted in pop culture. Subsequently, several films and series will slip a few nods to the famous alien. George Lucas, for example, a great friend of the American director, will not hesitate to make an alien appear like ET, in “Star Wars, episode 1: The Phantom Menace”. A little attention in response to the multiple references to the intergalactic universe of the saga previously disseminated in the feature film of 1982.
–
