MovieChat Forums > E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Discussion > Ridiculously trivial question about the ...

Ridiculously trivial question about the cigarette

posted 11 years ago by fugazzi49
44 replies | jump to latest

There's something trivial about asking such a minor question about such a great movie, but here it goes. In the first scene inside the house Michael and his buddies are playing a game around the table and there's a cigatette lit and smoking right next to Tyler. It's hard to believe that kids their age would smoke openly in front of anyone's parents. But it's equally hard to believe that Mary (the mom) would leave it right next to the kids - though it is 1982 not current times. But she never reaches for it either. Just one of those odd questions. Any ideas?

[–] MaximRecoil 9 years ago

In the early '80s here in Maine, 16 was the minimum age to buy cigarettes (and 18 was the minimum age to buy alcohol), and our high school had a smoking area up until the mid '80s. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same way in California in the early '80s.

I don't dance, tell jokes or wear my pants too tight, but I do know about a thousand songs.

[–] old-skool101 9 years ago

Maybe the group of boys should have 'gender issues' instead and inject themselves with hormones. This might make it more 'acceptable' for a 21st century audience.