Planes reported missing in 1945 suddenly appear in the Mojave desert. A commercial flight is buzzed by a 'bright' object that the pilot 'wouldn't know how to describe'. Roy Neary, while working one night, has a Close Encounter... The US Government determine where the visitors plan to land and create an elaborate cover-up to keep people away. However, a group of people, including Neary, share a vision which draws them to the place and a meeting with new, and old, friends.

Paul Schrader wrote the original script. When Steven Spielberg, changed a great deal of it, Schrader decided to remove his credit. Since the film couldn't be left with no credit for writing, Spielberg claimed it for himself.

Brad Neary:
I don't understand these fractions.


Roy Neary:
What's one third of sixty?


Brad Neary:
[bewildered] That's a fraction, I don't understand them.


Roy Neary:
[using a model train as an object lesson] Alright, let's say that this boxcar is sixty feet long, OK?, and one third of it is across this switch here, alright... And now another train is coming... Now, how far do you have to move this boxcar so that the other train doesn't smash it? Quickly Brad, there are thousands of lives at stake... Brad any answer...

[CRASH]

Crew or equipment visible: Shadow of camera on the screen door of the farm.

Words & Music by Al Stillman and Robert Allen
Published by International Korwin Corp.
From the Columbia Records album Johnny Mathis: "ALL-TIME GREATEST HITS"