I just wanted to add that I absolutely love this movie (I just bought it on Blu-Ray).
It is a sign of the times that movies with such an optomistic feel could still be made.
I don’t think this movie could be made today.
Are you kidding?
At the time this movie came out the cinema was much more full of downer endings than today. In fact, it’s hard to make a movie today that does not have a happy ending.
No, I am not kidding.
Most movies nowadays do have happy endings, but the feeling of hope in this movie is something I haven’t seen in movies since.
And just because they did make some very depressing movies during that period they apparently still had hopes for the future.
I don’t see that a whole lot anymore.
It came out the same year Star Wars did, and it was a much better film.
BTW:
I thought the OP did a good job coding the tones. 
One more “ditto” on the Indian version of the chant…if the “standard” version is 1 2 3 4 5 (rest)…1 2 3 4 5 (rest), the Indians were chanting 4 5 1 2 3 (rest)…4 5 1 2 3
I never understood the point of the hand signs. (For one thing, I don’t understand the point of hand sign equivalent of musical tones, but that’s not important now). Truffaut plays the notes…does the hand signs…and his audience stands up & cheers? Am I missing something?
Most people see CE3K and Star Wars as a huge turning point in American cinema. A turning towards happy/hopeful films and away from depressing ones.
More movies are being release now by Hollywood and their wholly owned ‘independent’ studios. In that mix, the majority are happy endings.
Besides, what is hopeful about CE3K. The alien visitation knowledge is completly covered up by the government. Roy is never coming back and the aliens themselves may never be coming back. Heck the 5 tones may mean “We want one to eat”. They give back the people they’ve abducted and now they would just like one for a nice stew.
I’ve always viewed the film to be about the journey of an artist. He has this (artistic) vision and he must see that vision realized. At the expense of everything else, job, family, personal safety, he must see it through. He must commit 100% to doing it and leave behind anyone who hold back.
I just bought the 30th anniversary edition DVD, and I highly recommend it. The new cut is great, and the restoration looks fantastic.
Thing is, its effects were so good that they still look great even now. What is involved in the restoration?
I once read a review of the movie by Isaac Asimov. He hated it. Anyone else read it?
The 30th Anniversary edition (unowned by me) has the 3 different versions of the film: the original '77 release, the '79 Special Edition, and a recent director’s cut that’s longer than either (but which I think AMC has been airing recently, since a scene I never, ever saw before popped up when I was channel-surfing recently).
I don’t think he ever wrote a review, but I did find this online:
Too noisy? Bizarre. It’s like the Austrian Emperor’s criticism of Mozart: “too many notes”. 
No, that wasn’t it. It was a longer article where he discussed the plot, the acting and the special effect.
(That’s effect singular. He made a point of not using the plural)