Synopses & Reviews
To coincide with the 20th anniversary re-release of the classic film, digitally remastered with new scenes and never-before-seen footagehere is the never-before-published screenplay and story behind the movie in the filmmakers' own words, lavishly illustrated with more than 200 photos. Directed by Steven Spielberg from the Oscar®-nominated screenplay by Melissa Mathison and produced by Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, this landmark film won four Oscars® and grossed $700 million worldwide. The touching story of a lost little visitor from another planet who is befriended and protected by a young boy who, together, find a way to return the young alien home, the film co-stars Dee Wallace-Stone, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, and Drew Barrymore. Published to celebrate the film's 20th anniversary, the Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook includes stories from the makers and stars of the film, how the project was conceived and written, how the alien was drawn and made, how the movie was cast, how anxious the filmmakers were about its reception, the stunning unveiling at Cannes, Spielberg's thoughts as a filmmaker about making films for kids and adults, and much more. 200 color and b/w illustrations.
Synopsis
E.T. is the movie that created one of the most recognized icons of the twentieth century, and has become the enduring classic about a remarkable friendship between a boy and an alien visitor. And this is the only book that tells the story of how the movie was conceived and made.
Here are stories from director Steven Spielberg, writer Melissa Mathison, producer Kathleen Kennedy, child stars Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore, and members of the crew. Spielberg and Mathison tell us how E.T. evolved from Spielberg's concept into Mathison's screenplay. We learn about the mechanics of how the alien was made to walk, talk, eat, and phone home. We go on the set to discover, firsthand, how the most memorable scenes were filmed, including the scene of the boys flying over the moon and the good-bye scene that had us in tears.
Lavishly illustrated, with full-color stills and behind-the-scenes photographs, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial from Concept to Classic includes the complete screenplay, as well as excerpts from the reviews and feature stories that appeared when the film was first released in 1982. Here is a book that puts you in the director's chair during the making of one of the most extraordinary films ever created.
Synopsis
Few movies in the entire history of Hollywood cinema are as beloved as Steven Spielbergs E.T., the story of a remarkable friendship between a young boy and an alien visitor stranded on Earth. Now in a new 30th Anniversary edition, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial from Concept to Classic is the only official book on the making of the film—the book Spielberg himself calls, “Our E.T. family album.” Lavishly illustrated with more than 200 photos and drawings, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial from Concept to Classic includes the complete annotated screenplay by Melissa Mathison, remembrances from the cast and crew, and fascinating little known facts and trivia about the production, making it a must for film buffs and the countless fans who hold this extraordinary motion picture close to their hearts.
About the Author
Steven Spielberg (Introduction)
The renowned director and producer of
Schindler's List has also directed, among other acclaimed films,
Lincoln,
War Horse,
Saving Private Ryan,
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,
Jurassic Park,
Raiders of the Lost Ark,
Close Encounters of the Third Kind,
Amistad, and
Jaws. He established the Shoah Foundation in 1994, inspired by his experience while filming
Schindler's List.
Melissa Mathison wrote screenplays of Kundun, Indian in The Cupboard, and The Black Stallion. She lives in Los Angeles and New York City.