Producer/writer Debra Hill plays young Michael Myers in the opening scenes from Halloween. It is her hands that reaches for the knife & mask as well as stab at Michael’s Sister Judith. She is also the shape’s shadow on the Wallace House.
Tommy Lee Wallace (Production Design/Film Editor) plays Michael Myers during the infamous Closet Scene. Wallace would later go on to co-write and direct Halloween III Season of the Witch for Universal Pictures.
Director John Carpenter approached both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee to play the role of Sam Loomis but both turned him down. Lee later said it was the biggest mistake he had ever made in his career.
Nick Castle was visiting the set to watch filming when Carpenter offered him the part of Michael Myers. He was payed $25 a day. When Castle asked what he motivation was… Carpenter replied… “just walk”.
The mask used in Halloween is a William Shatner Captain Kirk mask (Star Trek). Tommy Lee Wallace simply removed the side burns, spray-painted the face white, teased out the hair, and reshaped the eye holes and the rest is history.
In 2006, John Carpenter’s Halloween was chosen by the National Film Registry for preservation in the Library of Congress. The NFPB’s mission,is to ensure the survival, conservation, and increased public availability of America’s film heritage.
At the time of filming, P.J. Soles was dating actor Dennis Quaid and both John Carpenter and Debra Hill wanted to cast him in the role of Bob. Unfortunately, Quaid was busy working on another project and John Michael Graham was cast in the role instead.
The fictional town of Haddonfield Illinois was named after Debra Hill’s home town, Haddonfield New Jersey. South Pasadena and West Hollywood California served as the primary locations for the film.
Since Halloween was filmed during the spring in Southern California, there wasn’t any leaves falling from trees. In order to simulate Fall, the crew painted their own and had to gather them after each take to use on the next one.
John Carpenter was the voice of Annie’s boyfriend, Paul during the scenes at the Wallace House when Lindsey answers the phone and a few minutes later when Annie speaks with him as the shape watches from the open doorway.
Michael Myers was named after the European distributor of John Carpenter’s previous film, Assault on Precinct 13. It was that film that got Carpenter noticed for Halloween and ultimately helped to land Donald Pleasence as the lead.
The script for Halloween was written by John Carpenter & Debra Hill. Carpenter focused on Loomis’ dialogue, while Hill wrote primarily for the girls. The scene where Laurie and Annie are driving to babysit (at dusk) is improvised.
Director John Carpenter originally wanted to call Halloween “The Babysitter Murders”. However it was producer Irwin Yablans that suggested that the story take place on Halloween Night. Both were surprised to learn that there wasn’t already a film titled Halloween.
The film’s musical score is credited to “The Bowling Green Philharmonic.” There is no Philharmonic in Bowling Green. The reference is to Carpenter’s childhood hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Halloween was shot in only 21 days in the spring of 1978. The film was made on a shoestring budget of $300,000 and became the highest-grossing independent movie ever made until the release of “The Blair Witch Project” in 1999.
Michael Myers was portrayed by 7 people. Nick Castle (Shape), Tommy Lee Wallace (Closet), Debra Hill (Child hands/Shadow on Wallace House), Will Sandin (Child), Jim Winburn (Stunt), Dog Trainer, Tony Moran (Unmasked).
The Opening shot of Halloween was the last shot of production. The ‘Myers House’ was really an abandoned home and the crew had to clean it up and paint it in order to make it look like a normal suburban home in 1963.
The script called for Loomis to react surprised at Myers’ disappearance at the end of the film. Pleasence suggested his reaction should be an “I knew this would happen” look. They shot it both ways & they ended up using Pleasance’s idea.
Halloween – © 1978 – Present | Compass International Pictures | © 1978 Falcon International Productions