Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): Spielberg’s First Contact

ByFabian Bullitt

1977 • Steven Spielberg • 2.35:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

Steven Spielberg‘s Close Encounters of the Third Kind begins with a series of unexplained encounters with unidentified flying objects that bring together individuals from different locations. One man becomes increasingly obsessed with a recurring vision, while scientists attempt to establish contact with the objects. Eventually, they all converge at a remote site where something spectacular is about to happen.

Drawing on Spielberg’s long-standing interest in UFO phenomena, the film was conceived as a personal science fiction project centred on wonder rather than fear. The focus is on awe, curiosity, and emotional wonder, as well as gradual revelation. Although there are moments of tension, these are secondary to a broader sense of discovery.

The special effects were overseen by Douglas Trumbull, who pioneered techniques in optical compositing and light-based imagery. Light functions as both spectacle and language, replacing traditional physical representation, and communication is depicted as a fusion of music and signal. Thanks to this approach, Close Encounters of the Third Kind has become a hugely influential science fiction film, combining spectacle, sound, and emotion to create a sense of mystery and enchantment.

Technical Specs:

  • The Story: After a series of UFO sightings across the globe, an Indiana electrician becomes obsessed with a strange vision, unknowingly drawn toward a secret government rendezvous with alien visitors. Read my review of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
  • Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, Lance Henriksen.
  • Director: Steven Spielberg
  • Year: 1977
  • Cinematographer: Vilmos Zsigmond
  • Origin: American Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Genre: Sci-Fi
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