When it comes to diversity in filmmaking, Steven Spielberg tops the list. Over many decades of being one of Hollywood’s greatest directors, Spielberg has shown that he can never be boxed into one specific genre by becoming the master in everything. In 1982, he directed E.T. The Extra Terrestrial which went on to become one of Hollywood’s cult classics.
The film about the relationship between an alien and a young boy, hit front and center for viewers worldwide for the way in which the Oscar winner expertly wove beautiful emotions into a sci-fi film. But Spielberg admitted that he lost a lot of sleep on how to pitch this multi-layered narrative to audiences, which made him seriously doubt his capability as a filmmaker.
Steven Spielberg Had Nightmares About His Iconic Film E.T.
There are some films in Hollywood that can never grow old, and Steven Spielberg’s E.T is one of them. This 1982 sci-fi drama is still considered one of the greatest films ever made, and continues to inspire generations of audiences for its brilliant narrative.
The story follows an alien who is found by a young boy and the heartwarming friendship that develops between them. But beneath the surface, the Oscar winner orchestrates a profound tale of love and loss that also sheds light upon the trauma that divorce causes in kids, which was also the director’s thrust for the narrative by his own admission.
While E.T. expectedly touched a chord with every viewers globally, Spielberg himself faced a huge dilemma on how to pitch the film. The director in a 1985 interview with David Breskin of Rolling Stone, spoke about the sleepless nights he faced trying to figure out what he really wanted the film to symbolize.
At first I thought I was making this personal statement about the effects of divorce on children. Which is, to me, what E.T. was really about. And other times I thought I was making a kiddie show that would be unreleasable in motion-picture theaters and would have to be released on Saturday-morning television, next to He-Man and Transformers.
You should see how wrinkled my insides are from all that stuff. My pubic hairs turned gray! That was a real traumatic thing.
As it turned out, E.T. went on to encompass everything that the director wanted to express and more. It is no surprise to anyone that the film continues to stay relevant more than 4 decades after its release.
Steven Spielberg Can Thank This Oscar-Winning Star For Making His Debut Dreams Come True
In 1974, Steven Spielberg took his first step to becoming the iconic filmmaker he is today with his debut feature film titled The Sugarland Express. This fast-paced thriller follows the story of a couple played by veteran star Goldie Hawn and William Atherton who get involved in a dangerous car chase to get back their child before he is permanently placed in foster care.
The film was critically well received but failed to set the box office alight in terms of its collections. This unfortunately resulted in production giant Universal Pictures pulling the movie out of theaters in just two weeks of its release. To celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024, Spielberg attended a special event at the Tribeca Festival where the film was aired for an audience again.
The Sugarland Express’ box office predicament was not the only challenge that the Schindler’s List filmmaker faced in his collaboration with Universal Pictures. In an exclusive interview with Variety during the event, Spielberg revealed the production company’s condition that they would step on board only if the film was headlined by a recognizable star in Hollywood.
Thankfully for the director, Goldie Hawn, who was one of the most sought-after stars in the industry at the time, graciously accepted to play the lead role of the mother and main protagonist Lou Jean Poplin. Spielberg who was extremely grateful for her presence in the film, believed that Hawn was absolutely tailor-made for the part.
The movie wouldn’t have gotten made without her. There was an element of the character, a bucolic element, that reminded me of the simplicity of Goldie’s heart.
Hawn, for her part, sent a heartfelt message though video that was played at the festival in which she thanked Spielberg for bringing her on board for this memorable film that set the ball rolling for him in Hollywood.
E.T. and The Sugarland Express can be rented on Amazon Prime.
