Random Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'E.T. Extra-Terrestrial' (15 items)

• 

  (#2) Reese's Pieces Weren't The First Choice Of Candy

  Elliott and E.T.’s intergalactic friendship begins thanks to Reese’s Pieces, with the former leaving the latter a trail of candies in the woods. Hershey (which made the candy) went on to see its profits go up nearly 300% thanks to the use of the product, but it might surprise you to know that Reese’s Pieces weren't the first choice of candy. 

  According to William Kotzwinkle (who wrote his novelization based on the screenplay), the original script specified the use of M&M's. However, the Mars Company refused to go along with the deal, believing it was doing just fine, and didn’t want to peddle its product in Spielberg's film.

  Mars’s loss proved to be Hershey’s gain: The film made Reese's Pieces a regular commodity at movie theaters around the world. 
• 

  (#8) The Young Cast Played With The Kids From 'Poltergeist' Between Takes

  In the summer of 1982, Poltergeist and E.T. were both released. Spielberg was not only the director of E.T., but also the producer and co-author of Poltergeist’s screenplay (many believe he also helped direct).

  The films were also filmed at the same time (and near each other), leading the casts and crews to hang with one another. The kids spent the most time together (as seen in the production still of Spielberg and the kids above). 
• 

  (#6) Spielberg Dressed Up And Trick-Or-Treated With The Kids While Filming The Halloween Scenes

  E.T. 's famous Halloween scene - in which Elliott and his brother dress their alien pal up as their little sister - was filmed in October 1981. Spielberg joined in on the Halloween antics by dressing up as an old woman for the entire day.

  When they wrapped filming for the day, Spielberg even bobbed for apples and went trick-or-treating with the cast.  
• 

  (#14) The Original Ending Was Much Different

  In E.T.’s final scene, the friendly alien says farewell to Elliott. The alien points to his friend's forehead and says, “I’ll be right there,” before leaving with his family in a spaceship as a rainbow appears in the sky. 

  However, Spielberg’s original ending for the film saw it go out on less of a high note. According to actor Michael MacNaughton:

  The last scene was going to be all of us playing Dungeons & Dragons again, except this time, Elliott’s the dungeon master. Because he was the one that found E.T., he sort of got in with the group... And then they would pan up to the roof and you’d see the communicator and it’s still working - in other words, Elliott is still in touch with E.T. But after they did the score [composed by John Williams] and they saw what they had with the spaceship taking off and everything... How can you follow that? I mean, it was a wise choice.
• 

  (#12) Steven Spielberg Filmed The Movie Chronologically In Order To Get Authentic Reactions From The Child Actors

  For the sake of time and money, most movies are filmed out of order. This was not the case with E.T.

  Spielberg filmed E.T. in chronological order so that the child actors could get to know one another organically, and have authentic emotions - especially in regards to the goodbye scene at the end of the film (which was, of course, filmed last). 
• 

  (#1) Three Actors Wore E.T.'s Costume, One Of Which Was A 12-Year-Old Walking On His Hands

  Scenes that featured E.T. moving around called for a full-sized costume (made with hidden slits in the alien’s chest so the wearer could see), which was worn by three different actors over the course of production.

  The first person to embody the character was Matthew DeMeritt, a 12-year-old born without legs whom Spielberg found through the UCLA Medical Center. DeMeritt's suit was rigged so that he could place his hands into E.T.'s feet and use them to walk. He's the one operating the suit for E.T.'s intoxicated scenes in the kitchen (when he falls on his face). 

  Eventually, the costume proved too taxing for DeMeritt, and production brought in Tamara de Treaux and Pat Bilon, two little people hired to complete additional scenes. The actors were often cooled off with blow dyers between scenes. 

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking