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Close Encounters of the Third Kind poster
Film 64 of 498 on the Screen Path

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

We are not alone.

1977137 minutesScience Fiction and DramaDirected by Steven Spielberg
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About the film

Close Encounters of the Third Kind at a glance.

Screen Path places this 1977 film at stop 64 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.

After an encounter with UFOs, an electricity linesman feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.

Principal cast

Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon and Bob Balaban

Key craft credits

Douglas Slocombe (director of photography), Vilmos Zsigmond (director of photography), William A. Fraker (director of photography), Michael Kahn (editor) and John Williams (original music composer)

Director
Steven Spielberg
Release
1977-12-14
Runtime
137 minutes
Genres
Science Fiction and Drama
Country
United States
Quiz
50 questions
The Screen Path journey

Before. After. Remember.

The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.

01

Before you watch

Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.

Spoiler-free
02

After the film

Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.

Contains spoilers
03

Quiz yourself

Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.

50 questions in this journey

Citizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.

Start the example →
Full cast

Full cast

  • Richard DreyfussCharacter: Roy Neary
  • François TruffautCharacter: Claude Lacombe
  • Teri GarrCharacter: Ronnie Neary
  • Melinda DillonCharacter: Jillian Guiler
  • Bob BalabanCharacter: David Laughlin
  • J. Patrick McNamaraCharacter: Project Leader
  • Warren J. KemmerlingCharacter: Wild Bill
  • Roberts BlossomCharacter: Farmer
  • Phil DoddsCharacter: ARP Musician
  • Cary GuffeyCharacter: Barry Guiler
  • Shawn BishopCharacter: Brad Neary
  • Adrienne CampbellCharacter: Sylvia Neary
Full crew

Full crew

  • Steven SpielbergCredits: Writer, Director
  • Daniel A. LominoCredits: Art Direction
  • Phil AbramsonCredits: Set Decoration
  • Shari RhodesCredits: Casting
  • Juliet TaylorCredits: Casting
  • John WilliamsCredits: Original Music Composer
  • Michael KahnCredits: Editor
  • Julia PhillipsCredits: Producer
  • Joe AlvesCredits: Production Design
  • Vilmos ZsigmondCredits: Director of Photography
  • Michael PhillipsCredits: Producer
  • Robert 'Buzz' KnudsonCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
  • Edie PandaCredits: Hairdresser
  • Bob WestmorelandCredits: Makeup Supervisor
  • Jack SchraderCredits: Supervising Dialogue Editor
  • Bill ParksCredits: Construction Manager
  • Sam GordonCredits: Property Master
  • Carol Bidault de L'IsleCredits: Production Assistant
  • Richard YuricichCredits: VFX Director of Photography
  • Gail SiemersCredits: Production Secretary
  • Harry MoreauCredits: Animation
  • Peggy RossonCredits: Production Accountant
  • Joyce GoldbergCredits: Production Secretary
  • Robert SwartheCredits: Animation Supervisor
  • George JensonCredits: Production Illustrator
  • Buddy Joe HookerCredits: Stunt Coordinator
  • Don MacDougallCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
  • Kenneth WannbergCredits: Music Editor
  • Charlsie BryantCredits: Script Supervisor
  • Nick McLeanCredits: Camera Operator
  • Frank E. WarnerCredits: Supervising Sound Effects Editor
  • Earl GilbertCredits: Gaffer
  • Joe O'HarCredits: Location Manager
  • Al EbnerCredits: Publicist
  • Jim CoeCredits: Still Photographer
  • Peter SorelCredits: Still Photographer
  • Murray WeissmanCredits: Publicist
  • Pete TurnerCredits: Still Photographer
  • Richard OswaldCredits: Sound
  • J. Allen HynekCredits: Production Consultant
  • Henry KingiCredits: Stunt Driver
  • Denny ArnoldCredits: Stunts
  • Bobby BassCredits: Stunts
  • Craig R. BaxleyCredits: Stunt Driver
  • Jerry BrutscheCredits: Stunt Driver
  • Melvin JonesCredits: Stunts
  • Monty JordanCredits: Utility Stunts
  • Stephen PowersCredits: Stunts
  • Jeannie EpperCredits: Stunts
  • Dan PerriCredits: Title Designer
  • Clark L. PaylowCredits: Associate Producer, Unit Production Manager
  • Sally DennisonCredits: Additional Casting
  • Douglas TrumbullCredits: Visual Effects Supervisor
  • Carlo RambaldiCredits: Creature Design
  • Charles MyersCredits: First Assistant Director
  • Jim BloomCredits: Second Assistant Director
  • Geoffrey RowlandCredits: Assistant Editor
  • Charles BornsteinCredits: Assistant Editor
  • Stephen KatzCredits: Dolby Consultant
  • Seth WinstonCredits: Intern
  • William A. FrakerCredits: Director of Photography
  • Douglas SlocombeCredits: Director of Photography
  • John A. AlonzoCredits: Additional Director of Photography
  • László KovácsCredits: Additional Director of Photography
  • Steven PosterCredits: Second Unit Director of Photography
  • Matthew YuricichCredits: Matte Painter
  • Robert HallCredits: Visual Effects Camera
  • Don CapelCredits: Visual Effects Camera

Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.