Alien (1979)

About Alien

Alien is a 1979 horror and science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon. The movie follows the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who encounter an Alien, a deadly and aggressive creature that stalks and kills the crew members one by one. The film is known for its atmospheric tension and iconic scenes, particularly the chest-bursting scene.

Making / Production

This film was produced by Gordon Carroll, David Giler, and Walter Hill through their company Brandywine Productions. The movie was shot over fourteen weeks, and Ridley Scott's creation of a 'used universe' was revolutionary in film design. Alien's iconic design elements were created by H.R. Giger, who designed the Alien creatures.

Actors

• Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley): Weaver played the role of warrant officer Ripley, providing a strong, complex central figure for the movie. Her character was groundbreaking at the time, heralding the introduction of the female action hero.
• Tom Skerritt (Dallas): Skerritt portrays the ship's captain who makes the ultimate sacrifice to contain the alien threat.
• John Hurt (Kane): Hurt plays the executive officer who becomes host to the alien, resulting in the film's most famous scene.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The blue laser lights that were used in the spaceship's egg chamber were borrowed from The Who. The rock band was testing the lasers for their stage show in the soundstage next door.
• A three-foot-high model of the Nostromo ship was used to film all exterior shots of the ship's surface.

Quotes

• "I can't lie to you about your chances, but... you have my sympathies." - Ash
• "You're my lucky star... lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky..." - Ripley

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, and included haunting woodwind and string themes to contribute to the film’s tense and unsettling atmosphere.

Awards

"Alien" won the 1979 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It has been consistently praised in the decades since its release, and was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2002 as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".