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 time and remains a defining work of American cinema, blending suburban realism with science fiction in a way that resonated across generations. Its production on 35mm captured a warmth and texture that became inseparable from the story itself.

This cell, titled Keys, preserves a quiet interior moment featuring the character known only as Keys, seated at a desk beneath practical warm lighting, his dark jacket anchoring the frame. The consecutive nature of the frames reveals the subtle continuity of a single held shot, offering collectors a rare, understated glimpse at one of the film's more enigmatic presences.