The Bearded Trio

Brad’s April Escape - Part 9 April 15 - E.T. Each weekday this month, I’ll screen a film from The Bearded Trio Cinematic Universe and list 10 random scenes, characters, musical cues or performances that I particularly enjoy and look forward to upon every viewing. I’d love to hear similar little things you enjoy about these films, and hope you join me in this escape from the present-day world. Next up is the film that knocked Star Wars out of the top spot on the U.S. box office list,  E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial E.T. - An Introduction For someone of my age, the years between 1977 and 1984 were years we were spoiled with cinematic treasures. Falling right in the middle of that was E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (1982) . Coming after Raiders of the Lost Ark and before Return of the Jedi, E.T. seemed to be a movie ready-made for huge success. Steven Spielberg was back behind the camera after the triumph of Raiders. John Williams was handling the score, and advance hyp...

1982 commercial for the E.T. Earth Center which was located next to Universal Studios tour.

Here are 13 facts or quotes you may not know regarding Steven Spielberg's 1982 classic, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. 1 - Spielberg never wanted to show grown-ups until the very end.  "I wanted to suggest them like in a Tom & Jerry cartoon where, when the Mom comes in you only see her from the waist down" 2 - Quote from Spielberg in 1981 - "ET is my response to the stalled space program.  If the government won't fund the space program, to allow people's imagination to soar, then all I can do is make movies that bring space down to Earth and make it more accessible to the imagination." 3 - George Lucas on Yoda - "I hadn't seen the movie and when it was completed, we had a screening for ILM which I attended.  Steven warned me there was something special in the movie for me.  So we are watching and suddenly Yoda showed up in the film.  Everybody in the audience cheered, of course, being it was an ILM screening.  I was amazed and flattered...

E.T. - "He's Back!" Six years after originally being released in theaters, 'E.T.' was finally available on video cassette in time for the 1988 Christmas season. Recorded November 26, 1988. This is a high-quality commercial and I'm going to sound old now but they don't make them like this anymore.  The cinematography and lighting are impressive for an advert.  The audio of this particular clip also resonates with me.  That "I've played this tape so many times the sound is going a bit dodgy" effect is so...retro!  How many of us had tapes we played so much the audio and indeed the picture started to degrade?  Adjust that tracking! Also, I need to ask, as a Brit were these huge bedrooms a common thing for Americans back in the 80's?  I would have loved to have a room like the one shown in the commercial and Elliott's room in the movie.  It seemed that this was the common design if you believe 80's movies.  Poltergeist for example b...

You can read my review here  of the E.T. From Concept To Classic Book Here are 13 facts or quotes you may not know  regarding E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. Spielberg never wanted to show grown-ups until the very end.  "I wanted to suggest them like in a Tom & Jerry cartoon where, when the Mom comes in you only see her from the waist down" Spielberg explains ET is more plant than anything else.  "He's not a mammal, or bird, or fish.  I think he's a vegetable."  He also mentions how they decided to make his insides when they glow to look more like a plant. Quote from Spielberg in 1981 - "ET is my response to the stalled space program.  If the government won't fund the space program, to allow people's imagination to soar, then all I can do is make movies that bring space down to Earth and make it more accessible to the imagination." George Lucas on Yoda - "I hadn't seen the movie and when it was completed, we had a ...

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial  From Concept To Classic  was first released in 2002 when the movie was celebrating its 20th anniversary.  Now Newmarket Press has released a 30th Anniversary edition which will sit nicely by your copy of the Blu-ray which is out in October.   192 glossy pages and an introduction by Steven Spielberg no less.  In fact we get to hear from Spielberg, writer Melissa Mathison  and  the cast and crew throughout the book.  The full screenplay is included in the book ,  along with script notes to give you that extra insight into the movie.  For example, did you know that Henry Thomas who played Elliott ad-libbed the scene where Elliott and E.T. play with the toys? The book is separated into three main parts.  Part one of the book is titled From concept to c lassic  and begins with the explanation of "Night Skies", an early draft about a farm family who are terrorised by gremlin-like e...