ARENA CINEMA - John Carpenter and Halloween, broadcast 1979. UK TV

This episode of 'Arena Cinema' was broadcast on BBC2 ON 31st January and 4th February 1979 to co-incide with the British release of 'Halloween'. What we have here is an interview with John Carpenter on the set of the now-classic film with brief behind-the-scenes clips.
The format of this series was that each episode had a lengthy feature item with unrelated film news and reviews at the end.
Short clips of this programme have been seen elsewhere over the years. To my knowledge it has not been repeated since.
I've had to make an edit of several minutes towards the end of the programme ( the non-Carpenter bit ) to remove clips from the film 'Blue Collar' which KZbin really didn't like.
Happy Halloween

[@montevideo3580]

Wow. Behind the footage from the actual set and shooting of scenes. "Halloween" is one of my favourite films of all time. What a treasure this is!

[@ackamack101]

I agree. I have seen bits and pieces of this footage for years and wondered what in the heck it was from. To finally see it in its entirety is a real treat for sure!

[@proudhug]

I love that the interviewer challenges Carpenter on everything he says and doesn't let him get away with saying stuff that's contradictory.

[@jonathancubillo7383]

Carpenter completely nailed The Thing. Makes sense he loves the original so much

[@d.bcooper7819]

Before anyone knew how huge Halloween would be. I feel the same way about Carpenter as he does about those 40s directors.

[@keitha.563]

This footage is worth gold !! WOW

[@Andrew84UK]

A beautiful time capsule. So cool to see this behind the scenes footage

[@robmadrigal714]

I definitely enjoyed watching this!! Wish there was more!

[@transmissionggb2820]

Love his honesty about the other film makers, we need more of him in this kiss ass world of film where every actor or director love each other but really keeping their options open for their next film.

[@num1pimpin]

Tx tflgfhkjffhjjhhhdgnjrhhhhgffffdj Dey I do uhukjiljj Jersey hi time

[@malcolmxpanther]

I agree with him for the most part besides Scorsese. I do think Spielberg’s films up to that point were over rated. Surely Carpenter liked Indiana Jones. I also think Altman’s films are extremely boring for the most part, and he’s not a great director. Carpenter probably couldn’t sit through one of his films. He made exploitation action and horror films for most of his career.

[@MatsThyWit]

@@malcolmxpanther I completely agree with him about Altman. I enjoy MASH, that's about the only film he ever made though that I think is worth a damn and a lot of that was made by the setting and the actors moreso than any kind of outstanding direction. Altman's movies for me tend to be slow, meandering, and pretentious.

[@agfagaevart]

@@MatsThyWit so not true! Nashville is brilliant. so is California Split. Altman dispelled myths about the westerns that Carpenter loves so much. Carpenter became what he complained about here; his later movies were self indulgent in places, and full of errors. To each his own I guess.

[@drdeadbeat1604]

8:55 take notes filmmakers, we don't want to be lectured, we just want to be entertained

[@imposs-up1hg]

They Live suggests he changed his mind on that point.

[@DSnake655]

@@imposs-up1hg That's exactly what I thought. He might've just possibly changed his mind.

[@RamenNoodlez258]

I have wanted to see behind the scenes footage of Halloween since I was a kid. I didn't think there was anything to be found. I then saw clips of this on a DVD but figured we'd never get the full piece. Words can't describe how thankful I am for this upload

[@JiM-SWEET-art]

In reference to what John says here 8:55. I would say art, of any kind, is very useful to get intellectual messages across. You can say more with art, indirectly, than you can just saying what you think with mere words. People go to see art more than just listening to a regular person say what they think. Being an artist is what gets people to listen and whatever message you want to express. John, I guess, just likes entertaining messages more, which is great also. Anything good has to convey an idea and all ideas we think about convey a message of some sort that we relate to. The message that humans get from every idea is it conveys a message about the human condition, no matter how simple or entertaining that idea is. It's like this interview with Bill Hicks. Interviewer : "It isn't about giving them what they want, it's about giving them what you want." Bill : "Sure, you know why? Because I honestly believe we are all the same and I think to go, I'll give them what they want is very condescending and I don't try to condescend people. That's why I treat them like my friends. I guess that is a shocking way to behave in this world for some people. I don't just sit there and go, well you are all a bunch of idiots and I will do stuff I don't believe in to amuse you." Interviewer : "But they want to be entertained." Bill : "When did thinking not become entertaining?" Interviewer : "They don't want to think, they want to laugh." Bill : "Am I supposed to go out and tickle them individually? We have to express and idea here."

[@Derl30]

Wow, that is complete genius coming from Hicks, unsurprisingly.

[@JiM-SWEET-art]

@@Derl30 Here's that interview, if you are interested in seeing it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2OVf6Cfjd5lsJo

[@DSnake655]

That part has always made me wonder just how exactly he may have meant that, especially considering THEY LIVE.

[@2545poc]

This is pure gold!!! Thank you , thank you, thank you for providing this!!!

[@conalcochran156]

Happy Birthday to John Carpenter!

[@Jripey13]

Because of this footage interview, I can really make the miniature Myers houses as it should be.. Did you see the back yard??? Wow 🤩 😍😂

[@THE.N1KO]

Did you make that miniature? I would love to see it if it's possible.

[@Jripey13]

@@THE.N1KO Did this 6 years ago , but the back is different.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5CckoithZZreqM

[@Villeins09]

Super Nostalgic! Definitely appreciate the post! I'll have to show this to John tomorrow.

[@theirishbandit7301]

This is amazing!

[@adamturner1563]

Ummmmm...this is amazing. Extremely entertaining. Nice one brother...

[@GreasyFilms-qc1xo]

Donald Pleasence is poo-pooing his most iconic role, that he's absolutely fantastic in. Hilarious.

[@outpost31737]

He's right though the script is melodramatic particularly Loomis's description of Michael. Great film though.

[@mattbernabe]

Agree. Haha! But once Halloween became a hit, and it revitalized his career, especially with a younger audience, he was willing to do as many Halloween sequels as they wanted.

[@CUSTOMTOYSLF22]

brilliant 👌🎃

[@markwarling6135]

Good stuff Shape on!!!

[@waynedoyle5584]

deleted scenes 23. 36 to 25 .20 mins ....thank you for vid

[@AndrewHunterMusic]

Holy cow…finally a video that *should* be click-bait titled. “INSANELY RARE UNSEEN HALLOWEEN BEHIND THE SCNES & JOHN CARPENTER INTERVIEW!!”

[@steveward6099]

LOL now I don't feel so bad for finding close encounters an underwhelming film.

[@amjoshuaf]

Close Encounters is brutal. Jaws is Spielberg’s only great film. Raiders is a fun film but I’m not sure I’d say it’s a good film.

[@gkroll8467]

@@amjoshuaf jaws is his best cause of the acting

[@martinhavelock5106]

Oh yeah, this is the good stuff 👍

[@Tchernobog]

halloween should have been called "bogey chaser" and loomis could have branched off like kolchak and gone after other bogey men

[@martinroche1026]

I agree

What a great piece on Carpenter. Sadly I don't think they made these with so much insight anymore. I would love to see something like this on up and coming directors like Ari Aster or Robert Eggers, for example.

[@screamrad218]

I would love to see Robert Eggers do a modern day inspired Halloween film. Not a fan of on screen gore. I want more bloodless suspense in Horror.

[@johngammon963]

8:55 - Bravo

[@listentothenightfilms]

You can tell this dude suffered no fools. I would have hated to have screwed up on set and have him to answer to.

[@DSnake655]

He comes off that way in interviews all the time, but it sounds like most of the people he works with end up friends, it seems.

[@phantomfire8228]

9:25

[@phantomfire8228]

8:56

[@pachucodreams]

Daaaaaamn. Carpenter is my hero but goddamn his takes are so wild. haha I'm a huge Altman fan but respect it. That British interviewer tho is a dick for overly simplifying his films.

[@pachucodreams]

Still grating to hear this man speak with such pompous and backhanded demeanor. Carpenter was spot-on in foreseeing the effects of commercial and tv filmmaking bleeding into film which we currently experience today as well as what he noticed was the oversaturation of post-modernist and post-structuralist tendencies a lot of media goes for today. I'm a fan of both authors and filmmakers that are, it has just diluted to the point of redundancy and it's easy to see where Carpenter even then had his frustrations then.

[@federicozimerman8167]

2022…This is control, brainwashing is complete ps: what a gem this video

[@JuanRivera-gc7fq]

I getva sore throat when i watch close incounters and dry mouth.

[@andrewwashiku]

What's he got on his head?

[@JuanRivera-gc7fq]

Must be mash potatoes flakes

[@cel4403]

Mindless Urban gorillas. Wow.

[@brianmccord7387]

guerrillas not gorillas

[@cel4403]

@@brianmccord7387 That would make a difference

[@JuanRivera-gc7fq]

Hannibal is like a deranged loomis

[@kangaroo3708]

It’s interesting that Carpenter considers Altman’s work to be mastrubatory but he likes Tarantino’s work...

[@ste1bro]

Fascinating to see Carpenter's views on his contemporaries. Similar to his view on Altman, I know I'm in the minority, hut I think he's a terrible film-maker. Halloween is awful, a pale, witless imitation of Italian Giallo. Escape Ftom New York is one naff gag stretched past breaking point. The wonderful Dark Star was Dan O'Bannon's show all along, but The Thing and Big Trouble in Little China are his masterpieces. The Thing is *so* good, so unlike anything Carpenter directed before or since, that I actually wonder if he wasn't... aided... by another director? Anyway, a hack who coasted on his reputation and goodwill. Comes across as an arrogant prick, too (and if anyone has read a book called 'Shock Value' by Jason Zinoman, you'll be surprised to learn that from film school on, Carpenter was an utter arsehole, shitting on much greater talents than he, using and discarding them on his way to the top).

[@NovaFeedback1979]

Carpenter is not a hack. Think whatever you want with this garbage take though.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

Sometimes the KZbin recommendations are spot on. Very enjoyable program here, particularly seeing a scene being worked on from "Halloween" with the director and two actors-- this is like being a fly on the wall. Pleasance is so good in the final print that when the sheriff indicates the doctor's gun (after the jump scare), Donald acts so authentically that it almost seems like he is breaking character. He is just so natural and believable. I appreciate being given a glimpse behind the scenes of one of my favorite thriller films.

[@Sausalitorock]

Thank you, (muchas gracias), from Argentina. The dawn of the best times for horror. To be there! Real treasure...

[@michaelforthriller]

thanks for posting this!!! :)

[@paulascott5701]

When they are talking with Pleasance, is that the back of the Myers house? If so...WOW!

[@gabehill-harriss9022]

Just stumbled upon this through usual flick and pick but this is a real treasure for the archives! Favourite director ever, most prolific consistent film maker through late 70's 80's. Interesting though to hear him not specifically fond of close encounters.. probably my favourite Spielberg movie. Halloween, favourite horror, The Thing, favourite sci fi horror equal to Alien.

[@78starman25]

HalloweeN, Alien and The Thing. 3 of my favourite horror films.

[@benhoene6404]

12:30 Oh, John. You are REALLY not gonna care for Spielberg in about 4 years.

[@amjoshuaf]

And rightfully so. ET is 🤢 🤮

[@joshuaortiz4886]

what a blessing to see on Carpenter's birthday! thank you for posting, and to everyone involved. a masterclass in interviewing.

[@christopherbell4543]

This is a treasure thanks.

[@indieshack4476]

Very good to see the entire program (except for the Blue Collar clip which appears to have been cut). I remember watching this Arena when it aired in 1979. Oh for a time machine...

[@shanedenny5234]

What made John Carpenter great was that he would not settle for anything less than what he wanted. No cutting corners. His talent and remarkable ideas that are put into his filmmaking are like those of Stephen King. Things that are otherworldy and cool. That only a brilliant mind could fathom and concept into film. Donald Pleasance was very brilliant as you can tell by talking to him. So in control of himself and focused. I can't imagine anyone else playing his part any better. Again, Carpenter knew what he wanted and he knew who would fill the role perfectly. Just awesome!!

[@berendharmsen]

I loved how he described the flaws of Dark Star, one of my all-time favourite movies: that it was really that short with some stuff added to pad the runtime - which is exactly how I always saw it. It's truly a great forty minute joke about a bored crew and a malfunctioning bomb with a great punchline, and then there is all this stuff in the middle with diary entries, and random one-off jokes, a REALLY boring bit with a musical instrument, and a beachball alien side-plot that goes on for way too long. I can sort of see the original short in the movie, but I always wondered if the alien was always a part of it - it almost has to be. I'm sure the elevator sequence was added later though...

[@JuanRivera-gc7fq]

Pleasencr is like hopkins

[@agfagaevart]

Donald Pleasance is correct about the script, but he put his faith in the director and his vision - Which paid off. The films became his pension scheme, reinvigorated his career, and got him loads of advertising work. 26:44 You would've hated it!

[@paxolefeece6520]

tibbedee-dunk

[@patricktaylor2733]

He's a great director but his taste in films is pretty bad, in my opinion. I think Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a masterpiece and one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made.

[@yohei72]

He's always been what I call a "reverse snob" - someone who is paradoxically pretentious about insisting on being what he portrays as unpretentious. His taste in cinema is extremely narrow, which I always find annoying. EDIT: But his taste in old genre cinema is excellent.

[@Njbear7453]

He has great taste- Howard hawkes, hammer films

[@davidfrost2819]

@@Njbear7453 Sorry Carpenter But Howard Hawks Red River was piss poor. Early John Wayne films were always annoying every one to his or her taste. Give me Terence Fisher over Carpenter anyday

[@Njbear7453]

@@davidfrost2819 Terence fisher directed films he never wrote; I LOVE all of his films but I don’t think he was as talented as John carpenter.

[@davidfrost2819]

@@Njbear7453 Terence Fisher may not have wrote all of his films but He was still a better director, I do think Carpenter is a better composer than director and during the interview clearly he wasn't happy giving it he sounded like a right twat. Remember Terence Fisher just didn't direct films for Hammer an excellent little thriller was Kill Me Tomorrow with Pat O'Brien Lois Maxwell and Ronald Adam