Halloween (1978)

A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets.

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

John Carpenter (screenplay), Debra Hill (screenplay)

Stars:

Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald Pleasence	...	Dr. Sam Loomis
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Laurie Strode
Nancy Kyes	...	Annie Brackett (as Nancy Loomis)
P.J. Soles	...	Lynda van der Klok
Charles Cyphers	...	Sheriff Leigh Brackett
Kyle Richards	...	Lindsey Wallace
Brian Andrews	...	Tommy Doyle
John Michael Graham	...	Bob Simms
Nancy Stephens	...	Marion Chambers
Arthur Malet	...	Graveyard Keeper
Mickey Yablans	...	Richie
Brent Le Page	...	Lonnie Elamb
Adam Hollander	...	Keith
Robert Phalen	...	Dr. Terence Wynn
Tony Moran	...	Michael Myers (age 23)

Storyline

The year is 1963, the night: Halloween. Police are called to 43 Lampkin Ln. only to discover that 15 year old Judith Myers has been stabbed to death, by her 6 year-old brother, Michael. After being institutionalized for 15 years, Myers breaks out on the night before Halloween. No one knows, nor wants to find out, what will happen on October 31st 1978 besides Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis. He knows Michael is coming back to Haddonfield, but by the time the town realizes it, it'll be too late for many people.

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Plot Keywords:

halloween | night | michael myers | death | knife | 

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Taglines:

The Night HE Came Home!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

JohnCarpenter - movie site Trancas International Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Carpenter's Halloween

Filming Locations:

1000 Mission Street, South Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$325,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$47,000,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compass International Pictures, Falcon International Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 101 min (extended)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kyle Richards, who plays Lindsey Wallace, is the sister of Kim Richards, who appeared in John Carpenter's previous film, Assault on Precinct 13.

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Goofs

The movie is set in Illinois, but when Tommy and Laurie are going to school, the trees in the background are California palms.

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Quotes

Tommy Doyle: [screaming hysterically] It's the boogeyman! The boogeyman's outside!
Laurie: Oh Tommy, stop it! You're scaring Lindsey. There's nobody out there, now if you don't stop this I'm going to have to turn the TV off and send you to bed.
Tommy Doyle: Nobody believes me!
Lindsey Wallace: I believe you, Tommy.

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Crazy Credits

The music for the film -- written and performed by John Carpenter -- is instead credited to "The Bowling Green Philharmonic Orchestra." Carpenter grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

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Connections

Referenced in Re-Imagining Halloween (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Don't Fear The Reaper"
Blue Öyster Cult
Courtesy C.B.S. Records

User Reviews

THE perfect horror film!

Halloween is one of the best examples of independent film. It's very well made and has more psychological elements to it than you might realize at first glance. It is a simple movie told very well. The music is perfect and is one of the most haunting scores... If you haven't seen this movie yet, you must check it out. The cast is all terrific. I wish they had never made sequel after sequel. The first one was by far the best and should have ended like it did without having a sequel. It was fun to see Jamie Lee Curtis in the movie. She hasn't seemed to age (she's just as gorgeous today, without the hairdo and seventies clothes). The scenes through the mask are one of the scariest things ever!