Hi Scott: I've sent my post for DOG DAY AFTERNOON a couple times, but it's listed above as not having been received. Maybe my emails are going to spam/junk? I'm sending from Zach[.]Jansen[@]mail[.]com.

One of my favorite movie books of all time is about Close Encounters: "Spielberg, Truffaut and Me" by Bob Balaban who played Truffaut's (Lacombe's) translator in the movie - and is a distinguished actor and an oscar nominated producer. The book is full of wonderful anecdotes about the two great directors, as well as hilarious stories about Dreyfus and a great behind the scenes account of the making of the movie. Well worth the read, a little known gem of a book.

Thanks for that recommendation, Markham. I know of Bob Balaban well as he's a regular in the Christopher Guest movies and had a wonderful role in a wonderful movie "Moonrise Kingdom". Had never heard of the book. Sounds great and I've added it to my list! P.S.: IIRC it's Balaban's chacter in Close Encounters who recognizes the numeric message from the alien ship to be latitude and longitude. Isn't that right?

That's right, Scott. Balaban much later played the producer of Jerry and George's tv show on Seinfeld - who dies working for Greenpeace because he's in love with Elaine. Among other movies, he produced and was nominated for a best picture Oscar for Gosford Park - he appeared in it as well. I have a long term love affair with Francois Truffaut, and have read most everything written by and about him, and Balaban's anecdotes about him bring a real human workaday dimension to him that is lacking everywhere but in some of Truffaut's own writing. I would love to reveal more about the book, but the pleasure of it is in the telling, as always.

And before this turns into a 'how much I love Francois Truffaut' thread - because I love him a lot - thank you Camilla, great post. I never thought of it before, but now that you've pointed it out, you're absolutely right: 'you can come and play now' is wonderful, a little creepy, foreboding, and innocent too. Great.

Thank you Markham. Barry was fascinating to watch. It was heartbreaking when he says goodbye to them at Devils Tower. I saw the whole film with a renewed appreciation.