Halloween (1978)

Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

John Carpenter (screenplay by), Debra Hill (screenplay by)

Stars:

Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran

6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald Pleasence	...	Loomis
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Laurie
Nancy Kyes	...	Annie (as Nancy Loomis)
P.J. Soles	...	Lynda (as P J Soles)
Charles Cyphers	...	Brackett
Kyle Richards	...	Lindsey
Brian Andrews	...	Tommy
John Michael Graham	...	Bob
Nancy Stephens	...	Marion
Arthur Malet	...	Graveyard Keeper
Mickey Yablans	...	Richie
Brent Le Page	...	Lonnie
Adam Hollander	...	Keith
Robert Phalen	...	Dr. 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 | year 1978 | babysitting | stabbed to death | knife murder | 

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Taglines:

He's come back

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

In July 2018 at the San Diego Comic Con, during a panel discussion with Jamie Lee Curtis, a fan named Joseph Scott told her that he was a victim of a similar home invasion himself. He said "I was scared out of my mind and out of nowhere this thought came inside of me, 'What would Jamie Lee Curtis do?'" and later added "I'm a victor today instead of a victim, just like those people that you were talking about". Yvette Nicole Brown, who hosted the panel, asked him to approach the stage. Curtis, who was moved to tears by Scott's story, stood up and went down the stage where she greeted him with a hug.

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Goofs

(at around 18 mins) When Michael is stalking Tommy at the school there are a few cars parked across the street from where he's headed. Once Michael gets into his car, all of those cars are gone.

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Quotes

Loomis: Ever done anything like this before?
Marion: Only minimum security.
Loomis: I see.
Marion: The only thing I can't stand is their gibberish... how they keep ranting on and on.
Loomis: You haven't anything to worry about. He hasn't spoken a word in fifteen years.

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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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Alternate Versions

The television network-version (aka. Extended-Version) has a different climax: when 'Dr. Loomis' shoots 'Michael Myers' in the end, you can only hear the gun- shots from outside the house, while in the theatrical-version you can see how he shoots him. This alternate-scene was also used in the beginning of "Halloween II(1981)" during the flashback sequence, instead of using the original footage from the ending of the Theatrical-Version.

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Connections

Referenced in Trick 'r Treat (2007)

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Soundtracks

Don't Fear the Reaper
Written by Donald Roeser
Performed by Blue Öyster Cult
Courtesy of CBS Records

User Reviews

Classic

What is more to say? absolute classic film and one of the best horror films ever. Watched this a few months ago and had fun. I can't think of any big problems that I've noticed with this film

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 October 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Carpenter's Halloween

Filming Locations:

Meridian Avenue & Mission Street, South Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$325,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$47,160,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$47,160,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compass International Pictures, Falcon International Pictures, Falcon International Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 101 min (Extended TV Version)

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1