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Alien
In Space No One Can Hear You Scream.
( Horror / Sci-Fi / Thriller )


Alien Poster

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

US Runtime: 117 min

Premiere Date:
May 25, 1979   [USA]
 
Director: Ridley Scott
 
Writers: Dan O'Bannon   [story]
Ronald Shusett   [story]
Dan O'Bannon
David Giler   [uncredited]
 
Producers: Ronald Shusett   [Executive Producer]
Gordon Carroll   [Producer]
David Giler   [Producer]
Walter Hill   [Producer]
Ivor Powell   [Associate Producer]
 
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
 
Cinematography: Derek Vanlint
 
Edited by: Terry Rawlings
 
Production Companys: 20th Century Fox
Brandywine Productions Ltd.
 


Cast:

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
Eddie Powell
Alien (uncredited)
 
 

Crew:

Peter Baldock
asst. film editor
Saul Bass
title designer
Adrian Biddle
camera focus
Stanley Bielecki
advertising and publicity consultant
Percy Edwards
alien vocalizator
Ray Evans
gaffer
Mark Haggard
production executive
Les Healey
first asst. editor
 
Charles Lippincott
advertising and publicity consultant
Sandy Molloy
asst. to director
Arthur Morton
orchestrator
Lionel Newman
conductor
Tiny Nicholls
wardrobe supervisor
Bob Penn
still photographer
Mary Selway
casting: UK
Micky Wilson
electrician
 
 

Special Effects:

Filmfex Animation Services Ltd.
special optical effects
 
 

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
 
 

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

 

Tech Info:

Budget:
$11,000,000 (USA)
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 has tried to disengage the self-destruct.]
    Ripley: Mother! Turn the cooling unit back on! Mother! ...You bitch!
     
  • [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?
     
  • Ripley: Ash?! Any suggestions from you or Mother?
    Ash: No, we're still collating.
    Ripley: [laughing in disbelief] You what? You're still collating? I find that hard to believe.
    Ash: What would you like me to do?
    Ripley: Just what you've been doing, Ash, nothing!
     

Trivia:

  • Parts of the Nostromo set were cannibalized to make the corridor in the Vogon spaceship in The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.
     
  • 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.
     
  • Scott is reportedly quoted as saying that originally he wanted a much darker ending. He planned on having the alien bite off Ripley's head in the escape shuttle, sit in her chair, and then start speaking with her voice in a message to Earth. Apparently, 20th Century Fox wasn't too pleased with such a dark ending.
     
  • During production an attempt was made to make the alien character transparent or at least translucent.
     
  • 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
     


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