Join us and watch the classic sci-fi film E.T. this Saturday, July 26, 2014 at Long Branch Plantation. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 32 years since E.T. hit the theaters and changed the sci-fi genre forever. Upon its release in 1982, E.T. was an instant hit, even surpassing the first installment of the Star Wars series at the box office. The film had been shot in only four months, and was an early film in the careers of many of its actors, including a seven-year-old Drew Barrymore.
The story was inspired by director Steven Spielberg’s own childhood experience of his parents’ divorce, and evolved over time as he directed his earlier films Raiders of the Lost Ark and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Working with a cast consisting mostly of child actors, Spielberg decided to shoot the scenes in nearly chronological order so that the actors’ emotional progression would be more natural. He also forwent the use of a storyboard, allowing the kids to ad-lib (Barrymore’s well-known quip “gimme a break” was unscripted, but captured the little sister-big brother relationship so well that it was left in).
The film received nearly unanimous positive reviews and it maintains its place at the top of many “greatest movie” lists today. Keeping up with the times as the industry evolved, E.T. was re-released in 1985, and again in 2002 with additional scenes and altered angles.
Whether you’ve seen it time and time again or you want to watch it for the first time, bring your blankets, chairs, snacks (if you’ve seen the movie, you’ll know that Reese’s pieces are the most appropriate choice!), and friends and join us as we celebrate this enduring story of friendship, fitting in, and finding home.
The screening will begin at 8pm in the outdoor amphitheater or inside the house in the case of inclement weather. Admission is only $5 and children ten and under get in for free.
For more info: https://www.visitlongbranch.org/event/outdoor-historic-movie-series-2/ or call 540-837-1856.
We look forward to seeing you there!
– Katie Williams, Long Branch Plantation Intern
