Random Behind-The-Scenes Stories From 'E.T. Extra-Terrestrial' (15 items)

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  (#10) Initially, Spielberg Himself Was The Voice of E.T.

  Spielberg acted out most of E.T.'s dialogue by positioning himself beside the camera for the child actors to see (and better connect them with the character). In post, a raspy-voiced smoker by the name of Pat Welsh was hired (whose voice was mixed with the voices of 18 other people and various animal noises) to complete E.T.’s dialogue.

  Welsh was reportedly only paid $380 for her role. She also went on to be hired by George Lucas to be the voice of Boushh in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.  
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  (#3) The Movie Was Partially Inspired By How Lonely Spielberg Felt Making 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark'

  According to Steven Spielberg, the director always wanted to tell a story about a disenfranchised and lonely young boy. This desire stemmed from Spielberg’s relationship with his siblings and the divorce of his parents when he was a child. E.T. features this story, and Elliott’s loneliness is ultimately diminished by his friendship with the titular character. 

  While filming Raiders of the Lost Ark, Spielberg knew the spirit of the tale he wanted to tell, but he didn’t have much of a plot. In between set pieces, Spielberg walked out into the desert, picking up prehistoric seashells (the Tunisian desert used to be an ocean). In his solitude, the director felt “separate from himself," and pondered the question, “How do I tell this story of a lonely boy?”

  Over the next two to three days, Spielberg came up with the bare bones of what would become E.T. He then asked Melissa Mathison - Harrison Ford’s girlfriend at the time, and the screenwriter of The Black Stallion (which Spielberg enjoyed) - to write the film’s first draft. 
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  (#4) Harrison Ford Had His Cameo Cut From The Final Film

  E.T.’s screenwriter, Melissa Mathison, asked her boyfriend at the time (and future ex-husband), Harrison Ford, if he’d be up for a brief cameo in the movie. The scene took place in the principal's office after Elliott, under E.T.’s influence, releases all of the frogs in his biology class (and kisses the girl he likes).

  The principal in this scene was played by Ford, and though he is never seen, Ford’s unmistakable voice can be heard reprimanding Elliott.

  Ultimately, Spielberg cut this scene due to Ford’s rising popularity at the time. He thought the star of Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark would distract audiences and take away from the immersion factor. 
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  (#8) The Young Cast Played With The Kids From 'Poltergeist' Between Takes

  In the summer of 1982, Poltergeist and E.T. were both released. Spielberg was not only the director of E.T., but also the producer and co-author of Poltergeist’s screenplay (many believe he also helped direct).

  The films were also filmed at the same time (and near each other), leading the casts and crews to hang with one another. The kids spent the most time together (as seen in the production still of Spielberg and the kids above). 
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  (#14) The Original Ending Was Much Different

  In E.T.’s final scene, the friendly alien says farewell to Elliott. The alien points to his friend's forehead and says, “I’ll be right there,” before leaving with his family in a spaceship as a rainbow appears in the sky. 

  However, Spielberg’s original ending for the film saw it go out on less of a high note. According to actor Michael MacNaughton:

  The last scene was going to be all of us playing Dungeons & Dragons again, except this time, Elliott’s the dungeon master. Because he was the one that found E.T., he sort of got in with the group... And then they would pan up to the roof and you’d see the communicator and it’s still working - in other words, Elliott is still in touch with E.T. But after they did the score [composed by John Williams] and they saw what they had with the spaceship taking off and everything... How can you follow that? I mean, it was a wise choice.
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  (#6) Spielberg Dressed Up And Trick-Or-Treated With The Kids While Filming The Halloween Scenes

  E.T. 's famous Halloween scene - in which Elliott and his brother dress their alien pal up as their little sister - was filmed in October 1981. Spielberg joined in on the Halloween antics by dressing up as an old woman for the entire day.

  When they wrapped filming for the day, Spielberg even bobbed for apples and went trick-or-treating with the cast.  

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