E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. – Der Außerirdische

Homage 2023

Source: Deutsche Kinemathek, Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC

Fleeing government agents, a UFO taking off from California leaves an extra-terrestrial abandoned on Earth. The small alien finds shelter with 10-year-old Elliott, who lives in the suburbs with his single mother and two siblings. Because Elliott misses his father who lives in Mexico, while the creature misses his people, who are likely light years away, they bond immediately. Their spiritual kinship includes telepathy, and together they look for ways for E.T. to “phone home”. But as more neighbourhood kids get involved in helping with the endeavour, the government pursuers track the little space stranger to Elliott’s house … E.T. encapsulates the experiences of a child of divorce – although Steven Spielberg did not become one himself until the age of 20. Nonetheless the film is informed by childhood fears and dreams. More radical than the film versions of classic children’s books that animated Spielberg, such as Peter Pan (1953) and The Wizard of Oz (1939), E.T. is the story of a world of children standing in solidarity against adult society. In reality, the Hollywood grown-ups retaliated by turning the title hero into big business.

by Steven Spielberg
with Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Henry Thomas, K. C. Martel, Sean Frye, Tom Howell, Erika Eleniak, David O’Dell USA 1982 English 114’ Colour Rating R6

With

Dee Wallace
Peter Coyote
Robert MacNaughton
Drew Barrymore
Henry Thomas
K. C. Martel
Sean Frye
Tom Howell
Erika Eleniak
David O’Dell

Crew

Director	Steven Spielberg
Screenplay	Melissa Mathison
Cinematography	Allen Daviau
Editing	Carol Littleton
Music	John Williams
Sound	Gene Cantamessa
Production Design	James D. Bissell
Costumes	Deborah Scott
Make-Up	Robert Sidell
Producers	Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy

Produced by

Universal Pictures

Amblin Entertainment

Additional information

DCP: Universal Pictures International Germany