E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

The music in E.T is reflective of the Postmodern Era in film music during which film composers went back to the Classic Hollywood roots of film music. John Williams created a score that utilizes a full orchestra and underscores the emotion of the film. The majority of the music is composed of one main theme (or variations of the theme) that grows in strength from being played by a single flute at the beginning of Elliot and E.T.'s relationship to a full orchestra during the second flying bike scene. Though there is one dominating theme, it mirrors/complements the emotions the characters on screen. For instance a derivation of theme plays while Elliot is at school and E.T. is left home alone. He does a lot of messy exploration of the house and the music complements his humorous antics. The music does not always follow the theme however. When the alien investigative agents from the government are shown, the music becomes dark and dissonant, utlizing a lot more brass than strings.