31 years ago, in the United States, the film “E.T.” directed by Steven Spielberg had its premiere.2 photos

31 years ago
In the United States, the film directed by Steven Spielberg titled “E.T.” premiered.

The renowned Hollywood director Steven Spielberg said that “E.T.” was the most personally meaningful film for him, as it was inspired by his childhood memories. He initially decided not to include any celebrities in the movie; almost all the roles were played by young actors. The lead role was played by 10-year-old Henry Thomas, who portrayed the boy Elliot, who found an alien abandoned by his friends in the forest. Secretly taking the alien home, he introduced it to his older brother Michael (played by Robert McNorton) and his younger sister Geri (played by Drew Barrymore).

The production team spent a great deal of time working on creating the image of this alien. Spielberg wanted it to be a small creature with a long, thin neck and short legs. He collaborated with the famous Italian designer Carlo Rambaldi, who had previously worked on “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Rambaldi created three models of the alien, costing a total of 700,000 dollars. These models were made of special rubber and fiberglass and contained numerous electronic components.

When none of the models could create a convincing enough illusion of life, dwarfs and a 12-year-old boy born without legs participated in the filming. They wore masks and costumes that controlled electronically.

The film was released in the United States on June 11, 1982. It received nine Oscar nominations but won only in four categories: Best Music, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound Editing. The production budget amounted to 10.5 million dollars. “E.T.” remained the box-office record holder for a long time.