Summary

Spielberg’s “Close Encounters” is considered one of the best films ever, earning awards for sound editing and cinematography.
Iconic actor Steve McQueen was sought after but turned down a role in the film due to an inability to cry on cue.
McQueen’s racing hobby with possible asbestos exposure contributed to his cancer and untimely death at age 50.

Steven Spielberg has directed some of the most iconic films of the past 50 years. While audiences associate his name with films like Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List, his influence on modern sci-fi movies is undeniable. However, while many people still love E.T., they often forget that he also directed another groundbreaking piece of science fiction, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Steve McQueen was one of the most appreciated actors of his time and one who most directors wanted on their projects. You would think that for McQueen and Spielberg, the idea of working together seemed inevitable. However, when the director approached the actor, McQueen turned him down. It would mean the two would never have another chance to work together.

Close Encounters of The Third Kind Release Date November 18, 1977 Director Steven Spielberg Runtime 135 Writers Steven Spielberg , Hal Barwood , Jerry Belson , John Hill , Matthew Robbins Expand

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

In 1977, Steven Spielberg made his second film following his enormously successful Jaws. The film is an interpretation of the phenomenon from which the movie takes its name. It refers to incidents where humans come into contact with alien species. For reference, nearly any film where people meet or see an alien is a close encounter of the third kind.

For the film, Spielberg cast Richard Dreyfuss in the role of Roy Neary, a regular guy who witnesses an alien spacecraft and becomes obsessed with messages he believes he is being sent. It also stars a bevy of characters who are racing to learn more about the aliens, their ships, their purpose, and how to communicate with them. The film culminates with the alien ship landing at Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, where former abductees from previous generations are returned and Roy is selected to enter the ship and leave with the aliens.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind was nominated for nearly every Academy Award, though it only won for sound editing and best cinematography. It has remained on the top of most “best films of all time” lists and has been recognized by the Library of Congress as one of the most important films of the 20th century.

The Unbridled Fame of Steve McQueen

To say that Steve McQueen was an iconic actor would be an enormous understatement. He not only starred in some of the best films of his time but was considered a complete package: the talent, the looks, and the personality. It was a golden ratio that Hollywood hoped to find and desperately clings to as the pinnacle of their industry.

Despite his universal appeal and box office draw, McQueen was only ever nominated for one Academy Award. It came in 1966 for the film The Sand Pebbles. However, most people remember him for his other films such as The Blob, The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Bullitt, and Papillon. In a career that spanned three decades, McQueen made 30 films and drew some of the highest paychecks the industry had ever given out. He was known for playing the outsider, the counter-authority figure, and this extended into his on-set dealings with directors and producers. Yet his ability to pull in audiences made him an absolute asset to any film with which he was associated.

A Side Hustle Can Kill You
Apart from his enormously successful acting career, McQueen was also a racing fanatic. This wasn’t just about watching people race cars and motorcycles, it was about actually competing. This hobby would end up contributing to his death. Towards the end of the ’70s, McQueen was diagnosed with cancer.

One of the possible causes of this particular form was asbestos exposure. McQueen’s love of professional racing had put him in the driver’s seat, which meant wearing protective gear. At the time, this meant fire-retardant materials such as asbestos being not only against the skin but also inside helmets where it could be inhaled. After a variety of questionable surgeries, McQueen died in 1980 at the age of 50.

The Collaboration That Wasn’t

Three years before his death, McQueen met with Spielberg to discuss the possibility of starring as Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The two reportedly got along very well and McQueen was very impressed with the script. However, he explained to Spielberg that there was one issue that he could not get around.

In the script, Roy is so taken with the alien ship that he begins to express deep emotion and, at one point, starts crying with sheer amazement at the splendor before him. McQueen explained to Spielberg that, unfortunately, he could not cry on cue. The director was so intent on working with McQueen that he offered to alter the script to expunge that particular aspect.

Related Steve McQueen Faked a Car Crash to Get Out of One Western and Star in Another McQueen had his eyes on the prize, so much so that he was willing to fake a car crash to get a better role.

To his credit, McQueen explained to Spielberg that this was one of the most moving aspects of the story and that it should definitely be kept in. The director reluctantly agreed, and the two agreed that it was not the end of their collaboration discussion. Unfortunately, they would never have the chance to work together again. McQueen got sick and Spielberg had no immediate projects for the two to take on.

It is a shame that one of the most acclaimed actors of his time never had the chance to work with one of the top directors. However, the fact that McQueen was so invested in Spielberg’s script shows the level of respect he had for the director and his work. However, it is fun to imagine where the actor may have appeared in later Spielberg movies had he lived long enough for the collaboration to take place. Instead, we have the integrity of Spielberg’s amazing career and the integrity of McQueen’s legacy. Not the ending we hoped for, but one that we can all agree may be the best alternative. Stream Close Encounters on Prime Video.