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Alien
In space no one can hear you scream.
( Horror / Sci-Fi )


Alien Poster

MPAA Rating:
R
[sci-fi violence/gore and language]

US Runtime: 117 min

Country of Origin: United States of America

Premiere Date:
May 25, 1979   [USA]
 
Director: Ridley Scott
 
Writers: Dan O'Bannon   [Screenplay]
Dan O'Bannon   [Story]
Ronald Shusett   [Story]
 
Producers: Gordon Carroll   [Producer]
David Giler   [Producer]
Walter Hill   [Producer]
Ivor Powell   [Associate Producer]
Ronald Shusett   [Executive Producer]
 
Cinematography: Derek Vanlint
 
Edited by: Terry Rawlings
Peter Weatherley
 
Music Composed by Jerry Goldsmith
 
Production Design: Michael Seymour
 
Costume Design: John Mollo
 
Casting by Mary Goldberg
Mary Selway
 
Production Companys: 20th Century Fox   (US)
Brandywine Productions   (US)
Brandywine Productions Ltd.
 


Plot Summary:

    After investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin, the crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform.

Cast: (First 20, for the rest click 'Show All Cast & Crew' below.)

Tom Skerritt
Dallas
Sigourney Weaver
Ripley
Veronica Cartwright
Lambert
Harry Dean Stanton
Brett
John Hurt
Kane
 
Ian Holm
Ash
Yaphet Kotto
Parker
Bolaji Badejo
Alien
Helen Horton
Mother (voice)
 

Show All Cast & Crew

Miscellaneous Companies:

Animals Unlimited
Jones trained by
Anvil Recording Studios
music recorded at
Lee Lighting Ltd.
lighting
R/Greenberg Associates Inc.
title design
 
Sony U.K. Ltd.
video equipment
Steve Frankfurt Communications
title design
Thorn EMI Elstree Studios
post-production
Tony Silver Films
title design
 
 

Special Effects Department:

Filmfex Animation Services Ltd.
special optical effects
 
 

Filming Locations: (Now With Clickable Links To Location On Google Maps)

 

Tech Info:

Budget:
$11,000,000
Revenue:
$104,931,801
Camera:
Panavision Cameras and Lenses
Color Info:
Color (DeLuxe)
Laboratory:
DeLuxe, USA / Rank Film Laboratories, Denham, UK
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Cinematographic Process:
Panavision
Film Negative Format:
35 mm - Kodak 5247
Printed Film Format:
35 mm / 70 mm
Production Dates:
05 Jul 1978 - Dec 1978

Quotes:

  • Lambert: I can't see a goddamn thing.
    Kane: Quit griping!
    Lambert: I like griping.
     
  • Ripley: Come on, Ash, I mean, the Science Department should be able to help us. What can we do to drive it?
    Ash: Yes, well, it has adapted remarkably well to our atmosphere considering its nutritional requirements. The only thing we don't know about is temperature.
    Ripley: OK, what about temperature? What happens if we change it?
    Ash: Let's try it. Most animals retreat from fire, yes?
    Dallas: Fire, yeah.
     
  • Parker: Before we dock, I think we ought to discuss the bonus situation. Brett and I, we think we ought to, we deserve full shares. Right?
    Brett: You see, Mr. Parker and I feel that the bonus situation has never been on a, an equitable level.
    Dallas: Well, you get what you contracted for like everybody else.
    Brett: Yes, but everybody else gets more than us.
     
  • [Last line]
    Ripley: Cargo and ship destroyed. I should reach the frontier in about 6 weeks. With a little luck, the network will pick me up. This is Ripley, last survivor of The Nostromo, signing off.
     
  • Kane: Oh, I feel dead.
    Parker: Anybody ever tell you you look dead?
     

Trivia:

  • Much of the dialogue was developed through improvisation.
     
  • The vector graphics that appear on Ripley's screen showing the undocking sequence for the Nostromo were also used for the aircar launch sequence in Blade Runner.
     
  • The embryonic movements of the "face hugger" (prior to bursting out of its egg) were created by Ridley Scott using both his rubber-gloved hands
     
  • Three aliens were made: a model and two suits. One of the suits was for the seven foot tall Masai tribesman Bolajo Bolaji, and the other was for a trained stunt man.
     
  • Roger Dicken, who designed and operated the "face hugger" and the "chest burster," had originally wanted the latter to pull itself out of Kane's torso with its own little hands, a sequence he felt would have produced a much more horrifying effect than the gratuitous blood and guts in the release print.
     


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