Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Roy Neary, an electric lineman, watches how his quiet and ordinary daily life turns upside down after a close encounter with a UFO.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writer:

Steven Spielberg

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr

Won 1 Oscar. Another 14 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Roy Neary
François Truffaut	...	Claude Lacombe (as Francois Truffaut)
Teri Garr	...	Ronnie Neary
Melinda Dillon	...	Jillian Guiler
Bob Balaban	...	David Laughlin
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Project Leader
Warren J. Kemmerling	...	Wild Bill (as Warren Kemmerling)
Roberts Blossom	...	Farmer
Philip Dodds	...	Jean Claude
Cary Guffey	...	Barry Guiler
Shawn Bishop	...	Brad Neary
Adrienne Campbell	...	Silvia Neary
Justin Dreyfuss	...	Toby Neary
Lance Henriksen	...	Robert
Merrill Connally	...	Team Leader

Storyline

Two parallel stories are told. In the first, a group of research scientists from a variety of backgrounds are investigating the strange appearance of items in remote locations, primarily desert regions. In continuing their investigation, one of the lead scientists, a Frenchman named Claude Lacombe, incorporates the Kodály method of music education as a means of communication in their work. The response, in turn, at first baffles the researchers, until American cartographer David Laughlin deciphers the meaning of the response. In the second, electric company lineman and family man Roy Neary and single mother Jillian Guiler are among some individuals in Muncie, Indiana who experience some paranormal activity before some flashes of bright lights in the sky, which they believe to be a UFO. Roy becomes obsessed with what he saw, unlike some others, especially in some form of authority, who refuse to acknowledge their belief that it was a UFO in not wanting to appear crazy. That obsession ...

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Plot Keywords:

close encounter of the third kind | vision | alien | mothership | ufo | 

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Taglines:

We are not alone

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Spanish Hindi

Release Date:

14 December 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

CE3K

Filming Locations:

Mobile Civic Center, Civic Center Drive, Mobile, Alabama, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$132,088,635

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$303,788,635

Company Credits

Production Co:

Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips Productions, EMI Films, EMI Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min (Special Edition) 135 min (Theatrical Original) 138 min (Director's Cut)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

From the beginning when he took the part of Lacombe, François Truffaut made it quite clear that he was working strictly as an actor, and he had no interest in helping out as an assistant director.

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Goofs

The Special Forces soldiers and their commander do not have Special Forces emblems on their uniforms, they wear a mock up of the 5th Special Forces beret flash with the flag of South Vietnam, only worn in service in Vietnam.

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Quotes

Barry Guiler: Clean everything up!

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Crazy Credits

Near the end of the credits it starts to reads as follows: "During the filming of all animal sequences, H.L. EDWARDS, Veterinarian of Gillette, Wyoming, was in attendance at all times to aid the filmmakers and the anesthetist in proper treatment of the animals used, and at no time were the animals harmed or mistreated in any way."

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Alternate Versions

A final version of "Close Encounters" was released to video in 1998 (and then on DVD in 2001) as "The Collector's Edition". It is basically Spielberg's final 137-minute re-edit of the original version plus some sequences from the 1980 "Special Edition". It contains.....

• The Neary family's alternate longer introduction.
• The 5-second flyover of the power company truck.
• The scientists discovery of the freighter in the Gobi desert is included.
• The scene where Roy Neary argues with his wife and locks himself in a shower.
• The Air Force base press conference scene has been restored from the original version.
• The scene where Roy throws dirt, plants and bricks through his kitchen window has been restored from the original version.
• This version does not contain the mothership ending from the "Special Edition", and retains the original 1977 end title music.

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Connections

Referenced in Dawson's Creek: The Dance (1998)

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Soundtracks

The Square Song
(1970)
Words and Music by Joe Raposo (as Joseph Raposo)
Published by Jonico Music, Inc.
Courtesy Pickwick International, Inc.

User Reviews

Rare Humane Science-Fiction

It is very rare to see science-fiction movies with more depth into exploring human nature than building up special effects spectacle. 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' is one of those rare movies that combine them both. Well structured screenplay and believable story and situations really help. One can even say that this is the most realistic movie about alien encounters. The film is quite well aged and holds today as the special effects are still effective (although the version I saw in the cinema last night was probably CGI enhanced), it has its tense and eerie moments, well built suspense and of course, to mention again, well developed characters and story.

'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' was real beginning of Spielberg's love affair with aliens and space that has produced many wonderful films and TV-series. If you ever have the chance to see it on the big screen then go for it as 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' is real cinema going experience.