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:

The Trick Is To Stay Alive!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the character Sheriff Leigh Brackett, played by Charles Cyphers, is a direct reference to the screenwriter of Rio Bravo (1959), Leigh Brackett. One of John Carpenter's favorite movies. He used the name in Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) and Someone's Watching Me! (1978).

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Goofs

When Laurie first arrives home from school, she glances out the window and sees Michael standing in her neighbor's yard. It is very windy. But in the next moment, she slams the window shut and the trees are perfectly still.

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Quotes

Tommy: 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: Nobody believes me!
Lindsey: 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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Alternate Versions

When aired on TV, the following scene was altered: When Sheriff Brackett and Loomis are talking, the sheriff names off what kids are doing, his line of "Getting high" was changed to "Acting sly."

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Connections

Referenced in Holliston: Halloween Girl (2013)

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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

Hands down classic horror film

Halloween is a hands down classic horror film. John Carpenter made a film that was often imaited but never duplicated. The camera angles are one of the many things that make the film scary. Carpetner allows the viewer to see through the eyes of the killer with the subjective camera and then there's the classic music score. Jamie Lee Curtis had a star making role in this movie and if you've never seen the film you should.

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