Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writer:

Steven Spielberg (written by)

Release Date:

16 November 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A line worker, after a encounter with UFO's, feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.

Plot Keywords:

English Subtitles In Original | Seti | Alien Abduction | Conspiracy | Desert

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 30 nominations

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss	...	Roy Neary
François Truffaut	...	Claude Lacombe
Teri Garr	...	Ronnie Neary
Melinda Dillon	...	Gillian Guiler
Bob Balaban	...	David Laughlin
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Project Leader
Warren J. Kemmerling	...	Wild Bill ('Major Walsh') (as Warren Kemmerling)
Roberts Blossom	...	Farmer
Philip Dodds	...	Jean Claude
Cary Guffey	...	Barry Guiler
Shawn Bishop	...	Brad Neary
Adrienne Campbell	...	Sylvia Neary
Justin Dreyfuss	...	Toby Neary
Lance Henriksen	...	Robert
Merrill Connally	...	Team Leader

Also Known As:

CE3K (USA) (informal short title)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Special Edition (USA) (reissue title)
The Close Encounter of the Third Kind (USA) (working title)
Watch the Skies (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

137 min (director's cut) | 135 min (original version) | 132 min (special edition)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | French | Spanish | Hindi

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Netherlands:12 (original rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | Brazil:Livre (DVD re-rating) | South Africa:PG | Brazil:12 | South Korea:All | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | Spain:T | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:L | Norway:12 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | UK:A (original rating) | Ireland:PG

Filming Locations:

Alabama, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The federal agent-types on stage with Lacombe during the auditorium scene where he teaches the hand signals were real federal agents. Similarly some of the extras who played scientists in the end sequence were real scientists.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In the scenes at the air traffic control center, the aircraft encountering the UFO are under control of Indianapolis Center, but the controllers check for activity in restricted area 2508. Restricted area 2508 is in the Mohave Desert and includes Edwards Air Force Base, and is nowhere near the area under control of Indianapolis Center, a thousand miles to the east.

Quotes:

Roy Neary: I guess you've noticed something a little strange with Dad. It's okay, though. I'm still Dad.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in UHF (1989)

Soundtrack:

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR

My brief review of the film

A perfectly fascinating piece of science fiction fantasy, it is visually impressive, well written and well directed. The film has certain moments that can be described only as classic, however the overall film is quite imperfect. There are some really striking flaws such as poor dialogue recording, an ending that is by far too roundabout, and in fact a whole end section that is not nearly as interesting as the beginning of the film. Either way, there is still however a lot to appreciate in the experience, including the spectacular sound effects, which won the film a special achievement Oscar.