National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released by Universal Pictures in June 1982, directed by Steven Spielberg. It became the highest-grossing film of its time and remains a defining work of American cinema, blending suburban family drama with science fiction in a way that resonated across generations. Its emotional restraint and practical effects set a benchmark for the decade.

This cell captures Mary, played by Dee Wallace, across three frames drawn from what appears to be a domestic interior sequence and, in the third frame, the film's tense quarantine passage. The low-angle framing reflects Spielberg's deliberate choice to shoot from a child's perspective throughout the film, and Wallace's warmth as the overwhelmed but devoted mother is visible even in these brief moments.