| Audio | Dolby Surround (Digital), Mono (Analog Left), Dolby Digital (Analog Right), Stereo |
| Subtitles | English (Closed Captioned) |
| Languages | English |
| Aspect Ratio | 2.35:1 |
| Color | Color |
| Video Standard | NTSC |
| Packaging | Box Set |
| Classification | MPAA PG |
| Catalog Number | 12646 |
| UPC | 043396126466 |
| ISBN | 0767801296 |
| Mint Marks Side 1 | 59-279A1-004 MADE IN USA 265B0486 |
| Mint Marks Side 2 | 59-279B1-002 MADE IN USA 225B2085 |
| Mint Marks Side 3 | 59-279C1-004 MADE IN USA 285B2376 |
| Mint Marks Side 4 | 59-279D1-007 MADE IN USA 225B0724 |
| Mint Marks Side 5 | 59-279E1-004 MADE IN USA 265B0922 |
| Mint Marks Side 6 | 59-279F1-002 MADE IN USA 195B0509 |
| Brand | Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Pictures |
| Territory | United States, Canada |
| Notes | Includes:
- New Definitve Directors Cut
- Hi-definition transfer
- Digitally remastered from the original film elements
- A new 140 minute documentary "The Making of Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
- Theatrical Trailers
- The 1977 featurette "Watch The Skies"
- Deleted scenes
- Production Archives
- Only the feature has Dolby Digital AC-3 soundtrack (sides 1-3).
This AC-3 LD is the only version of the film on home video to retain the mono surround track of the original 70mm 6-Track Magnetic Dolby Stereo prints. All later home releases have 'fake' stereo surrounds to give the film a more 'modern sounding' soundtrack. The decision to keep the surrounds mono as in the original theatrical showings was made by Chace Audio who did the transfer from the magnetic masters to digital. The later addition of stereo surrounds was done by Columbia Pictures/Sony as Spielberg doesn't have as much control of "Close Encounters..." as he does his other films; perhaps because he doesn't care for the film much anymore. |
