MovieChat Forums > E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Discussion > Steven Spielberg Regrets Editing Guns Ou...

Steven Spielberg Regrets Editing Guns Out Of ‘E.T.’: “That Was A Mistake”

posted a year ago by Satan2016 (24946)
8 replies | jump to latest

https://deadline.com/2023/04/steven-spielberg-regrets-editing-guns-out-et-extra-terrestrial-film-1235337702/

Speaking at Time’s 100 Summit, the director explained why he made the changes in the first place and why he now regrets it.

“That was a mistake. I never should have done that,” Spielberg said about editing guns out of the science fiction film. “E.T. is a product of its era. No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.”

He continued, “E.T. was a film that I was sensitive to the fact that the federal agents were approaching kids with firearms exposed and I thought I would change the guns into walkie-talkies… Years went by and I changed my own views. I should have never messed with the archives of my own work, and I don’t recommend anyone do that.”

“All our movies are a kind of a signpost of where we were when we made them, what the world was like and what the world was receiving when we got those stories out there,” Spielberg added. “So I really regret having that out there.”

[video of interview]

[–] Heisenberg (6644) a year ago

Sometimes Stevie says the right thing.

[–] ak47wong (516) a year ago

Good on him for not pulling a George Lucas, but this is rehashing old news. He basically said the same thing 12 years ago: http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/49897

[–] [deleted] a year ago

He felt the need to say it again now, as it's so important.

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) a year ago

Nice to read!

I hope more filmmakers (and more pertinently, studios) would heed this lesson: films are a product of their era, and its an act of historical revisionism to 'amend' them to fit modern sensibilities.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) a year ago

that was the influence of nerd lucas. he edit his own star wars movie with lots of bullshit and so he force his friend to do same

thankfully spielberg is normal man so he change mind but lucas is fucking bubble necked freak who horde his own movie away from everyone else like pathetic nerds he is

[–] Guitar King (4810) a year ago

"No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.”

^I'm glad Spielberg is speaking against DemoKKKrat party activists forcing everyone to peer through a woke lense at every film.

[–] FootOfDavros (7685) a year ago

. I should have never messed with the archives of my own work, and I don’t recommend anyone do that.

Sounds to me like this was a vailed dig at George Lucas for smearing Hayden Christensen's face all over the top of the original Anakin Skywalker.

I just wish he'd been slightly more direct about it and said something like "Sure I replaced guns with walkie-talkies but at least I didn't attempt to wipe an actual acting performance from history...".

[–] liscarkat (17786) a year ago

It was a stupid move. Glad to hear he admits that.