Close Encounter of the Third Kind ...

[electrolux~137]

... No, I wasn't abducted by aliens (not this night, anyway).

I recently got the remastered blu-ray of Close Encounter of the Third Kind and watched it with Arlee tonight. I hadn't seen it since its initial release in 1977. I had forgotten what an excellent film it is.

I had also forgotten that there's a cool vacuum cleaner sighting early on in the film.

One of the first scenes is in the home of a woman and her little boy. You see several shots of an upright vacuum cleaner handle in the background, clearly identifiable as a Hoover handle.

A few scenes later, when "the visitors" arrive, all sorts of electrical things go haywire inside the house, including the Hoover! It comes veering, self-propelled, right into the scene*, and you get a really good glimpse of it.

Okay, now the fun part... Who will be the first to identify which model Hoover it is?!

*Hint: It's not a Dial-A-Matic with power drive! There was a slight goof-up in the film's prop department. (as if anyone involved with the film really cared!)

 

[ericaustin]

I KNOW!

Is it a Convertible 1076?

 

[electrolux~137]

Well, it is a Hoover Convertible but I don't know enough about the later models to give you a model number. It's one of the all-plastic-body machines, off-white or light beige, with what looked like dark purple or plum-colored accents and a very 1970s-looking pattern on the bag.

 

[hamiltonbeachbo]

Hmmmm ....
Its been a while but I thought it was a Convertible (like a 1076) with a yellow hood.
If I recollect properly, I think they retro fitted the power drive of a DAM onto a Convertible.
I think if you review the scene, the machine nozzle moved well above the floor.
Now you have my interest up.
I'll have to view it.
Thanks!!
psf

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

And they overdubbed the sound with a Kirby vacuum cleaner!

~Ben

 

[electrolux~137]

<blink>HERE IT IS!</blink>



I just read "Gottahaveahoove's" post "2 more HOOVERS arrived." At the end of it he posted a photo of two other Hoovers he has. The one on the left side of the photo is the one in "Close Encounters." Here is that Hoover, and thanks, Gottahaveahoove, for use of the photo!

 

[kloveland]

I have to disagree

Sorry Charles I have to disagree. Eric is right it's the 1076. Here is a link to Youtube. The scene is @ 8:23. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is one of my favorite movies.

 

[electrolux~137]

Well, not being a Hoover expert I certainly won't disagree. Especially since its "performance" is so brief. When I saw the photo that John posted above, that's the one I thought it was.

 

[kloveland]

Just wanted to clarify on the model

Charles,

I am by no means a Hoover expert. It is just pure luck that I happen to have both models. Really didn't mean to correct you. Just wanted to clarify on the model.

Kenny

 

[electrolux~137]

Thanks -- they're both really cool-looking machines. I assume the one with the yellow top is older?

I remember seeing a lot of Hoovers like this in the '70s and '80s but that was before I really admitted I was a vacuum cleaner nut and started collecting them, so I never had any like them. The first Hoover I ever had was a 105 that I found in a junk store for $2.00.