Christopher Lee said that turning down the role of Dr. Loomis was his greatest regret, and while I certainly would have loved his take, Donald Pleasence WAS Dr. Loomis in role, voice and spirit. Rest in peace.
@@RJstudios822 Wrong, he was a choice for Loomis along with Peter Cushing the man who played Grand Moff Tarkin they both turned it down. Lee did say he regretted turning the role down and that it was his biggest mistake in his career. They both turned it down due too the low pay which isn't surprising since the first halloween film didn't have the biggest budget. Just look it up.
@The Automator John Carpenter and Debra Hill both said it in an interview later on. I think it was at an Halloween anniversary b4 Debra Hill passed away
@NotaHero🎭of911 you stupid idiotic fool I said Christopher lee turned down grand moff tarkin. I never said Donald pleasance auditioned. Read carefully next time fool.
Donald Pleasance was perfect as Dr. Loomis. Christopher Lee - who is of course great - wouldn't have been as good, and the movie would not have worked as well as it did.
Pleasence made this movie work. There's a reason the sequels he was in are actually watchable to an extent thanks to him. Even in declining health he gave his all in this part. He was an amazing actor.
Donald was fantastic here because of the uncertainty in the tone of his voice and the delivery of his lines. He speaks them the way you would expect someone in his position to speak them. Stammering here and there, pensive looks darting across his face, and looking extremely nervous the whole time. This is what it means to suspend disbelief. Amazing acting.
"I met this 6 year old child with this blank pale emotionless face, and... the blackest eyes...the devil's eyes" It's curious the way how Loomis describes Michael's face and the description is exactly what the mask looks like. What a creepy coincidence
Michael will never hurt go after him haven’t y’all notice that it’s safe to be around loonies at all times because Michael doesn’t see him as a threat more like a father figure
@@daro-ri5ns If you watch the original series before they retconned them, you'll see the stuff michael does to Loomis is pretty tame compared to what he is capable of, some examples are. Halloween 2: A non lethal scalpel stab to Loomis's stomach, keep in mind it takes place in the same night as halloween 1, and he's already killed 16 people by that point. Halloween 4: Doesn't kill Loomis at the Diner. Throws him through a glass door at the school to get him away from jamie(again not fatal). Halloween 5: Non fatal cut to his stomach and throws him off about a 3 foot high stair, and proceeds to ignore him and make his way upstairs. Halloween 6: They don't ever see eachother in this one. Michael Never kills Loomis despite all the chances he had. I think this is because in some strange way, Loomis will for ever be his only "friend" and i am using that term loosely.
That’s the difference between Halloween and Friday the 13TH, the Michael / Loomis connection. Loomis adds to mystery of Michaels psychosis, Jason just runs around hacking away.
@MP R It seems you took the film way too seriously. I love Halloween, but can clearly see and appreciate that Friday the 13th is satires the genre you seem to hold in such high intellectual standards. Also, you're complaint isn't even original. If you argued why Friday the 13th was terrible on terms not copy and pasted since 1980, I might listen. But I won't.
The best part is the emotional pain from Loomis' realization that all of his professional expertise couldn't even explain the evil that lies within his patient. Great scene.
The Exorcist was nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, in 1973. Rosemary's Baby won a Best Supporting Actress for Ruth Gordon in 1968. The Deer Hunter won Best Picture for 1978 which also garnered an award for Best Director and Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken. Halloween is a decent film, but it's far from Oscar bait.
@@TheRSTD1The Deer Hunter is a horror movie? Never been into "genre" simplification when it comes to movies. Here's a deliberate, carefully written, obvious (a short sentence or word association within a paragraph is plenty enough) to get two things: unwarranted attention. exposure. The later might be unintentional.
John Carpenter at the very least should have got an Oscar nomination for best original score for Halloween. Can't think of any other director who is capable of composing original music to their own movies off the top of my head.
And that’s why Michael Myers scares the hell out of me. Jason kills cause people keep coming onto his turf and won’t leave him alone. Michael kills simply because he’s evil.
@@deontaedouglas it would be a miracle he’d be over 100 years old he was 75 when he passed. It’s sad because in Halloween 6 the director disrespected him so badly that’s why we didn’t see him a lot in that movie.
The sheer terror and horror in Loomis voice. He knows what Michael is and what he is capable of and still he followed him,trying to stop him. He is brave for sure but on the other hand he is as terrified as one could get..
Donald Pleasence was brilliant as Dr Loomis. He actually does sound nervous and scared, like even though he knows what Michael is, he still feels like he doesn’t exactly know what he is up against. Great acting.
2:59 "I've spent 8 years trying to reach him, and then another 7 and tried to keep him locked up because I realized of what was behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply...evil. And I think he'll come back.."
One of my favorite scenes ever. The brief monologue is so perfect. Perfectly written, perfectly performed, and perfectly scored. The way he exhales and looks up as he says “I met this...”, cued with the piano keys, is just magic. You completely feel and believe that this man is trying his best at describing an indescribable, pure, unearthly evil, and it lends such a heavy and profound presence to Michael Myers, even when he’s not around.
He IS evil. He's not a man. He's a force of nature. He's the bogeyman. The monster under your bed. The shadow on the wall. The shape. And that makes him, in my opinion, the most chilling and terrifying slasher of all. Freddy and Jason inspire fear. Micheal IS your fear
To me, this scene personifies why Halloween is the king of Horror movies. It's completely and utterly atmospheric, you feel the danger, the fear and harrowing stakes that are here. Some of the most horrifying and most captivating visuals and imagery ever, some shots make the goosebumps come alive and Pleasance's monolouge make the film feel human, grounded but almost sinister and supernatural like. He creates the idea of a real life boogeyman that will stalk you. A perfect film in my eyes, just perfection.
What's brilliant about this scene is that it feels like Michael is in it. Even though you've seen this movie so many times and know he's not there, you can just feel his presence. Carpenter knew what he was doing with this movie
Donald Pleasance was so brilliant in this role. The character was so convincing in how genuinely scared of what only he knew Michael Myers was. It's almost as if he knew that he couldn't be stopped.
Sinister! I thought he said sensitive but it didn’t fit quite well. Also the way he says “Oh I do have a permit.” And shows it to the sheriff. He’s kind and scared.
2:28 - “I met him, 15 years ago. I was told there was nothing left. No reason, no conscience, no understanding; even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this 6-year-old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes... the Devil’s eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized that what was living behind that boy’s eyes purely and simply... evil.”
This is my favorite scene out of all the Halloween franchise because it just proves the evilness inside Michael and how terrifying he's become. Donald Pleasence sells the act showing just how terrified he is of Michael 🤌👌
I Love the music and how it goes so well with the eeriness of the Myers house, this scene really does make the film, without it it really wouldn’t be the same
The one thing that makes Dr. Loomis so heroic to me in this, he admits he is afraid. Without hesitation, without and chest pounding, but he steps up to the plate nonetheless.
That's one thing. The actor. Then there is the writing. Also direction. Because some things you're not able to show. You have to tell them. And this is how you do it.
Donald Pleasance got this role, because Christopher Lee's agent rejected it without consulting Lee. Lee was mad and fired the agent after watching Halloween. Christopher Lee as Samuel Loomis? Yeeeeaaaaah
I could imagine Christopher Lee bringing a certain notion of impending doom with his voice and tone which might have been epic, but Donald Pleasence delivers a much “creepier” feeling and the sense of abandoned sympathy that just feels right, dare I say perfect for this movie.
Lee would have been great as Loomis no doubt, but would he have done all the sequels? I don't see that happening. Donald Pleasance was the perfect choice for this role.
Only problem is that Lee is so often a bad guy, with a great villain's voice, that we'd be wondering if he was secretly in league with Michael for the whole movie.
Loomis was the counter balance to Michael's evil. The series would never have done as well without Donald. He made the Loomis character his own and was (in my eyes) equally as important as Michael Myers in these films.
This piece of music HAS to be featured in Halloween Returns. Definite foreboding/creep-factor for the audience. John Carpenter will definitely repeat this theme...
You cannot underestimate the importance of Donald Pleasance in the success of Halloween. He is Michael Myers nemesis and you get the feeling Michael himself likes having him around as much as the audience did. Only Loomis truly appreciates the evil that lurks within him.
What I like about Donald is,he wasn't greedy and took the part,unlike the other british actors who turned it down and because of this he became the icon along with Mm that is Halloween so fair play to him....
Fun fact: John carpenter was inspired to create michel myers, when his class took a trip to a mental institution in Kentucky and he saw a young boy with the "most evilest eyes, the devil's eyes", as donald pleasance described in 1978s haloween (original).
If you were a psychiatrist who had a 15 year history with a patient like Mike Myers, and knew the depths of his evil, wouldn't you be scared out of your mind, and defend yourself?
As much I love Loomis’s character and given that Donald was 59 when he did this film, if he didn’t pass away in 1995 and lived 23 years longer, he would’ve been 99 at the time of the 2018 film
I have to admit that I had never watched a Halloween film up until 3 years ago. I was always into Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street. After seeing nearly every Halloween film in the last 3 years, I can say without a doubt I prefer the Halloween franchise now. A lot of that is due to the Loomis character. His pursuit and obsession of stopping Micheal Myers is what makes this franchise so good in my opinion. This was a very good film for it's time, and this scene here is so memorable. What a great performance by this incredible actor.
He fears Michael and yet he'll wait and face him alone... cause Loomis was a total boss and played to perfection by the late, great Donald Pleasence. My 2nd favourite character of this franchise behind Michael and ahead of Laurie
The fact Michaels origins remains a mystery, what drove him to kill at age 6, and he spent his childhood, early years as an adult and of course his whole life (40 years) in a mental hospital is brutal Just think.... He gived up his life at the age of 6
H6 gave explanations like so satanic cult and curse etc Rumors say that Halloween ends coming out next year too bas some reasoning and explanations regarding Micheal's past and killing reason Hope they would make us shocked
Not like she really knew Loomis anyway, he was just some crazy old guy who busted into the house she was at and shot Michael, then showed up at the hospital later and shot Michael again, then blew himself up.
There's something magical about John Carpenter films. Directed perfectly... composed his own music. I re-watched this in the theater the other night. It was crowded... and DEAD SILENT. People didn't even want to chew popcorn because of the suspense. I don't usually hear a packed theater that quiet.
One of not just scariest scenes ever but BEST scenes ever. Gives me goosebumps every single time. Like it stops U dead in ur tracks n just holds u. Vulgar display of power lol
This Movie is One of My Favorite Horror Movies and The First Time I Watched This Film on VHS When I Was 17 I Had Chills Big Time Now I Have Halloween on DVD!
it's amazing to think that this film made on a shoestring budget would go on to be an iconic, classic film and would propel jamie lee curtis into superstardom.
"I met him 15 years ago I was told there " was nothing left no reasoning, no conscious, no understanding and even in the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year-old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and, the blackest eyes, the devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because what I realized what was behind that boy's eyes was simply, and purely evil." -Dr Samuel Loomis
It's subtle but the thing I love most about this scene is how quickly Loomis admits that he's afraid of Michael. Yes he's hunting him and yes he has a gun on him but he doesn't underestimate how evil Michael is!
Theres something about dr Loomis which is vital for horror movies but often missed. A good honorable person willing to fight the good fight. To stand his ground against the shape. Without the light of good the darkness of evil drowns in apathy.
2:08 Donald does a wonderful job here of a terrified doctor who knows how dangerous his patient is, he looks completely on edge, what a great actor he was and helped make this film a classic.
One of my favorite things about this movie is how the house looks like that. But during production they made it look it did during the opening scene at the end of production. Also, this scene alone is arguably the best scene of the entire Halloween franchise.
@bill bixby I agree, and I'll fight till the death so you and everyone in America can Express those feelings like freedom of speech. Its important. All I'm saying with the state of America and the world right now, most people including myself, wanna just escape for the moment without having to run into some form or another about politics. It gets tiresome. I hope you can understand,
It’s amazing how John Carpenter and Donald Pleasence were able to make the scariest scene in the movie a scene where Michael Myers wasn’t even in! Tommy Lee Wallace was right: It’s not what you see, it’s what you DON’T see… The fact that Michael Myers isn’t present, yet talked about in such a way that can elevate the fear in the audience is phenomenal. Mr. Pleasence, you were born to play Dr. Loomis!!
This is a REAL example of a scene which proves that that "show-don't-tell" cliche is utter nonsense. This is without doubt a scene where telling is FAR BETTER than showing!
I've been a Halloween fan ever since I first watched this in the theater back in 1978. I was 5 years old and it's just as impactful now as it was back then. Over the years I compare this to the classic story Moby Dick. Michael Myers is the imposing entity wreaking havoc and mayhem and Dr. Loomis is the brave, steadfast and obsessive hero Capt. Ahab. Actually I recommend watching the first 2 Jaws movies and the first 2 Halloween movies. You definitely see a thematic connection.
So the sheriff wanted to warn people through the media, but Michael's shrink told him not to? Way to go Loomis! Those kids died because of YOU!Nah just kidding. Great scene and great actor.
Dude, no other slasher has even been described this way, not only is he killable and human, but he is described as the definition of evil and his drive for bloodshed is so potent, that he is welling to risk death just to kill, how is Michael no your favourite (if his already not)
FUN FACT: The role of Dr. Loomis was first offered to Christopher Lee but he turned it down. And years later in an interview Lee would call it the biggest mistake ever in his life.
That, and where Dr. Loomis spooks the kids away from the Myers' house. (Low voice, but still able to carry), "Hey! Hey, Lonnie. Get your ass away from there!" The satisfied grin he gets from seeing those 3 bolt is priceless!
Both actors did a superb job in having the competing theories on whether Michael is a man or maybe…….. something else. The music adds the sense of apprehension in such a simple way. It’s amazing what you can come up with when you’re on a budget but have imagination.
Hands down the best lines of dialogue in the entire halloween franchise and beautifully acted by the late Donald Pleasence. R.I.P. Always be my Dr. Loomis
Donald Pleasance was in so many other great films. He did a lot of films over seas. He was amazing. He worked with Dario Argento, and other great horror film makers. He was simply amazing. One of a kind
