• 12-16-2024 - on This Moment in Film History

  • Dec 16 2024
  • Length: 2 mins
  • Podcast

12-16-2024 - on This Moment in Film History

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  • Summary

  • On December 16, 1977, the iconic science fiction film "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" was released in the United States. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film tells the story of Roy Neary, an everyday blue-collar worker from Indiana who becomes obsessed with UFOs after a close encounter with an unidentified flying object.

    The film was a massive success, grossing over $300 million worldwide and earning eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Director for Spielberg. The film's groundbreaking special effects, which included a massive mothership designed by Douglas Trumbull, set a new standard for science fiction films and helped establish Spielberg as one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation.

    One of the most memorable scenes in the film is the climax, in which the mothership lands at Devil's Tower in Wyoming and communicates with the humans through a series of musical tones. The scene, which was shot on location at the real Devil's Tower, has become one of the most iconic in science fiction history and has been parodied and referenced countless times in popular culture.

    "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" also helped to popularize the concept of benevolent aliens in popular culture. Unlike many earlier science fiction films, which often depicted aliens as hostile invaders, Spielberg's film presented a more optimistic view of extraterrestrial life, suggesting that contact with aliens could be a transformative and enlightening experience for humanity.

    The film's legacy continues to this day, with many critics and fans considering it one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. Its influence can be seen in countless subsequent films, from "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" to "Contact" to "Arrival," and its themes of wonder, curiosity, and the search for meaning continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
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