‹ All movies

The Rewatchables ·

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

year 1977decade 70sdirector Steven Spielberggenre Science fictiongenre Drama
host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Sean Fennesseyproducer Craig Horlbeck theme Big-Ass '70s Month
All 36 categories

The film

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Directed by Steven Spielberg · Science fiction

135

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes
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
Phil Dodds Jean Claude
Cary Guffey Barry Guiler, Jillian's son. Spielberg conducted a series of method acting techniques to help Guffey
Merrill Connally Team Leader
George DiCenzo Major Benchley
Josef Sommer Larry Butler
Carl Weathers Military Police
David Abraham Cheulkar English-Hindi interpreter

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

40:12

Roger Ebert's review
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:40:12Read transcript
  • Roger Ebert is reported to have awarded four stars to both the original release and the 1980 revised cut. — Bill Simmons
  • The quoted revised review calls the new version better and asks why Spielberg did not make the original version this good. — Bill Simmons
  • Ebert and Siskel are recalled as admiring the film while saying its middle section drags. — Sean Fennessey
  • The panel argues that this pacing complaint now feels minor beside the film's lasting meaning and visual achievement. — Chris Ryan
Share this discussion More Roger Ebert's review answers
1:28:53

Casting What-Ifs

Steve McQueen, James Caan, Pacino, Hoffman, Hackman, Nicholson, Streep, Irving, and others

Steve McQueen, James Caan, Pacino, Hoffman, Hackman, Nicholson, Streep, Irving, and others

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:53Read transcript
Share this discussion More Casting What-Ifs answers
1:34:12

Recasting Couch

Keep the director; consider John Cazale, James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Nicolas Cage, Richard Ger...

Keep the director; consider John Cazale, James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Nicolas Cage, Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Chadwick Boseman

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:12Read transcript
Share this discussion More Recasting Couch answers
1:36:40

Half-Assed Internet Research

Schrader's rejected script, military noncooperation, the alien performers, the $3.3 million effects budget, motion-co...

Schrader's rejected script, military noncooperation, the alien performers, the $3.3 million effects budget, motion-control advances, and Truffaut's response to the sets

In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 01:36:40Read transcript
  • Spielberg is quoted calling Paul Schrader's screenplay one of the most embarrassing scripts submitted to a studio or director. — Bill Simmons
  • Schrader's version reportedly followed an experiencer who threatened to expose the government after fifteen years of attempted contact. — Bill Simmons
  • The Air Force and NASA reportedly refused to cooperate, which Spielberg interpreted as encouraging evidence for the film. — Bill Simmons
  • Julia Phillips criticized Spielberg as a perfectionist before being removed from the production. — Bill Simmons
  • Fifty girls, each six years old and from Mobile, were cast as aliens after puppetry failed. — Bill Simmons
  • Douglas Trumbull supervised visual effects that advanced motion-control photography. — Bill Simmons
  • The visual-effects work is reported to have had a $3.3 million budget. — Bill Simmons
  • Ralph McQuarrie's contribution to the mothership is noted alongside his Star Wars work. — Bill Simmons
  • Truffaut reportedly ignored the giant landing-site set but praised the small hotel-room set as familiar to his filmmaking experience. — Bill Simmons
  • Truffaut's role is defended because communication beyond language is a central theme and his films influenced the filmmakers' generation. — Sean Fennessey
  • The Searchers is cited as a visual influence, including its doorway and horizon compositions. — Sean Fennessey
  • Topps reportedly issued sixty-six trading cards and eleven stickers, excluding Dreyfuss and Truffaut at their request. — Bill Simmons
  • Jaws, Rocky, Rocky II, and E.T. are cited as other films with card sets. — Bill Simmons
Share this discussion More Half-Assed Internet Research answers
1:46:15

Picking Nits

Barry's dog-door escape, Jillian's response, sleep-gassing the animals, the returned pilots' calm, and the friendly c...

Barry's dog-door escape, Jillian's response, sleep-gassing the animals, the returned pilots' calm, and the friendly conspiracy

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:15Read transcript
  • Jillian allowing Barry to escape through the dog door during the abduction is criticized as implausible parental behavior. — Bill Simmons
  • Jillian is criticized for not immediately inspecting Barry when he returns from the spacecraft. — Bill Simmons
  • Putting the animals to sleep with gas is called an odd and weird choice. — Bill Simmons
  • The returned pilots are criticized for showing no shock or questions after learning that thirty-two years have passed. — Bill Simmons
  • The military and scientific conspiracy is criticized as implausibly kind and transparent. — Chris Ryan
  • After a separate Spielberg anecdote, the panel returns to government friendliness as the prevailing nitpick. — Chris Ryan
  • Lacombe's unusual authority on American soil is questioned. — Sean Fennessey
Share this discussion More Picking Nits answers
1:59:26

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Roy's return, the abductees' aging, the family's response, and Roy's firing remain unanswered.

Roy's return, the abductees' aging, the family's response, and Roy's firing remain unanswered.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:59:26Read transcript
  • The panel asks whether Roy ever returned or saw his family again.
  • The abductees' lack of aging while aboard the ship is questioned. — Bill Simmons
  • The panel asks how Ronnie and the family respond to the altered house and Roy's disappearance.
  • Barry's future after the encounter is imagined through an Omen comparison.
  • Roy's unexplained firing and whether a scene is missing are questioned. — Chris Ryan
Share this discussion More Probably Unanswerable Questions answers
2:03:50

Best Double Feature

Starman and Asteroid City
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Starman
Asteroid City
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:03:50Read transcript
  • Starman is chosen for its shared tone of curiosity and wonder without cynicism. — Bill Simmons
  • Asteroid City is selected for combining alien contact with family melancholy.
Share this discussion More Best Double Feature answers