Close Encounters (R2, Collector's Edition) Trimmed Scene

[Mark Campbell]

I've noticed a minor scene trim on my Collector's edition of CE3K (R2). It occurs at the end of the scene where Lacombe is demonstrating Kodaly's hand gestures (!) of the five notes. In the VHS version (and all other versions I've seen), the audience gives him a standing ovation and start cheering etc. In the new DVD, this last bit is missing (approx 5 seconds or so). Has anyone else noticed this, and does anyone know why this has been trimmed?

I know it's a tiny cut, but it's such a good way to round off the scene, its exclusion seems rather odd.

[Paul Bennison]

It's a good point and well made.

I watched the DVD the night before last (£11.99 HMV - bargain hunters!) and hadn't noticed it missing till now.

I'll check out the Special Edition VHS & Collectors Editions VHS tomorrow night - just to make sure it's on both of these.

It may be a tiny cut, but it seems pointless to make it 'just' for the DVD.

[Dan Druff]

I noticed this aswell. It's definitely in the VHS Collectors Edition yeah (can't remember)? I always used to say to myself 'why are they cheering so much at a few hand gestures and a few tones on a keyboard' and Spielberg obviously felt the same and improved it.
Edit: BTW I have R4

[Arch Stanton]

The DVD version is actually a special edition of the special edition.

Speilberg has taken out a lot of the stuff he put into the special edition ( mainly going inside the ship ) which he was forced to put in by Columbia to justify it's cinema re-release but kept a few bit's he wanted to be in the original version but didn't have time to finnish.

[Just Call Me Wanda]

As Arch Stanton said, the DVD version is a compromise between the original theatrical version and later special edition. In essence, the DVD version is somewhere inbetween the two, and I guess this is now the definitive Spielberg cut - ie. without the 'inside of spacehip' bit, and few other edits here and there.

[Spam]

Can someone explain what those 5 notes mean. Ive watched it a few times now and still dont understand the significance of them. It seemed to be explained in the scene your talking about but i can never get the point.

I get the impression that its played so many times at the mothership that it only responds just to shut them up and to humour them rather than it having any deeper meaning :)

[Dan Druff]

A lot of people seem to be forgetting that the Collectors Edition was out on VHS tape a few years ago..

[fatherted]

Is R2 any different from R1?

[Mark Campbell]

Thanks to everyone who's posted on this subject so far. Arch Stanton has hit the nail on the head, I think - the DVD Collector's Edition is a mish-mash of the original 1977 version and the 'Special Edition' of 1980, and is - at last - the one that is truest to Spielberg's vision. In fact it's pretty much the same now as the original version, except that it includes more domestic scenes at the beginning, the shadow of the UFO that follows Neary's truck, and the 'ship in the desert' sequence. As far as I can tell, the only omissions from the original are a couple of scenes at Neary's workplace. The most important aspect of this Collector's version is that it has no Mothership interiors, thus maintaining the magic and mystery of the ending, something that the so-called 'Special Edition' totally ruined.

Still doesn't explain why the 'Lacombe' scene is trimmed though!

As to the five notes, I always assumed them to be a rudimentary form of communication.

At the end of the day, I just wish film-makers would leave their blasted films alone. I saw the 1977 CE3K at the tender age of 10 and I thought it was just fine. Why change it?