Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Special Edition

Steven Spielberg 'did a George Lucas' and reworked his sci-fi masterpiece long before George decided to re-jig Star Wars to death. Despite magnificent new special effects I thought this special edition was a bit ho-hum. Just seemed so unnecessary.

January 1980

Starship Invasions

Starship Invasions was another film considered to be a Star Wars rip-off, although it was probably more of a Close Encounters rip-off and actually had more in common with an Ed Wood film. I never saw it at the time - my mother wouldn't let me. She said it was a Star Wars rip off and I'd be wasting my money. Smart mum.

April 26 1979

On the back is a bunch of 1970s restaurants with bad names. I can die happy knowing there was a restaurant in this world called "Amorous Prawn"

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

Arguably the second biggest sci-fi movie event of the 1970s after Star Wars was Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It didn't reach Australia until four months after its USA debut, but like many blockbusters of the 1970s it stayed in cinemas for up to a year or more.

From The Herald 18 Jan 1979 

On the back of the clipping you can choose between the oddly named (for a restaurant) Tramps or use the courtesy coach (!) to go to La Cocotte, Elgin St Carlton where you can enjoy a 3 course lunch for $6.50. Fetch the coach, Jeeves!