Close Encounters of the Third Kind poster

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

year 1977 decade 70s director Steven Spielberg genre science fiction drama

135

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Richard Dreyfuss Roy Neary

François Truffaut Claude Lacombe

Teri Garr Ronnie Neary, Roy's wife. Meryl Streep and Amy Irving also auditioned for the role

Melinda Dillon Jillian Guiler. Garr wanted to portray Jillian, but was cast as Ronnie. Hal Ashby

Bob Balaban David Laughlin, Lacombe's assistant and English-French interpreter

J. Patrick McNamara Project Leader

Warren J. Kemmerling Major "Wild Bill" Walsh

Roberts Blossom Farmer

Phil Dodds Jean Claude

Cary Guffey Barry Guiler, Jillian's son. Spielberg conducted a series of method acting techniques to help Guffey

Lance Henriksen Robert

Merrill Connally Team Leader

George DiCenzo Major Benchley

Gene Dynarski Ike

Josef Sommer Larry Butler

Carl Weathers Military Police

David Abraham Cheulkar English-Hindi interpreter

Close Encounters of the Third Kind | The Rewatchables

aired May 20, 2025

host Bill Simmons host Chris Ryan host Sean Fennessey producer Craig Horlbeck theme Big-Ass '70s Month

Explore episodeClose episode

The Sean Penn “I Brought My Own Pack” Award for Excellence in On-Screen Smoking

The segment proposes that Ronnie or Jillian should have smoked to fit 1977 Indiana.

The panel proposes a new category here.

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:16:46Read transcript

The flex proposal argues that Ronnie smoking constantly would make her more period-authentic and relatable.
Jillian is also proposed as a smoker because smoking would have been common in 1977 Indiana.

The Andy and Red – Zihuatanejo Award for What Happens the Next Day?

The segment imagines the consequences for Roy's family and Roy aboard the ship.

Flex pick · Sean Fennessey

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:24:25Read transcript

Sean selects the Next Day category as his flex choice. — Sean Fennessey
Roy's time aboard the ship is imagined as decades of invasive experimentation.
Ronnie is imagined rapidly rebuilding her life with a new partner after leaving Roy.
Roy's oldest son is predicted to become delinquent after the family's collapse.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

The five-note musical exchange works, but the extended mothership improvisation becomes awkward.

Flex pick · Craig Horlbeck

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:35:36Read transcript

Craig says the initial five-note exchange works but the extended musical improvisation becomes awkward. — Craig Horlbeck
He argues that Spielberg and John Williams overextended the sequence once the brass and tuba-like sounds begin. — Craig Horlbeck