Steven Spielberg’s work is a thing to behold. From Jaws to the first 4 Indiana Jones films to the first 2 Jurassic Park films to Schindler’s List and beyond, Steven Spielberg is my second favorite director of all-time (8-time Godzilla franchise director Ishiro Honda is my first). Spielberg’s collaboration with composer John Williams is the greatest collaboration in Hollywood history

I am 61. Close Encounters is still the best Sci-fi movie of all time. The special effects still stand up. But what made the movie special was Devils Tower National Monument. I had the same reaction as Roy Neery coming over a hill in Wyoming three years ago during Pandemic. I cried as it meant so much to me. The funny part was it was closed due to pandemic- sort of fitting.

I saw Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the Ziegfield Theater in NYC when it first came out! That huge screen and incredible sound system meant that when the UFO's arrived at Devil's Tower (as especially when one was hovering above the scientists) the entire theater was shaking. I really felt like I was there! One of the most incredible audio-visual experiences I've ever had while watching a film!

How great was that !!!! Both of them. Ben's father, grandfather and great uncle would be very proud. Masterful.

Steven is a #MasterofCinema that has made countless #Masterpieces of Cinema. One of my all-time favorite Directors that played a big part in influencing me.

His movies by far out does any today. He has made my childhood so much richer. I will forever watch his movies. He's a legend.

The moment Close Encounters starts to play, the combination of story, music, and characters pulls you right in. Close encounters is great on so many levels. Anyone who loves films needs to see it.

Those in the audience who hadn’t seen Close Encounters were in for a treat. I can only imagine what that would be like now. I saw it when it opened as a 19 year old, same year as Star Wars. To this day, one of my all time favorite films.

Huge thanks to Ben and Steven! 🤩

In the interview, Steven Spielberg says his father woke him up to view the Leonid meteor shower. He also said it was in the summertime. That would have been the Perseid meteor shower, which occurs in August. The Leonid meteor shower is every November. That fact may have already been mentioned in the comments, but I did not read them, so I don't know.

I’m so freaken psyched to find out more about his next film, which is said to also be centered around UFO’s!! Obviously it’s a very big project, and I have a feeling it’s gonna have something to do with today’s view on that very subject. No doubt it’s gonna have a beautiful message 🫶

Love the Carey Guffey wonderment story!

Steven is Briliant 💐💖🎭

It's always a treat to hear from the Maestro.

To meet Steven here in Jersey would be great.

He is a genius!❤

Fiending for that Fincher Q&A

I have the movie poster right above me looking down at me in my office. Thanks for the experience, Steven!

He’s made more good films than bad films and possibly some of the most iconic ones too.

That present unwrapping story is a great example of why he is who he is.

I do remember being at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood on opening day of CE! At the time, next to Star Wars, it was the most impressive motion picture I'd ever seen. I only learned from this video that it was only being shown in that theater in LA and that other theater in New York! Very cool :-) As a side note, I was an extra in The Lost World and got lucky enough to be a stand-in arm for Vince Vaughn in the scene where the motorhome is about to go over the cliff and he's holding onto the (huge) satellite mobile phone. Steven Spielberg actually directed me while holding onto that phone etc., while it was slipping through my fingers, etc. Quite an honor (unfortunately, not had a chance to get into any conversation with him, obviously, because it was such a busy time). I also learned in later years that he used to visit down the block from us to our neighbors house (I think it was his cousins) with his 8 mm camera (in Canoga Park California in the early 60s - as he mentions in one of the books he wrote). Would have been cool to meet him as a kid, yet I was just an infant at the time.

I love his movies, they are so heart felt, and inspiring. Much love. ❤

I won tickets on a radio show and my wife and I were were stoked . Then we had a severe dust storm in my area with zero visibility lasted for a day. We eventually got to see it and we were strongly moved . We bought the VHS TAPE when it came out for sale. An amazing experience.

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful festival moments with us!

The psychological aspect in Close Encounters was what struck me, when I first watched it as a youngster. It was way ahead of its time. Mr. Spielberg had certainly done his research!

Such an incredible guy and a blessing in this world!

The scope and the mystery were Epic. Your attention was fixed on what was not being said. Amazing film experience, a true cinema movie.❤❤❤

It's good to know he was into French Cinema back then.

The first 10 minutes is one of the great opening sequences of a movie and a favorite. I appreciate that as he matured his films did as well. The color purple and empire of the sun was the start of it.

Watching from the State of Rhode Island-Thanks for turning out Steven! Fan forever-great discussion guys! Peace all! 😇

This was such a privilege to attend❤

Love Spielberg! Movie genius! ❤🎬

Saw Close Encounters in the theater as a kid Christmas Day 1977. Already a huge fan of Jaws, I remember mainly wanting to see it because "the guy who directed Jaws made it" and the subject of UFO's intrigued me. Jaws is still my all time favorite movie. Close Encounters is in my top ten. I was also a huge John Williams fan by that point. The Jaws soundtrack was the first record album I ever owned. Still have it. Also still have my Close Encounters soundtrack on 8 track from back then. I just rewatched Close Encounters on 4k disc. It's just as good if not better than I remember. The "dated" 70's aesthetic now only adds to its charm if you ask me. Like Jaws, John Williams brilliant score brings it to another level.

Still one of my favorite movies went to see it aged 7 in 1977

Ben Mankievicz is always great. Enthusiastic but never sycophantic; always well prepared; and prepared to just listen.

Steven Spielberg is a true artist who creates movies based on his passions, not what he thinks the box office numbers will be or whether he can top his last film. He's a wonderful storyteller inspired by what's in his heart. He's the real deal.

Steven Spielberg is the greatest 📽️. TCM is the greatest. Great video 📸📷

One of my favorites films ever. Love it, its brilliantly written and filmed..and it turns out accurate as far as people seeing UFOS . I know this by the related experience of two childhood friends in the late 60’s ..long before this film came out. They were not out looking for things in the sky. This is off the east coast of central Florida… one night they snuck out of their houses in the wee hours of the morning.I did not go that night. So what they described and what they still say they saw 50 years later they did not make up . Anyway it was pretty much identical to the scene depicted in the film where civilians and some military are waiting in a field and the UFOS show up. I believe them..the UFOS DID show up..they happened upon it.

I recently bought CE3K on Bluray but it is the theatrical version. I saw the theatrical version when I was in high school in 1977. I still have not seen the new added scenes version yet. The movie was a big hit in Australian cinemas.

I enjoyed "The Post" from his later years.

Brilliant film, brilliant filmmaker.

I saw CEOTTK in my home town theater how could it had been only showed in two theaters. I saw it with my Mom and Dad as a little boy.

CE3K is provocative and stunning on first viewing, and holds up over time, but after time and maturity, I find it more sentimental and poetic than hard science fiction. Upon more rational analysis, it becomes silly, but it works as drama and cosmic intrigue. As a pure cinematic experience it is spectacular.

Those of us of a certain age, based on the comments, were lucky to be young when CE3K came out.

I saw CE3K at the Ziegfeld in NYC when it opened. The seats actually vibrated with the deep tones of the music and sound fx, esp. when the Mothership appears.

I love this channel so much, for so many years. Since Warner Brothers stepped in, they have changed. They are not showing anywhere near as many great classics. What happened to 24 hours dedicated real movie stars. Also, they are showing some films way too much.

There is a version that approximates the theatrical cut now available. But it's not exactly what was seen in theaters in 1977. Because the process of recompositing that was done for the 1979 "Special Edition" release destroyed the original effects. So, we can't see the effects exactly as they appeared to audiences in 1977. Also, there are a few shots that are different, and some of the music cues are slightly different. Supposedly, Columbia still holds one original release print. But I have no idea what shape it is in.

None of the revised or special editions were necessary. True with any film. One could update Forbidden Planet too, or Metropolis, but there's value in seeing what the filmmakers did given the budget, technology and studio meddling, after all, that's the version that connected with audiences and became a classic. What makes anything a classic is that it stays original. There was a bit of well-deserved ribbing when asked "what version will we be seeing tonight." How refreshing if the response was "the original that audiences first saw that made it a hit.".

I need a movie with jodie foster & steven speilberg asap

How do I find this version of the film?

So how much longer is this version? Because all known deleted scenes are about 25 minutes long altogether. And does it include the Air East 31 airport scene?

It is a striking visage.

I would like to know Roy's subsequent story I want you to produce PART 2 🔭

Which version is this then? Is it available?

💪💪💪

That was a bit awkward. I don't think Steven was kidding when he said he wishes he had been talking to Jodie Foster instead. 😆

Which sneakers is Steven Spielberg wearing can anyone point out the brand

Spielberg saved Hollywood, lets be honest. No motion picture got everyone excited like Jaws. Theatres were empty until June of 1975. I was there. Thank you Steven. The congressional medal of honor awaits.

Mankiewicz needs a script.

Sure, CEOTTK is a masterpiece, but is Mankiewicz not even going to address the bombshell that Stevie is now repping On Running sneakers over HOKAs???

I don't get it. Is he talking about the Special Edition? Or some other newer edition he put together?

How is the 420th like what did I win😊

Had Ben M. been drinking?

Spielberg when he still made good movies....... amazing....

re,me,do,do,sol

I’m curious about his feeling in regards to what’s happening on university campuses recently?

LOTS of stammering in this interview

Back when movies were made to entertain instead of pushing agendas.

What is it with Ben Mankiewicz, man? He's usually so sharp. Here he seems out of it or something, like he's suffering from a mental condition... I hope he's ok.

Interviewer should think first, then talk.

UGH, the host thinks he's funny and he's not. He is INSUFFERABLE

What a stupid introduction of Mr. Spielberg by this eh ee eh guy. And the sound is awful.

i hate the arrogant host

Him and his roving band of financially insecure auteurs , are killing me . Even If Marlon offered me a Colt 45 I wouldn't have touched that swill either, smart move Steve.

Steven Spielberg movies are business. It is means his movies are NOT quite value movies. Spielberg movies keep them out in waste basket It looks like Coke.