As the movie “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial” celebrates its 40th anniversary, actor Henry Thomas, who starred as Elliott in the film, is reflecting on the film and the fame that came with it.
Thomas spoke to CNN this week when an updated 4K Ultra HD version of the film was released. The release includes 45 minutes of new bonus footage from the Steven Spielberg-directed classic.
Initially, Thomas said, he didn’t understand the little alien who came to live in Elliott’s house.
“I remember as a kid, you know, I was really into ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones,’” Thomas recalled. “I got a script and I read it and I thought, is there no laser fighting? No starships, no battles, no fights?” “But it works. It works somehow,” he said.
Until he actually saw ET on set, Thomas said he thought “this guy with a finger that can heal you” was a silly concept. That changed when production began, the actor said, because Spielberg made it so amazing.
“He was able to talk to me and make you feel like a colleague and not feel like I’m being demoted, which is important when you’re a kid,” Thomas said. “Especially when you are a child in an adult world, in an adult job.”
Although Thomas hasn’t watched “ET” in 20 years (he’s said he doesn’t like seeing himself on screen), he understands why the movie was so successful.
“It speaks to our universal human compassion,” he said. “And we all have it. We all have the nurturer within us, right? So I think that says it. It brings us back to being young.”
Thomas said he is still recognized as the kid from “ET” but doesn’t care. It was harder when he was a kid, a shock to the system when strangers all over the world started saying hello.
“Suddenly, I was no longer anonymous. And it was a strange feeling as a boy,” recalled Thomas. “There was a book called ‘Never Talk to Strangers,’ and it was about not talking to strangers, not talking to strangers that you don’t know, and unless your parents or your family know them, not talking to them, and then every world is talking to me.”
After he got over the initial shock of fame, he learned that “ET” and the film’s director were wonderful to associate with.
“I imagine if it was a bad movie that was universally panned, we wouldn’t be talking about it now, 40 years later,” said Thomas. “But also people, when they recognize me, they associate me with this great character, this kind of cool, rebellious kid, and that’s great.”
In addition to never-before-seen footage from the film, other bonus features on the new release include a retrospective of the film, along with “TCM Classic Film Festival: An Evening With Steven Spielberg.” There are also cast and crew interviews and a conversation with composer John Williams about the film’s famous soundtrack.
Thomas said he recognizes how special “ET” is.
“It’s a rare and unique thing to be a part of, and I appreciate it so much more now because I know how rare it is to be successful in this industry,” he said. “Most movies come and go in a few years and nobody remembers them. This one stayed here.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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