E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial From Concept to Classic

Book excerpt: 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.