National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Universal Pictures released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in June 1982, directed by Steven Spielberg. The film became the highest-grossing release of its era and remains a defining work of American popular cinema, blending suburban family drama with science fiction in a way that resonated across generations. Shot by Allen Daviau, its warm, intimate visual style set a template for the decade that followed.

This cell, titled Mary, captures Dee Wallace in a continuous three-frame sequence from a darkened interior scene. Filmed on 35mm, the frames show Mary caught mid-smile, the camera angle slightly tilted, lending the image an informal, candid quality. A visible optical sound track runs along the lower edge. Keys appears within the scene, placing this moment in the domestic emotional core of the film.