MOVIES - March 6, 1987

Composer Leslie T. Baxter’s lawsuit contending John Williams’ Oscar-winning theme, “E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial” was stolen from his 1953 song “Joy” was reinstated by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday. The ruling stated: “We do not suggest that the works are, in fact, substantially similar. We only state that reasonable minds could differ as to the issue.” Williams, a pianist for Baxter in the 1950s, contends only a six-note sequence is similar.