One of the many qualities that has madeSteven Spielbergone of cinema’s greatest filmmakers is his skill at drawing out the best possible work from the actors he collaborates with. The prolific director’s filmography is filled with great performances from a wide assortment of both movie stars and character actors. Even more unique is Spielberg’s ability to provoke particularly strong performances from child actors. In fact,arguably the strongest performance in one of his movies is that ofHenry ThomasinE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which was released when the actor was 11 years old. Thomas’s work, as well as that of Spielberg and the other filmmakers involved, combine to make the character of Elliott Taylor one of the most compelling in film history, equally, if not more complex than many adult figures, while still having many immature traits that characterize him as a believable child.
Henry Thomas and the Cast and Crew of ‘E.T.’ Make Elliott a Great Film Hero
Thomas’s audition has itself become the stuff of moviemaking legend. He was recommended to Spielberg byJack Fisk, who directed the filmRaggedy Man, in which Thomas had made his film debut. Thomas was 9 years old at the time of the audition,with his improvised deliveries in particular impressing Spielberg and the rest of the casting team, several members of whom have been said to have been left in tears by his work. When the film was released in 1982,Spielberg notedthat he gave Thomas the part on the spotand praised him for being “a very controlled, methodical performer,” despite his age. While this emphasizes that Thomas was a natural fit for the role, it bears reiterating that his performance clearly benefits from the work of Spielberg and his other colleagues. Arguably, the main reasonE.T.is such a masterpiece is its respectful, authentic portrayal of the child characters at its center.MelissaMathison’s script portrays the kids as complex figures without infantilizing them but also makes their behavior realistic for their ages.
Elliott is extremely clever and creative, and his emotional problems are caused by his parents’ separation and his father’s subsequent absence, which are serious issues that adolescents and adults struggle to deal with in other stories and the real world. But he can also occasionally be selfish and oblivious to how the separation and his behavior affect the rest of his family, especially his mother, Mary (Dee Wallace). His immaturity also comes through in comedic ways, such as during his arguments with his siblings in which he dishes out amusingly childish insults like “penis breath” or in moments when, despite his generally high intelligence, he shows ignorance of adult topics, such as when he is unable to help his brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton) navigate their town during the climactic car chase because he is used to being Mary’s passenger. Spielberg and the film’s camera operators furtherimmersed the viewer in the child’s perspectivebypositioning the cameras lower than is commonfor mainstream moviemaking to match Thomas’ and the other young actors’ heights, and employed many low-angle shots in which the camera looks up.Thomas and company’s success at acting opposite the animatronic that portrayed the titular alien further emphasizes their skillbut was also obviously facilitated by that of the artists who designed the physical E.T.
Henry Thomas Surpasses Many Adult Performances in ‘E.T.’
But while it’s important to remember that the portrayal of Elliott, like most great filmmaking achievements, was a group effort, Thomas’s work is still quite stunning on its own. Spielberg’s description of his work as methodical is apt, asThomas expertly alternates between subtlety and more overt emotions based on the needs of each scene. Moments such as Elliott and Michael’s reminiscing about memories of their father and the final shots of Elliott watching E.T.’s spaceship depart are made wonderfully ambiguous by Thomas’ underplayed work, which alludes to the contradicting mix of emotions the character would naturally be feeling in the situations. This, in turn, makes the moments in which he shows more overwhelming emotions, such as his awed and excited reactions to meeting E.T. and learning that he’s come back to life, and his heartbroken farewells when he believes E.T. is dead and when he ultimately departs, all the more impactful. These careful choices work in tandem with Thomas’ natural inclination for the role, producing one of the great screen performances of all time, which likewise plays a pivotal part in makingE.T.one of cinema’s great achievements, equal if not superior to many more adult-oriented classics, including Spielberg’s own such asSaving Private RyanandSchindler’s List.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
A troubled child summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape from Earth and return to his home planet.
