8mm Forum: Remember ET

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Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on April 09, 2018, 02:05 PM:

Last night I sat back and let the projector and platter to do there thing and watched ET. As I was watching the film it took me back to 1982, when we first went to the cinema to watch it.

The film was a huge hit at at the time, so much so, we took other family members to see it three times, with the same results of the tissues coming out at the scene of ET dying.

Its amazing to think "scary really" that its now been 36 years and in a few more, the film will have its 40th anniversary, how time passes. Watching "ET" last night made me wonder, if a film like that was made for the first time, for todays audience, how it would get on?, was it just the early 80s and how people were back then?

Posted by Oliver F. R. Feld (Member # 1911) on April 09, 2018, 02:28 PM:

Graham,
is this 35mm?
Great pictures; what an image!
I feel the same about „E.T“; I recently bought it on Super-8 and it took me back to the 80s into the ROYAL PALAST, my favorite theatre.
And after screening my print to an audience everyone started to talk about their feelings when they remember their first „E.T.“-experience...
Unique...
This features was magical, is magical and will always be magical!
A touching everlasting masterpiece...

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on April 09, 2018, 02:58 PM:

Spielberg is a genius though, isn't he? It's an over used attribute, but you have to admit, you can't deny the accolade to the man.

I've just been reading an interview in Empire about "Ready Player One", where he states that he really thought that "Poltergeist" would be the bigger hit that same year, pointing out that he thought audiences preferred to be scared, and was as surprised as anyone when "E.T." was the huge success.

It's also poignant to consider how important the Oscar winning score by that other genius John Williams is in this film, as Mr. Williams slows down his career. I wish he could go on forever.

I remember a couple of interviews with the Berg, one where he described how at the scoring of "E.T.", John Williams couldn't quite get the timing right for the closing sequence edit. After several attempts, Spielberg apparently said, "Well, there must be something wrong with the timing of the edit, so we'll go back to Michael Kahn and re-cut it to your score".

In another interview, John Williams was struggling with the score for "Saving Private Ryan", and went to Spielberg to say something like, "I've tried, but I think you need a classical composer who is better and more experienced to score this movie..."

Apparently Spielberg retorted with, "Well, they're all dead, so you'll have to get on with it".

Posted by William Olson (Member # 2083) on April 09, 2018, 03:22 PM:

I saw "E.T." at a special midnight screening a week before it opened. I sat next to a big burley guy - a football player type. He was crying his eyes out. One of my most memorable moviegoing experiences was seeing this amazing movie. Seeing it a week before its opening gave me bragging rights and a chance to spread the word of its greatness.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on April 09, 2018, 07:13 PM:

Good stories everyone [Cool]

Oliver its 35mm..

Last night doing a quick check and photo...

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on May 16, 2018, 11:28 AM:

Graham
If I ever get to New Zealand can I come visit? Incredible 35mm set up you have! 👌

Posted by Larry Arpin (Member # 744) on May 16, 2018, 01:13 PM:

My 2 oldest sons were 4 and 3. They were both attentive movie watchers. I had my 3 year old on my lap. Whenever Keys would come on screen he would get scared turn around and hug me tight. After he left my 3 yr old would go back watching the movie. Some years later when E.T. was re-released we went to see it again. By then my oldest son had gotten an E.T. doll. He didn't cry when everyone thought E.T. had died but at the end when E.T. was leaving the water works begun and became really loud saying "I want to watch it again" and was just out right balling. He seemed to be heart broken. I think he just didn't want E.T. to leave. I'm sure it must have had an affect on the entire audience.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on May 16, 2018, 01:55 PM:

Alan......thanks,you are more than welcome [Smile]

Larry...what a nice story [Smile]

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