He meets people from all over the world with the same stories and sunburns. He gets his research team to transmit the signal into the sky and sees what happens. Instead, he accepts what his investigations present to him.įor example, when the Indians tell him about the five-tonal phrase from the sky, he doesn't scoff and assume they must be suffering from mass delusions. Unlike some other adult characters, he doesn't shut out possibilities because he finds them ridiculous (like Ronnie) or ignore what he can't understand because he'd rather not deal with it (the airline pilots). He's open-minded and imbued with a natural curiosity and wonder. But he also shares some of those childlike traits that Spielberg endows his heroes with. Eyes on the Skiesįor much of the film, Lacombe is the grownup in the room-staying calm, using his authority without his ego getting in the way, and actually listening to people. He respects the invitees even though he doesn't know why they were invited. Lacombe possesses the detached scientific attitude, but he's not blinded by politics, fear, or skepticism. LACOMBE (translated): We didn't choose this place! We didn't choose these people! They were invited! They belong here more than we. When Major Walsh orders Roy, Jillian, and Larry to be conked out with E-Z-Four before they reach the landing site, Lacombe warns him: But he knows that interviewing Roy will give him valuable information about the alien encounter, so he takes the risk. Lacombe's acting against strict orders by bringing Roy and the others into the decontamination camp. (He pulls up the shade to reveal the Tower in the window.) It's still a mystery to me why they are here. LACOMBE (translated): (Showing sketches drawn of Devils Tower by all the captives.) This is a small group of people who have shared a vision in common. Why? WALSH: Because somebody could be trying to subvert this whole operation by sending in fanatics and cultists and Christ knows what all. These people have come from all over their country to a place they have been told will endanger their lives. LACOMBE (translated): Because this means something. WALSH: You brought in twelve people to the decontamination camp instead of the evacuation center where they belong. He's got obstacles to overcome, because the military wants to hide the truth about Devil's Tower. He has no ulterior motives beyond that.ĭiscovering the truth, and only that, is what drives Lacombe. So why does he search for the truth? Because he's a scientist and it's his job to figure out how the universe works. He isn't motivated by a personal encounter with a UFO he isn't looking for a Nobel Prize nor was his sister abducted as part of a massive conspiracy, Fox Mulder style. He wants to understand the UFO phenomena that he's been encountering around the globe. Lacombe personifies natural curiosity and inquisitiveness. Like a dad who nods kindly and keeps quiet when you tell him you want to major in Puppetry Studies, Lacombe accepts Roy where he's at and helps him reach his goals. At the end of the film, he sees the longing in Roy's eyes to know more. Lacombe tries to deeply understand Roy's experience. His vibe is that he'll take good care of us, that he's in control and he does it in a non-authoritarian way, completely unconcerned about maintaining some kind of bogus authority-figure image. He's a very reassuring guy to have around. He's strong but gentle he's wicked smart he's totally fair and open-minded he listens. He's a natural leader, but treats everyone with respect. If Roy Neary is the reckless, childlike dad, then Lacombe is everyone's perfect father figure. Spielberg takes this sci-fi stock character and classes it up by getting legendary and charming French director François Truffaut ( sigh) to play him as a scientific leader with restraint, benevolence, deep intelligence, and compassion. This ain't no Roland Emmerich flick here, people.
He wears a white lab coat, sports disheveled hair, and explains crazy theories with those shifty, mad eyes and is likely played by Woody Harrelson or Brent Spiner.
Claude Lacombe is the French scientist tasked by the UN to lead the investigative team that looks to discover the truth about the strange phenomena witnessed around the world.Ĭhances are you think you've got this character figured out.
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