One word sums up “Close Encounters” for me – “wonder” – and its been so since I was a kid. It is sort of the brighter sister of Spielberg’s “Poltergeist” a few years down the road, which touches a lot of the same nerves as “Close Encounters” but turns them in a dark direction. I recently re-watched “Close Encounters” for the first time in many, many years on Turner Classic Movies, and it all came flooding back to me. I wonder sometimes if people remember it since it wasn’t “franchised” like so many sci-fi films of the period. I know the studio re-released different cuts of it to make their bank, but it hasn’t been sequelized, prequelized, remade, rebooted, re-imagined, turned into a TV series and a series of paperback novels and comic books, and on and on. It remains “pure” and a truly wonderful example of what the name “Spielberg” really used to stand for.

I suppose its a silly thing to be appreciative of, but I am so glad I grew up when I did, getting to have my little imagination opened up to worlds of wonder and possibility by the genuinely great films that were springing up left and right in the 15 years or so that I was a kid. Those were magic years and magic films, being made by people of vision who had something to say.

PLL,
deg

And I too have met J. Allen Hynek, as he was born, educated, taught, and based out of Chicago, eh. I spotted him the sec he slid his way through the crowd into the shot, pipe in hand. I believe he was an advisor on the film.

The soundtrack. Oh the CE3K soundtrack! I listen to it probably about three times a week, at least. The wonder and time-traveling musical-based pull-back to the wonder year of ’77. Williams’ Star Wars soundtrack (on 8-Track as well ) is also a prime contender for nostalgic workin’ in the comic-book store time-travelin’ to ’77, but somethin’ extra-magical and extra-special about the CE3K soundtrack, with it’s crescendo of “When You Wish Upon A Star” at the end. Chills every time-Awesome.

And the CE3K pop/disco version rocks too! As well as the Meco Star Wars Theme/ Cantina Band 12″ Disco Mix. I put those two on along with Love’s Theme by The Love Unlimited Orchestra , and I am right back in the sweet ’77, eh.

Great post, thanks, Daren!

LLP,
deg