The Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Festival got off to a rousing start on Thursday night with Steven Spielberg reuniting with several stars of his 1982 classic E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial for a very special 40th Anniversary screening.
The 75-year-old filmmaker reunited with stars such as Dee Wallace (Mary Taylor), K.C. Martel (Greg), Robert MacNaughton (Michael Taylor) and Matthew De Merritt, who was born without legs and was one of the actors who was in the E.T. costume.
They were joined at the TCL Chinese Theatre by other celebs and fans such as Jane Seymour, but the beloved film’s child star Drew Barrymore along with lead actor Henry Thomas were no shows at the nostalgic event.
Steven: The Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Festival got off to a rousing start on Thursday night with Steven Spielberg reuniting with several stars of his 1982 classic E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial for a very special 40th Anniversary screening
Reunited: The 75-year-old filmmaker reunited with stars such as Dee Wallace (Mary Taylor), who starred as the matriarch Mary Taylor
Spielberg had hits like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Raiders of the Lost Ark under his belt before making E.T., but it still helped define his career.
The movie became the highest-grossing film of all time during its theatrical run in 1982.
The classic follows a young California family still shaken by a recent divorce, whose lives are turned upside down when they discover E.T.
Dee Wallace starred as the matriarch Mary Taylor, the mother of Elliot (Henry Thomas) and Gertie (Drew Barrymore).
Fan favourite: E.T. was an immediate blockbuster right from the start, staying atop the box office for its first six weeks and setting a record for having 16 weeks at #1
Steven’s look: Spielberg stepped out with with a white dress shirt under an olive green plaid vest and a matching suit coat
Before: Spielberg had hits like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Raiders of the Lost Ark under his belt before making E.T., but it still helped define his career.
Matriarch: Dee Wallace also starred as the matriarch Mary Taylor, the mother of Elliot (Henry Thomas) and Gertie (Drew Barrymore)
Anniversary: While Thomas and Barrymore weren’t at the screening, Wallace arrived looking elegant as ever in a black turtleneck with pearls under a white coat and black pants
While Thomas and Barrymore weren’t at the screening, Wallace arrived looking elegant as ever in a black turtleneck with pearls under a white coat and black pants.
K.C. Martel, who played an older neighborhood kid named Greg, was also in attendance at the event.
The final cast member present was Robert MacNaughton, who played Michael, Elliot and Gertie’s older brother.
Greg: K.C. Martel, who played an older neighborhood kid named Greg (pictured second left) was also in attendance at the event
K.C.: The actor opted for a white dress shirt under a brown suit coat, brown pants and brown shoes
Older: The final cast member present was Robert MacNaughton, who played Michael, Elliot and Gertie’s older brother
Robert’s look: Robert opted for a black-on-black look with a black coat, black shirt, black pants and black shoes
Matthew De Merritt was also in attendance, one of the three actors who spent time inside the actual E.T. suit.
Matthew, who was born with no legs, was just 11-years-old when he was invited to play E.T, fitting inside the 4ft rubber suit, which was also inhabited for various scenes by two people with dwarfism, ‘Little Pat’ Bilon and Tamara De Treaux.
E.T was voiced by Pat Welsh, who took over from actress Debra Winger, who spoke the lines for Spielberg’s rough cut of the film.
Matthew also worked closely with Caprice Rothe, who made and performed the hands for E.T.’s close-ups.
E.T.: Matthew De Merritt was also in attendance, one of the three actors who spent time inside the actual E.T. suit
Iconic: Matthew, who was born with no legs, was just 11-years-old when he was invited to play E.T, fitting inside the 4ft rubber suit
Speaking to the UK’s The Mirror newspaper in 2002 Matthew explained how he was undergoing physical therapy at UCLA medical centre at the time when Universal Studios got in touch with his doctors.
‘There was a fitting and they took all my measurements and they filmed me walking on my hands,’ he explained.
‘I’m not sure what they were thinking when they got me down there. I’d never demonstrated to anybody that I could walk on my hands, and I don’t see how they could think I could comfortably fit inside a costume and walk around and make a convincing alien – but it kind of worked out that way.’
Absent from the reunion was the film’s lead Henry Thomas, who played Elliot and is more recently known for recent Netflix hits like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, and Drew Barrymore as his little sister Gertie.
Drew, the daughter of actor John Barrymore, was cast by her godfather Spielberg at just seven-years-old.
Missing: Absent from the reunion was the film’s lead Henry Thomas, who played Elliot
Still acting: Henry, now 50, is more recently known for recent Netflix hits like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass
MIA: Drew Barrymore who played Elliot’s little sister Gertie, also didn’t make an appearance on Thursday night
Start of her career: Drew, the daughter of actor John Barrymore, was cast by her godfather Spielberg at just seven-years-old
Last year the actress revealed in an interview with People that she is planning a special celebration with her daughters, seven-year-old Frankie and nine-year-old Olive, along with Spielberg.
‘I’ve actually been speaking with Steven Spielberg about it. He calls my girls who he held when they were babies, and he’s known them throughout their lives,’ Barrymore began.
‘I do want to revel in this moment with them and include them and celebrate with Steven. He’s a big father figure to me,’ she added.
She added that Spielberg pointed out that her daughters are right around the same age she was when she starred in the film and he didn’t want them to miss this moment.
‘So he’s like, “We’re not missing this moment with your kids.” I’m like, “Okay. You’re right. We can’t. You’re right,”‘ Barrymore added.
Special: Last year the actress revealed that she is planning a special celebration with her daughters, seven-year-old Frankie and nine-year-old Olive, along with Spielberg (pictured together in 1982)
Reunited: While she wasn’t at Thursday’s event, Drew reunited with Dee Wallace, the actress who played her mother on Monday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show
She said this celebration is, ‘very emotional and full circle,’ adding, ‘My kids are very close to the age that I was when E.T. came out. Frankie actually is at the age. She is 7, and she will just be turning 8, and Olive is 9. She’ll be turning 10. This is where I’m at, and they love Steven.’
Barrymore said that when Spielberg mentioned celebrating E.T.’s 40th anniversary with her daughters, ‘I cried my eyes out and it’s such a life moment and I’m so proud of where we’re all at.’
While she wasn’t at Thursday’s event, Drew reunited with Dee Wallace, the actress who played her mother on Monday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show.
E.T. was an immediate blockbuster right from the start, staying atop the box office for its first six weeks and setting a record for having 16 weeks at #1.
It ultimately grossed a then-record $359 million in North America and $619 million worldwide, a record that would stand for 11 years until another Steven Spielberg blockbuster dethroned it, 1993’s Jurassic Park.
Keith’s look: Keith Carradine rocks a blue suit at the E.T. screening
Kate’s look: Kate Flannery stepped out with a floral print dress and black pumps
Jane: Jane Seymour steps out in a tan dress and matching pumps
Smiles: TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz and Dave Karger flank actor Topher Grace
J.J.: J.J. Abrams steps out at the E.T. 40th Anniversary screening
Leonard: Leonard Maltin steps out in a red and black suit
Alicia: TCM’s Alicia Malone steps out in a glittering blue pantsuit
Pam: Pam Grier steps out in a brown coat and brown floral print pants.
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