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 family drama with science fiction in a way that resonated across generations. Shot by cinematographer Allen Daviau, its warm, intimate visual language set a template for the decade that followed.

This cell, titled Gertie and Michael, captures the two siblings together within the family home's familiar interior. The framing reflects the film's grounded domestic atmosphere, where ordinary rooms become the backdrop for extraordinary circumstances. For collectors, a frame centered on this sibling relationship offers a quieter, human dimension of a story often remembered for its more spectacular moments.