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Close Encounters of the Third Kind ()


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Roy Neary, an Indiana electric lineman, finds his quiet and ordinary daily life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO, spurring him to an obsessed cross-country quest for answers as a momentous event approaches.

Director:
Awards:
  • Won 1 Oscar. Another 15 wins & 40 nominations.
  • See more »
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Cast verified as complete

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Roy Neary
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Claude Lacombe (as Francois Truffaut)
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Ronnie Neary
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Jillian Guiler
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David Laughlin
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Project Leader
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Wild Bill (as Warren Kemmerling)
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Farmer
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Jean Claude
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Barry Guiler
Shawn Bishop ...
Brad Neary
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Silvia Neary
Justin Dreyfuss ...
Toby Neary
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Robert
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Team Leader
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Major Benchley
Amy Douglass ...
Implantee
Alexander Lockwood ...
Implantee
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Ike
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Mrs. Harris
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Ohio Tolls
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Larry Butler
Michael J. Dyer ...
Rev. Michael J. Dyer (as Rev. Michael J. Dyer)
Roger Ernest ...
Highway Patrolman
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Military Police
F.J. O'Neil ...
ARP Project Member (as F. J. O'Neil)
Phil Dodds ...
ARP Musician
Randy Mark Herman ...
Returnee #1 Flt. 19
Hal Barwood ...
Returnee #2 Flt. 19
Matthew Robbins ...
Returnee #3 Flt. 19
David Anderson ...
Air Traffic Controller
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Air Traffic Controller
Craig Shreeve ...
Air Traffic
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Air Traffic
Roy E. Richards ...
Air East Pilot
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Hawker
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Sunburned Old Man
Daniel Nunez ...
Federale
Chuy Franco ...
Mexican Federale
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Federale
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Radio Telescope Team
Dennis McMullen ...
Radio Telescope Team
Cy Young ...
Radio Telescope Team
Tom Howard ...
Radio Telescope Team
Richard Stuart ...
Truck Dispatcher
Bob Westmoreland ...
Load Dispatcher
Matt Emery ...
Support Leader
Galen Thompson ...
Special Forces Soldier
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Special Forces
John Ewing ...
Dirty Tricks #1
Keith Atkinson ...
Dirty Tricks #2
Robert Broyles ...
Dirty Tricks #3
Kirk Raymond ...
Dirty Tricks #4
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lewis Abernathy ...
Technician (uncredited)
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Scientist (uncredited)
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Alien (uncredited)
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Longly (uncredited)
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Smoking Pipe at Landing Site (uncredited)
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#1 Alien (uncredited)
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Special Forces Commander / Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
John Lindsey ...
Reporter (uncredited)
Shay McLean ...
Speaking Child (uncredited)
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Receptionist (uncredited)
Carl Neal ...
Extra (uncredited)
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Agent (uncredited)
Julia Phillips ...
UFO watcher at Crescendo Summit (uncredited)
Murray Pollack ...
Agent (uncredited)
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UN Observer (uncredited)
David Rambow ...
Special Forces Hazmat Soldier (uncredited)
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Howard K. Smith (uncredited)

Directed by

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Steven Spielberg

Written by

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Steven Spielberg ... (written by)
 
Hal Barwood ... (additional story) (uncredited)
 
Jerry Belson ... (written by) (uncredited)
 
John Hill ... (additional writing) (uncredited)
 
Matthew Robbins ... (additional story) (uncredited)

Produced by

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Clark L. Paylow ... associate producer (as Clark Paylow)
Julia Phillips ... producer (produced by)
Michael Phillips ... producer (produced by)

Music by

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John Williams

Cinematography by

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Vilmos Zsigmond ... director of photography

Editing by

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Michael Kahn ... film editor

Editorial Department

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Charles Bornstein ... assistant film editor
Martin Cohen ... HDR color consultant: home video
Sheri Eisenberg ... theatrical & HDR mastering colorist
Bob McMillian ... color consultant (as Robert M. McMillian)
Geoffrey Rowland ... assistant film editor
Donah Bassett ... negative cutter (uncredited)
Richard Garibaldi ... home video mastering colorist (uncredited)
Ron Lambert ... color timer (uncredited)

Casting By

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Shari Rhodes ... (casting)
Juliet Taylor ... (casting) (as Juliette Taylor)

Production Design by

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Joe Alves

Art Direction by

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Daniel A. Lomino ... (as Dan Lomino)

Set Decoration by

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Phil Abramson

Makeup Department

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Edie Panda ... hairdresser
Bob Westmoreland ... makeup supervisor
Dave Ayres ... creature crew (uncredited)
Ellis Burman Jr. ... extraterrestrial mask fabrication (uncredited)
Thomas R. Burman ... extraterrestrial mask fabrication (uncredited)
Frank Griffin ... extraterrestrial mask designer (uncredited)
Gary Morris ... makeup artist (uncredited)
Sharleen Rassi ... hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management

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Clark L. Paylow ... unit production manager (as Clark Paylow)
Ronald L. Schwary ... unit production manager: additional scenes (uncredited)
Baba Shaikh ... production manager: India (uncredited)
John Veitch ... executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Jim Bloom ... second assistant director
Charles Myers ... assistant director (as Chuck Myers)
Matthew Robbins ... second unit director: additional scenes (uncredited)
Eric Stacey ... key second assistant director (uncredited)
Jerry Ziesmer ... assistant director: additional scenes (uncredited)

Art Department

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Sam Gordon ... property master
George Jenson ... production illustrator (as George Jensen)
Bill Parks ... construction manager
Stan Cockerell ... set dresser (uncredited)
David Coleman ... assistant property master (uncredited)
Ralph McQuarrie ... conceptual artwork (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Neil Burrow ... sound effects editorial staff
Gene S. Cantamessa ... production sound mixer (as Gene Cantamesa)
Richard Friedman ... dialogue editorial staff (as Dick Friedman)
Sam Gemette ... sound effects editorial staff
Gary S. Gerlich ... sound effects editorial staff
Robert Glass ... re-recording mixer
David Horton Sr. ... sound effects editorial staff (as David Horton)
Bill Jackson ... assistant dialogue staff
Stephen Katz ... sound supervisor: Dolby (as Steve Katz)
Robert Knudson ... re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Don MacDougall ... re-recording mixer
Richard Oswald ... sound effects editorial staff
Robert A. Reich ... assistant dialogue staff
Jack Schrader ... supervising dialogue editor
Chester Slomka ... sound effects editorial staff (as Chet Slomka)
Frank E. Warner ... supervising sound effects editor (as Frank Warner)
Raul A. Bruce ... boom operator (uncredited)
Robert Davenport ... audio technician (uncredited)
Ed Golya ... adr mixer (uncredited)
Carl Mahakian ... foley editor (uncredited) / supervising re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp ... foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Roy Arbogast ... special mechanical effects
Carlo Rambaldi ... realization of "extraterrestrial"
Bob Baker ... alien marionette (uncredited)
Wayne Beauchamp ... special effects (uncredited)
Johnny Borgese ... special effects (uncredited)
Carlo De Marchis ... special effects assistant (uncredited)
Gerald Endler ... special effects (uncredited)
Corril Harris ... special effects (uncredited)
Ted Koerner ... special effects (uncredited)
Hal Millar ... special effects (uncredited)
Kevin Pike ... special effects (uncredited)
Isidoro Raponi ... special effects assistant (uncredited)
Dell Rheaume ... mechanical effects: extraterrestrial masks (uncredited)
Robert Short ... alien designer (uncredited)
Paul Wurtzel ... special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Larry Albright ... special consultant
Peter Anderson ... special consultant: credited
Mona Thal Benefiel ... project coordinator
Richard L. Bennett ... special consultant (as Richard Bennett)
David Berry ... camera operator (as Dave Berry)
Carol Boardman ... animation staff
Eleanor Dahlen ... animation staff
Cy Didjurgis ... animation staff
Don Dow ... laboratory technician
Jim Dow ... model shop coordinator (as J. Richard Dow)
Ken Ebert ... special consultant
Glenn Erickson ... project assistant
Eugene Eyerly ... camera operator
Rocco Gioffre ... assistant matte artist
David Gold ... effects electrician
Joyce Goldberg ... production secretary
Robert Hall ... optical photography
David R. Hardberger ... assistant cameraman (as David Hardberger)
Alan Harding ... assistant cameraman
Jack Hinkle ... laboratory expeditor (as Charles Hinkle)
Robert Hollister ... technician
Thomas Hollister ... laboratory technician (as Tom Hollister)
Paul Huston ... special consultant
Joseph A. Ippolito ... editorial assistant (as Joseph Ippolito)
Don Jarel ... matte photography
Jerry Jeffress ... electronics design (as Jerry L. Jeffress)
Gregory Jein ... chief model maker
David Jones ... special consultant (as David M. Jones)
Kevin Kelly ... special consultant
Tom Koester ... animation staff
Jim Lutes ... special consultant
Michael McMillen ... model maker
Gregory L. McMurry ... visual effects technician
Bill Millar ... animation staff
Alvah J. Miller ... electronics design
Harry Moreau ... animator
Conne Morgan ... animation staff
Max Morgan ... camera operator (as Maxwell Morgan)
Barbara Morrison ... effects negative cutter
Dennis Muren ... mothership photography
Bruce Nicholson ... assistant cameraman
Ron Peterson ... camera operator
George Polkinghorne ... mechanical special effects
George Randle ... special consultant
Marcia Reed ... still photography (as Marcia Reid)
Peter Regla ... electronics design
Ray Rich ... key grip
Eldon Rickman ... camera operator
Richard Rippel ... assistant cameraman
Larry Robinson ... special visual effects coordinator
Peggy Rosson ... production accountant
John Russell ... camera and mechanical design
Jeff Shapiro ... special consultant
Robert Shepherd ... project manager: effects unit
Dan Slater ... electronics design
Steven Spielberg ... visual effects concepts
Scott Squires ... assistant cameraman
David K. Stewart ... UFO photography (as Dave Stewart)
Robert Swarthe ... animation supervisor
Ken Swenson ... model maker (as Kenneth Swenson)
Don Trumbull ... camera and mechanical design
Douglas Trumbull ... special photographic effects
Jor Van Kline ... model maker
Robert K. Worthington ... model maker (as Robert Worthington)
Hoyt Yeatman ... project assistant
Matthew Yuricich ... matte artist
Richard Yuricich ... director of photography: photographic effects
Larry Albright ... mothership neonlight effects designer (uncredited)
Peter Anderson ... additional model photography (uncredited) / model and minature electronics (uncredited)
Don Baker ... additional effects photography (uncredited)
Thane Berti ... visual effects (uncredited)
Kathryn Campbell ... visual effects editor (uncredited)
Leslie Ekker ... animator (uncredited)
Lisa Morton ... model maker (uncredited)
Mike Peed ... animation photography (uncredited)
Christopher S. Ross ... model maker (uncredited) (1980 special edition: mothership interior)
Jonathan Seay ... visual effects camera (uncredited)
Scott Squires ... developer: cloud tank (uncredited)
Mitch Suskin ... model maker (uncredited)
Robert Swarthe ... visual effects supervisor (uncredited) (1980 special edition: inside mother ship)
Jor Van Kline ... cloud effects tank operator (uncredited)

Stunts

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Buddy Joe Hooker ... stunt coordinator
Henry Kingi ... stunt driver
Denny Arnold ... stunts (uncredited)
Bobby Bass ... stunts (uncredited)
Craig R. Baxley ... stunt driver (uncredited)
Jerry Brutsche ... stunt driver (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper ... stunts (uncredited)
Buddy Joe Hooker ... stunts (uncredited)
Melvin Jones ... stunts (uncredited)
Monty Jordan ... utility stunts (uncredited)
Stephen Powers ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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John A. Alonzo ... additional director of photography (as John Alonzo)
Jim Coe ... still photographer
William A. Fraker ... director of photography: additional American scenes
Earl Gilbert ... gaffer
László Kovács ... additional director of photography (as Laszlo Kovacs)
'Fast' Eddie Mahler ... video technician
Nick McLean ... camera operator
Steven Poster ... director of photography: second unit (as Steve Poster)
Douglas Slocombe ... director of photography: India sequence
Peter Sorel ... still photographer (as Pete Sorel)
Pete Turner ... still photographer
Peter Anderson ... Additional Photography (uncredited)
Michael C. Butler ... additional photography (uncredited) (1980 special edition: inside mother ship)
Sal Camacho ... first assistant camera: Mobile alabama location (uncredited)
Richard E. Cunha ... additional photography (uncredited)
Allen Daviau ... additional photography (uncredited) (1980 special edition: Gobi Desert sequence)
Jim Dickson ... additional photography (uncredited)
Norman Lang ... electrician (uncredited)
Mike Laurance ... camera operator: additional photography (uncredited)
Rexford L. Metz ... additional photography: second unit (uncredited)
Tim Ryan ... dolly grip (uncredited)
Frank Stanley ... additional director of photography (uncredited)
Chris Strong ... additional photography (uncredited)
Jor Van Kline ... motion control camera system operator (uncredited)
Robin Vidgeon ... focus puller: India (uncredited)
Ronald Vidor ... first assistant camera (uncredited)
Chic Waterson ... camera operator: India (uncredited)
Joseph Freyer Westheimer ... additional photography (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Sally Dennison ... additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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James Linn ... wardrobe supervisor (as Jim Linn)

Location Management

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Joe O'Har ... location manager
Steve Warner ... location auditor

Music Department

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John Neal ... music scoring mixer
Kenneth Wannberg ... music editor
Israel Baker ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Arnold Belnick ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Richard Berres ... music supervisor (uncredited)
Hoyt Bohannon ... musician: trombone (uncredited)
Denyse Buffum ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Larry Bunker ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Bob Cooper ... musician: saxophone (uncredited)
Ronald Cooper ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Don Cristlieb ... musician: bassoon (uncredited)
Douglas Davis ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Vince De Rosa ... musician: French horn (uncredited)
James Decker ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Glenn Dicterow ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Harold Dicterow ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Bob DiVall ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Bob Dougherty ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Bonnie Jean Douglas ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Assa Drori ... musician: violin (uncredited)
David Duke ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Earl Dumler ... musician: oboe (uncredited)
Jerry Epstein ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Dominick Fera ... musician: clarinet (uncredited)
Jerome Gilmer ... additional music by (uncredited)
Caesar Giovannini ... musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Pamela Goldsmith ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Norman Herzburg ... musician: bassoon (uncredited)
Arthur Hoberman ... musician: flute (uncredited)
The Hollywood Studio Symphony ... music performed by (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson ... musician: tuba soloist (uncredited)
Anatol Kaminsky ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Milton Kestenbaum ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Myra Kestenbaum ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Gus Klein ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Marion Klein ... orchestra contractor (uncredited)
Jacob Krachmalnick ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Raphael Kramer ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Michael Lang ... musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Ronald Langinger ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Abe Luboff ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Alfred Lustgarten ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Edgar Lustgarten ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Arthur Maebe ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Virginia Majewski ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Jack Marsh ... musician: bassoon (uncredited)
Malcolm McNab ... musician: trumpet soloist (uncredited)
Peter Mercurio ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Angela Morley ... additional orchestrator (uncredited) / composer: additional music (uncredited)
Carole Mukagawa ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Richard Nash ... musician: trombones (uncredited)
John Neufeld ... musician: clarinet (uncredited)
Dick Noel ... musician: trombone (uncredited)
Richard Perissi ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Uan Rasey ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Dorothy Remsen ... musician: harp (uncredited)
Emil Richards ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
George Roberts ... musician: bass trombone soloist (uncredited)
Gale Robinson ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Meyer Rubin ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Paul Salamunovich ... vocalist: harmonic chanting (uncredited)
Sheldon Sanov ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Ralph Sauer ... musician: trombone (uncredited)
David Schwartz ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Jim Self ... musician: tuba, voice of the mother ship (uncredited)
Jay Selvester ... scoring crew (uncredited)
Frederick Seykora ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Bud Shank ... musician: woodwinds (uncredited)
Harry Shlutz ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Haim Shtrum ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Paul Shure ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Henry Sigismonti ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Eleanor Slatkin ... musician: cello (uncredited)
David Speltz ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Herbert W. Spencer ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Sheridon Stokes ... musician: flute solos (uncredited)
Urban Thielmann ... choir contractor (uncredited)
Alexander Treger ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Louise Di Tullio ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Lloyd Ulyate ... musician: trombones (uncredited)
Ian Underwood ... musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Gerald Vinci ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Bill Watrous ... musician: trombone (uncredited)
Ken Watson ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Don Williams ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
Jerry Williams ... musician: percussion (uncredited)
John Williams ... conductor (uncredited) / music producer (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited)
Graham Young ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Charlsie Bryant ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

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Bill Bethea ... transportation
Chris Haynes ... production driver (uncredited)
Mike Phillips ... camera truck driver (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Carol Bidault de l'Isle ... production assistant (as Carol Bidault)
Judy Bornstein ... second assistant to producers
Patrick Burns ... production staff (as Pat Burns)
Colin Cantwell ... technical dialogue
Kendall Cooper ... assistant to producers
Al Ebner ... publicist
H.L. Edwards ... during the filming of all animal sequences, Veterinarian of Gillette, Wyoming was in attendance at all times to aid the filmmakers and the anesthetist in proper treatment of the animals used
Rick Fields ... assistant: Mr. Spielberg
Janet Healy ... production staff
J. Allen Hynek ... technical advisor (as Dr. J. Allen Hynek)
Bruce Nahin ... production assistant
Dan Perri ... title designer
Gail Siemers ... production secretary
Murray Weissman ... publicist
Seth Winston ... intern: AFI
Jack E. Ackerman ... property master (uncredited)
Gloria Winship Ayon ... dog trainer (uncredited)
Noreen Beasley ... dialogue translator: French for F. Truffaut (uncredited)
Norman Brokaw ... production counsel (uncredited)
Norman Garey ... production counsel (uncredited)
Steve Hinton ... pilot (uncredited)
Pat Kingsley ... publicist (uncredited)
Kevin Von Feldt ... assistant: Clark Paylow (uncredited)

Thanks

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Johnny Mathis ... special thanks
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

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 both for Roy and Jillian is ratcheted up a notch when they begin to have a vision of a mound with vertical striations on its side as a key to what is going on. While the obsession negatively affects Roy's life as he knows it in its entirety, Jillian knows she has to find the answer as to its meaning, especially as it relates to her only child, three year old Barry Guiler, who may be more attuned to what is happening than the adult figures around him. These two stories have the potential to intersect if Roy and Jillian can discover where they've seen that mound before, and if they can overcome what they believe to be the lies perpetrated by those in authority in covering up what is going on. Written by Huggo

Plot Keywords
Taglines Close Encounter of the First Kind - Sighting of a UFO. Close Encounter of the Second Kind - Physical Evidence. Close Encounter of the Third Kind - Contact. WE ARE NOT ALONE See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Watch the Skies (United States)
  • CE3K (United States)
  • The Special Edition: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (United States)
  • Encuentros cercanos del tercer tipo (United States, Spanish title)
  • The Close Encounter of the Third Kind (United States)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 138 min
Official Sites
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $20,000,000 (estimated)
Cumulative Worldwide Gross $303,788,635

Did You Know?

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Trivia During the Neary dinner scene, just before Roy piles on the mashed potatoes, the little girl Silvia (Adrienne Campbell) says: "There's a dead fly in my potatoes." This was unscripted and almost caused the rest of the cast to laugh. The scene was kept as-is. See more »
Goofs The coordinates received by the scientists (40°36'10" N, 104°44'30" W) aren't very close to Devils Tower at all. The coordinates are actually in a farm paddock about 200 yards east of hwy 85, half way between the towns of Pierce and Ault, Colorado (17mi [27km] east of Ft. Collins, Colorado), 276 miles (444 km) due south from the Devils Tower monument (they got the north latitude wrong by 4 degrees, it SHOULD have been 44°35'25"N. In addition the longitude is incorrect, it should be 104°42'54"W) See more »
Movie Connections Edited into The Dream (2010). See more »
Soundtracks Chances Are See more »
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." See more »
Quotes Project Leader: If everything's ready here on the Dark Side of the Moon... play the five tones.
See more »

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