JUST IN TIME FOR THE FILM’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY RE-RELEASE IN THEATERS
PUBLIC MEDIA DISTRIBUTION RELEASES
“THE REAL STORY: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND” ON DVD
Program Reveals The True Story That Inspired the Sci-Fi Classic
Arlington, Va. – August 31, 2017 – Just three days after the 40th Anniversary re-release of the film that reawakened man’s obsession with the eternal question “Are we alone in the universe?” Public Media Distribution, LLC will release the Smithsonian Channel™ program “THE REAL STORY: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND” on DVD. An instant box office smash when it was released in 1977, the Spielberg classic grossed over 300 million dollars and was nominated for eight Oscars. Now audiences can get a glimpse into the actual events that inspired the classic film – claimed UFO sightings, and alien abductions.
“THE REAL STORY: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND” will be available on DVDSeptember 5, 2017. The run time of the program is approximately 50 minutes,and the SRP is $14.99.
Few realize the sci-fi classic was actually inspired by a series of reported UFO sightings in Michigan in the summer of 1966, and witness testimonies given to a U.S. Government investigation about alien abduction are just a few events examined in “THE REAL STORY: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.” Part of Smithsonian Channel’s original series The Real Story, this intriguing program allows viewers to separate science-based fact from science fiction. It investigates the original cases that inspired the film – from the Michigan UFO chase to the first and most famous case of claimed alien abduction in the US, the Betty and Barney Hill abduction. Using modern technology, a re-examination of government documents puts old witness testimonies to the test.
About The Real Story
They've thrilled us, horrified us, and devastated us. They've raised questions about our past and given us hope for a brighter future. They are some of Hollywood's biggest hits, all works of fiction, but all inspired by real events more dramatic than anything a screenwriter could dream up.
