It was Yablans who came up
with the title change, mainly as
a marketing gimmick (October
was traditionally a slow month
for cinema releases). Producer
Moustapha Akkad stumped up
the cash and would become the
guiding hand of the series once
Carpenter lost interest.
After being turned down by
Peter Cushing and Christopher
Lee, Carpenter landed Donald
Pleasence for the role of Dr Loomis (named after a character
from Psycho), the psychiatrist on
the hunt for Myers. Pleasence is
fantastic and it’s impossible to
imagine the original two choices
being as effective. They lack the
vulnerability he brings to the
role, too imposing for a character who is essentially the most
terrified person in the movie.
The casting of Jamie Lee Curtis
was again somewhat of a marketing coup, being the daughter
of Psycho star Janet Leigh (and
Tony Curtis). This is not to under-
Watch the trailer for Halloween
NewJerseyStage.com
2015 - ISSUE 10
29