I saw Alien in the theatre in 1979 with my dad in a really good, loud theatre. I was 11. One of my great memories was when Ripley went back for Jones and a woman yelled out, "Forget the damn cat!". That same woman let out a blood-curdling scream when the Alien's hand popped out in the shuttle. Great times. Honestly, as much as this movie has been debated about its intellectual meaning and significance, the main thing that made this movie so incredible is the monster and how effectively Ridley Scott sold the terror of it. Giger once said something like, "This monster has given me nightmares, and now I'm sharing the nightmare with everyone else". That was very prophetic. And for me personally, the Alien is permanently entwined in my psyche and I've had many nightmares. No other movie has ever done that to me. Alien is the best!
If the Xenomorph gave Giger nightmares, I can just imagine what the rest of the images his mind conjured up did to him. I remember him stating that he used heroin to deal with the anxiety his images game him.
yep, about 2 weeks ago I had a nightmare in which I was having to escape a space station with facehuggers, and headcrabs from half life all trying to get me. Thanks HR Giger, I didn't need to sleep anyways XD.
@@duckhive the background music is epic. I think he uses just free license stuff. Which is crazy considering how much it has grown on me over the years.
Same, the voice and the speech cadence come together perfectly for this topic, imo. It somehow reminds me of listening to old government recordings, or perhaps corporate recordings if we're sticking to the lore.
@@danmang923id assume it’s to not spoil anything. Back when the film came out I could imagine it would’ve been pretty lame to have a xenomorph on the cover lol. It would’ve ruined the surprise of the first time we see it. Some of my friends have just seen this movie for the first time recently, and their jaw DROPPED when big chap first comes down from the chains. A couple of them had never seen a xenomorph before. Sorry, don’t mean to go on a tangent. I just think it’s fun that some people who aren’t super into pop-culture still can have a surprise!
I have no idea how you source your information, but it’s amazing that you do. This franchise has been a part of my life since I was born. I would like to think I know more than most about it, as any genre “nerd” does, but you truly help me level up my knowledge with every video. Kudos.
I always viewed the egg as an egg shaped planet/moon rather than just a straight up egg. With a split in it, showing that there is something wrong with it. Much like LV-426 having something wrong with it, there is life there that doesn't belong there
I don’t generally care about film trailers but the 1979 trailer for Alien was brilliant. I also love the ‘egg poster’ it perfectly distills the weirdness and unknown qualities of the Alien creature.
I don't worry about the difference between eggs. The trailer for Alien was spin-chillimg, without using one single frame, or audio track from the actual film. Setting the mood, and putting the audience on edge, way before you'd even bought a ticket. There have been loads of trailers, where afterwards you can comfortably say "I don't need to worry about watching that film now!" Because it's given away all the plot points, and twists, and you can easily join all the dots yourself. Or you see an upcoming comedy and think that's going to be fun. Only to realise all the best jokes were in the trailer! Then - imagine being in the cinema to watch a completely different film. Your getting settled, munching into your snacks, thinking about the film your there to see, not the adds and trailers that are running. Suddenly - the Alien trailer appears. Its enough to make people stop, leaving the audience guessing, and looking at each other, thinking WTF was that....! Now that's great advertising 😎
That is EXACTLY what happened to me. I am English, and I was at the cinema as a child back in 79 to see various films. I was ten years old and the Alien trailer was attached to stuff like Moon Raker. It was around in 78 as well, the teasers were great, we had no clue as to what they were for. I cant even remember what films I was there to see. I was way too young to see Alien at the time, but we saw the trailers and it scared my brother and I no end. We saw the teaser with one movie, and a while later the full trailer with the hatching egg and clips of the film. I can clearly remember thinking it looked incredible and I wanted to see it straight away, but I knew I was too young. I sat there thinking, one day I will get to see that film.....And I did, years later, which may explain why I collect so much Alien and Aliens stuff, because of the profound impact the trailer and then the films had.
I saw Alien in the cinema when it first came out. The only thing we knew about it was the egg and that no one could hear you scream. It really was frightening seeing the film, and everything was a surprise.
I was too young to see it on the big screen when it came out. But - I watched it with my father and older brother for the first time on the small screen. Still, far too young to officially be watching it - different times and all that....! Needless to say, it had a lasting effect on my young mind. It finished and then Dad said "OK, time for bed, where's your bed clothes?" It was at that point I realised that my clothes were upstairs, in my room. Dad looked at me and said "well, you going to have to go upstairs and get them!" Now, for some reason - my folks had this obsession with helping us to get dressed, even though we had both worked out how to do it ourselves 🤷♀️ Anyway; I was tasked with going upstairs - in the dark - on my own! With Alien fresh in my mind. It didn't take me long to retrieve my clothes. I got back to find both my father and brother in fits of laughter - all my "must keep it cool" attitude went out the window. From this experience came a fascination for this film. I wanted to work out why it had this effect on me, which grew into a fascination for film making and special effects. Does that mean I got the last laugh....?
@Desmond Dolan I'm pretty sure, the initial trailer was just closeups of the egg and the egg cracking at the end. There was a later one that had a few quick scene shots of the film, without audio. I'm going to have to go through the extras now to confirm this! Anyway, my point was that it's a big slap around the face to any unsuspecting cinema audience. A true "less is more!" Triumph, designed to make people stop and go WTF....!
I remember the commercials from the movie and how terrifying they sounded with that unearthly shrieking/howling. It was like nothing else at the time, I wish I had been old enough to see it in the theaters at the time.
I miss Sigourney...She looks good and healthy..Her pretty smile..I miss seeing one of the industries best actresses actually in more stuff. I know Avatar 2 just released but i miss Galaxy Quest,Heartbreakers era Weaver..Not as prolific as Aliens,Gorillas in the Mist era.Its just the lack of good actors being in actual movies about things not involvings Super Hero s and franchise .. Just a well written movie..What a piss poor time in history...
Yes I am still really cross we never got that last new Alien film where they were going to bring back her and Hicks and Newt etc and ignore Alien 3 and its events. But instead we got the dire Prometheus and the truly dreadful Covenant. Which I think did so much damage it will be hard for the new films on the way to step out from. I hope they get it right and do something that is truly from the first two films line of continuity and Universe and leave all the meeting God garbage out of it.....
I get what you're saying but as you've spoken about she's been a part of some pretty massive cinematic works. I just think she's a wonderful actor who seems to really appreciate the work she's been a part of, rather than the typical Marvel checkbook actor who's clearly just in it for the bag and doesn't really feel any connection to the work. She's also a very elegant older woman, the type Hollywood has historically only recognized very rarely, and generally only in regards to "important" films, in which the Science fiction genre she's had such a part in has no place.
@@alabasterlight Yes very good movie and Kevin Kline I miss so much as well. One of the all time best comedies he was in was a movie called I Love You to Death with Tracy Ullman playing his haggard wife. Either jew or Italian like her Husband who cheats on her to the point he doesn't even hide it. So she hires a couple mongloids high on everything. One of them being Keanu Reeves in his first film. ALso Co starring River Phoenix in the last film he d ever be seen in b4 he OD .. Jeez this was supposed to be about Sigourney,buuut Soooomeone just had to bring up the Movie Dave, In which I then had a warm memory of the year 1994 and I oozed up and smiled I smelled something sorta well I can't describe it.. Oh my nose is bleeding..So yeah I miss Kevin Kline too and River was on the path to be a legend in that cesspit. That had to be 94 or 95..She followed that with a interesting role in the psychological film Copycat with Holly Hunter. The movie I really enjoyed and one of my favorite films next to Slums of Beverly Hills..It was and ensemble picture.It was a film in 1997 called The Ice Storm. Great movie and featuring like nearly all awesome cast. Like the Rise of Tobey Mcguire began She played the bitter, alcoholic who goes to those Sleazy 70s gatherings that only Boomers can do.. The y went to Swingers gatherings. They went to a tese as a term it c3 called Ah! That's it.. A Key Party.She has this look about her and she acts mainly by her body language,mood and some rowdy Stare Glares she has with her husband. Who is Kevin Kline again I think..She would've exploded his head in the new Scanners with one of these. She takes a drink of like some iced mixed drink and then then death stares her husband with a Glare Stare .Mary McDonnell would play her again but more of a I'm a bit dissatisfied with life..Not a I'm gonna stab my idiot Husband for something from like 15 years ago kind of performance..,This was a movie called Donnie Darko..Yes and I still think she should gotten an Oscar for Aliens, but yeah we know why she didn't. But the year of 2 Oscar nominated movies and lost them both. One which was a extra layup for Meryl Streep.She was nixed for Gorillas in the Mist,then in qreat fashion a supporting role and one of her best in Working Girl..
I think one reason they may have stuck with this egg is that people could identify what is on the poster. If it was an ovomorph then I think most people would go, "what is that? Is the alien like a fat, stubby worm?"
I think it would be cool if someday this egg was canonized in some way, like with the idea that the first xenomorph ever came from this egg or something.
In 1991 I met Brian Glover in a Fish and Chip shop in Edinburgh. I told him that I didn't much like Alien 3 and he agreed with me. Then I told him I loved American Werewolf in London and his face lit up, he pointed his finger at me and said 'Now that were a good movie'.
Cool info on the egg. No matter what that egg is easily identified to the Alien franchise. Side note, I love Alien 3. Especially the assembly cut. That is pretty close to David Finchers movie he wanted.
Hello Derek, This isexactly why i love your videos! (Even tho i seen each movie countless times,watched all "making of's",know all the stories/problems & quirks from sets,but still u manage to make a great 15 min video about Alien that i watch with my mouth open...)! Keep it up mate,all the best to u
For Alien 3, it sucks that we never got to see Vincent Ward’s full vision of the film. I hate when big movie corporations get in the way of a story writer’s and director’s vision
@@Stuart267 Anti Disney I see. I totally get it. Me not so much since Bob Iger took back the reigns over good old Bobby “Cheapek.” I think Romulus will give us a good indication though on where the series is going. I’d like Ridley Scott to just be a consultant and not have so much creative say over the next films.
@@adamzielinski2001 I am hardly anti-Disney I have just seen what they have done with their franchises I paid a ridiculous amount of money for 37 of the MCU movies on 4k steelbook but can still take my fanboy glasses off. I think its a little late for Iger to change things. Look at Star Wars & MCU, Since Endgame the MCU has struggled to break even with every passing instalment, that is because Disney have fell into the habit of lecturing the audience instead of entertaining them Black Widow, Shang Chi & The Eternals were awful films & considering they were supposed to kick off phase 4, yet bombed in box office. be it franchise fatigue or the fact Disney hire hack writers who jam their own agendas into films its not surprising to me. As for Scott I feel he's passed his prime as a film maker Prometheus & Covenant both sucked
@@Stuart267 Give Iger sometime. But Star Wars is better now since Kevin Feige took over and Kathleen Kennedy now longer has much say in Star Wars. Andor was a great series. Yes Marvel is struggling and I’m not sure there’s much hope for phase 5 either. I think X-men 97 and Deadpool 3 have some promise. The rest of Marvel though is looking pretty bad. However I think I’ll give Disney a chance with Alien depending on this Romulus project. Look at Prey and how well that did. I’m cautiously optimistic when it comes to how Disney will handle the Alien Franchise
Either the real xeno egg design wasn't fully fleshed out when the trailer and posters were released, or the creators didn't want to reveal the finished egg design before people saw it in the film.
That's the egg from the *Alien 3* promo: "In space, no one can hear you scream.. but on Earth, everyone can." 4:56 yup.. I figured as much. It was far too big for either egg used in the *Alien* poster or teaser, and I remember how the camera moves very close along the surface of the *Alien 3* egg to make you think it was a planet or moon. 10:30 the convicts came from David Twohy's script, which did not have Ripley in it. It took the "humans experimenting on Aliens, while using humans as guinea pigs" idea that both Hill and Giler wanted to play around with, as it was introduced in William Gibson's script for the 1st incarnation of *Alien 3* when Hill and Giler wanted a pair of sequels for *Aliens* in that style. At the last minute, Hill and Giler decided they did not want to "follow James Cameron" and wanted to do their own thing, which led to the pre-production nightmare of *Alien 3* and somewhere between $3 to 5 million spent on pre-production scripts, artwork and props. It was the unused Twohy script that *Pitch Black* and Riddick came from.
Let's not over-egg (ha) that last connection. Twohy merely carried out a rewrite on Pitch Black that mirrored some of his Alien3 ideas. It's very different otherwise.
Gibsons script was more action than Cameron’s and they would have had to build more suits for gibsons second draft didn’t make any of those changes so they asked him do a third and he declined
@@skepticalbadger I’m saying his prison script for *Alien 3* was the impetus to *Pitch Black* being created. Things like the character of Riddick (who is a very Ripleyish sort of character: a stoic orphan who doesn’t take a lot of shit off of anyone) and the basic plot I’m sure were something created later as the idea progressed.
Something many people overlook: Jonsey is the only character from the first movie to not die as a result of the xenomorphs. He likely ended up dying of old age back on the space station, having been left behind when Ripley went with the marines.
@@CosmicCustodian here is a verifiable fact you can look up online. The common house cat kills a larger variety of animals than any other animal on the planet. Not even for eating them just for killing. Don't get me wrong I'm not some cat hater I love all kinds of animals except for monkeys. Cats are killers and often cats love playing with their prey before they kill it. Surely you've seen this.
As a long-time fan of the franchise (I got to see the original in the theater during it's original release, albeit with an adult guardian present, as I was in my early teens and the film was Rated R), I never tire of your videos on all things related. Thank you so much, and keep up the great work! Your hard work is appreciated.
I watched alien 1, 2 and 3 as a kid but apart from the famous scenes I didn't remember much about them. My girlfriend started playing alien isolation (which is amazing) and decided to watch the movies so in the space of 2 months I have played alien isolation and watched every alien film (including avp) I've been so consdumed by this series and am so happy I've now found this channel
I wish Walter Hill would return to write at least one draft of another Alien. He's a legitimately good filmmaker and his iconic contributions to Alien are underrated.
It’s really interesting hearing the early concept for alien 3’s story. I think alien 3 was still a good movie but perhaps that original story would have been better to go with. Great work as always.
Dang I thought for SURE you were going to somehow - in spite of the date on which this video was released - that the revelatory link back to that original poster was the ALIEN COCOON ASTEROID from ROMULUS and that we weren't seeing the egg at all the whole time but the cryptobiosis cocoon.
Really interesting and fascinating video Derek. Really interesting all the behind the scenes stuff that took place for this one prop that has a place in our culture alongside other notable things from history. Nicely done - Thanks for this!
Watching the video, I noted at the 11.48 mark, for the first time, the incorrect use of the word "insure" in the original Mother computer read-out. Surely it should be "ensure"? Strange I never noticed it before. But another top-notch video.
It never gets old hearing one of my favorite youtube voices say my name. Anyway, another fun and insightful video to add to the list, well done! Now please excuse me as I go rewatch one of your old narrations of the Earth War. That series is my emotional support narration.
I remember being confused and angry that the egg in the film did not match the one in that trailer - 9-year-old me wanted an explanation as to how an alien creature could come out of a chicken egg! Sadly, the world had to wait until "Carnosaur" to see this happen.
Ridley Scott (or his casting director) seems to have a knack of both casting actors on the cusp of them going mainstream, and catching long neglected actors fading into obscurity.
As a kid around the time of Alien's release, some movie posters really scared me. The classic Alien egg poster of course, along with "It's Alive" and "The Howling".
I remember hearing about this story. As problematic as Alien 3 might be, this egg still has its place in film history. At least it has been preserved, unlike what Universal did with Quint's Orca from Jaws.
For just a tiny half of a split second, I thought "Giant Egg" was the aliens version of the popular "X franchise's iceberg" phrase that's going around.
One of the biggest things I have noticed these days about Hollywood is how the story is considered secondary to the action and special effects when in reality the story is everything. Without a good story the rest is irrelevant. Its one of the main reasons I seldom to to the movies anymore.
One of the reasons I'm excited for Noah Hawley's upcoming Alien series is the fact that he's one of the rare creators/writers/showrunners who prioritizes the story first and foremost over the other aspects that most executives care about. His work on Fargo and Legion (in addition to the books he's written), both of which are outstanding and better than most modern films, is clear proof of that. He's one of the only people currently working within the Hollywood system who has my complete and utter confidence in regards to whatever project he works on.
If they’d tried it with the egg today, Reddit would have clocked it right away. I might have clocked it myself because Alien 3 (Assembly Cut) is my second favorite Alien film.
The assembly cut is good but it kinda pisses me off not finchers fault it pisses me off because it shows that if they’d just trusted fincher it could have been 100 percent on par with the first 2 films
You should ask the powers that be to make an chocolate egg version to sell in shops at easter, with a toy face hugger inside. Have the cardboard box packaging open with 4 petals.
Heheeheh that would go over so well with the Kiddos.....Its Easter kids, and so enjoy your nightmares as you tuck into a chocolate Alien parasite! Hey parents! This Easter why not get your kids a chocolate themed Egg from a movie they are not legally allowed to see until they are 18!!!! Its a great idea though, but sadly it cant or wont happen because of those reasons. My local Marks and Spencers here in the Uk is still trying to sell off Harry Potter Hedwig themed eggs and Golden Snitches etc and its long past Easter now. I wonder what happens to all the ones that never sell? Do they go back to factory? Are they melted down and recycled? Or does someone in the store just take them off the shelves after the sell by date and eat them themselves? The greedy lot...heh......
6:40 “disbelieved or dismissed…usually by men” ugh….Aliens does such an amazing job at adding women to every single group of people that Ripley encounters who all treat her the same way. It’s not about the gender - it’s about how those particular groups function. The greed of the corporates who don’t believe her and need their plans to succeed, the bravado of the marines, etc. Ripley is such an awesome feminist icon, but it’s precisely because she is not narrowed down to a “female character” which is typically what the feminist reading of the movie does to a T. Rob Ager’s video on why Aliens is the best feminist movie is fantastic and it truly shows why the majority of feminists have no idea what they’re talking about when it comes to their interpretations.
Thank you for this one! Glad that you filled in a lot of blanks here... And I wonder if the U.S. Open or Wimbledon will ever make a parody of this ad (that grill at the bottom looks like the catgut of a tennis racket, and the ball speaks for itself)... In an Ace, no one can hear you scream?
The Egg is an amalgam of symbolism related to the franchise; even the texture of the egg evokes the landscape of the planetoid where the Xenomorphs were found (in the first movie).
1979’s Alien had a BRILLIANT ad campaign for the time. It was intriguing and made you want to see the film. I remember the trailer for Alien 3 because I saw it during the opening weekend of Terminator 2: Judgement Day. This egg absolutely looks like the egg featured in that trailer. We were SO excited because it seemed that the third film would take place on Earth. The possibilities were endless. Imagine our disappointment when that didn’t happen. I personally did not like Alien 3 but my position softened after seeing The Assembly Cut. Still not a good film in my opinion and when you hear the stories about its torturous production you see why.
I was about 6 when this movie came out, so didn’t see it until I was an adult(saw Aliens first when I was a teen). Didn’t see the trailer either. Just this image and because of the font and an undiagnosed weak eye, I thought for YEARS, the poster said Allen. Had no idea what this movie was about, but I thought it must be something paranormal or demonic like Poltergeist.
I still remember the first teaser on TV, it was quick but in that short time, did everything to entice you, alarm and scare you! Especially when it was shown on late night TV! Back in the day!
I’m glad you made this video because I was thinking about the 🥚 and the movie poster shows it cracking at the bottom. But we know it open up at the top.
I was scared of the original tv commercial as a kid, and that OG poster in a theater lobby. I guess I was 7 or 8, but I knew I was not ready. But definitely watched it before Aliens came out, and IT’S STILL SCARY!!!!
That explains why that prop looks like a combo of an egg and the Moon. I think one of the reasons Alien 3 was a mess was because of them trying to shoehorn the Ripley character into it. It meant killing off her and the other survivors, took away their "happy" ending in such a cold and empty manner.....not to mention the BS of the egg being on the ship and the complete destruction of the Sulaco.
I am only part way through the video... Just got to the egg being presented to the Smithsonian and there was something I noticed that wasn't quite right... The Crack is too high up! The Egg form the Original Movie cracked lower... While to me its not a big controversy, I can understand the Smithsonian being a little pissed as Fox said it was the OG
"Ripley is dismissed my men." Um no, Ripley is dismissed by everyone including the woman that was on the investigation board at the beginning of Aliens. Infact SGT and Hicks (men) are the two that do believe her story that they are potentially up against a formidable enemy. They are also both NCO's which is probably why their characters are more likely error on the side of caution.
I think it's awesome that this egg was preserved and on display, considering it was from a trailer for a scrapped version of an unpopular movie, it's a miracle it wasn't thrown in the dumpster.
There are many happy accidents in Hollywood, and Alien³ is one of them. Its much better than Aliens and Alien Resurrection, thats for sure. Minority opinion of course, but I stick to it. Sigourney had good intuition.
I actually still enjoy ^3 and Resurrection. Each had amazing casts and some truly fantastic moments. Fincher didn't kill ^3; that was studio eff-around. Res was basically a test run for "Firefly", but still provided some good stuff.
Hey A.T. I definitely caught what you said at the end there about supporting the Writer's Guild and I couldn't agree more. They are the unsung heroes of Hollywood and deserve just as much recognition, credit, and financial affirmation as the directors. Thank you for standing with them!
I think you should cover the article I just read about a finished 10 episode alien vs predator anime that Disney shelved. One of the producers said it was completed and they didn't know why Disney decided not to release it
It's shocking to me that anyone thought that this prop was from the original Alien as it looks nothing like the versions in the film OR the trailer. When I first saw it I immediately thought of the Alien 3 teaser as it always bugged me that, like the Alien trailer, the egg is an incorrect version of the ones in the films. I may be a nerd for this stuff but you would think the production people involved with these films would have more insight and memory than an invested fan.
the Smithsonian screens films for us locals in the IMAX theater and one time we got to see Alien inI MAX format. At that showing they showed photos of the egg in the collection. I'm looking forward to seeing it soon.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
I saw Alien in the theatre in 1979 with my dad in a really good, loud theatre. I was 11. One of my great memories was when Ripley went back for Jones and a woman yelled out, "Forget the damn cat!". That same woman let out a blood-curdling scream when the Alien's hand popped out in the shuttle. Great times.
Honestly, as much as this movie has been debated about its intellectual meaning and significance, the main thing that made this movie so incredible is the monster and how effectively Ridley Scott sold the terror of it. Giger once said something like, "This monster has given me nightmares, and now I'm sharing the nightmare with everyone else". That was very prophetic. And for me personally, the Alien is permanently entwined in my psyche and I've had many nightmares. No other movie has ever done that to me. Alien is the best!
If the Xenomorph gave Giger nightmares, I can just imagine what the rest of the images his mind conjured up did to him. I remember him stating that he used heroin to deal with the anxiety his images game him.
yep, about 2 weeks ago I had a nightmare in which I was having to escape a space station with facehuggers, and headcrabs from half life all trying to get me. Thanks HR Giger, I didn't need to sleep anyways XD.
@@pillsareyummy m
I was 14, saw with brother, 16. I remember physically shaking coming out of the theater into the daylight. I could not hold my hands still.
Obviously you haven't seen Hunt for the Skinwalker
You’re voice plus your deep knowledge on aliens and predators makes you one of my favorite channels to listen to
plus the background music
@@duckhive the background music is epic. I think he uses just free license stuff. Which is crazy considering how much it has grown on me over the years.
Same, the voice and the speech cadence come together perfectly for this topic, imo. It somehow reminds me of listening to old government recordings, or perhaps corporate recordings if we're sticking to the lore.
In the context of Alien lore, this guy's voice is literally perfect. Same for Mr Nightmare and his creepy stories.
yeah his deep knowledge on his yo pronounce Giger. lolololol geee grrr lololol.
Fun fact. NOTHING on the Alien cover is actually seen in the movie itself. You can say its more ''alien'' this way.
I’ve always wondered why that was…..
@@danmang923id assume it’s to not spoil anything. Back when the film came out I could imagine it would’ve been pretty lame to have a xenomorph on the cover lol. It would’ve ruined the surprise of the first time we see it.
Some of my friends have just seen this movie for the first time recently, and their jaw DROPPED when big chap first comes down from the chains. A couple of them had never seen a xenomorph before.
Sorry, don’t mean to go on a tangent. I just think it’s fun that some people who aren’t super into pop-culture still can have a surprise!
I have no idea how you source your information, but it’s amazing that you do. This franchise has been a part of my life since I was born. I would like to think I know more than most about it, as any genre “nerd” does, but you truly help me level up my knowledge with every video. Kudos.
Interesting that the egg's shell is made to look like a lunar landscape with what looks like impact craters
it's a good touch. Even though it doesn't match what's in the film it's excellent marketing
"I'll only do it if I die"
3 years later "somehow, Ripley returned"
I always viewed the egg as an egg shaped planet/moon rather than just a straight up egg. With a split in it, showing that there is something wrong with it. Much like LV-426 having something wrong with it, there is life there that doesn't belong there
Same here I thought it was the planet, it wasn't till about 3 years ago I realised it was an egg that looks nothing like the ones in the films
That's interesting. I never thought it was a planet because it looks like an egg.
I always assumed it was the head of the Xenomorph seen from the front
I don’t generally care about film trailers but the 1979 trailer for Alien was brilliant.
I also love the ‘egg poster’ it perfectly distills the weirdness and unknown qualities of the Alien creature.
Always a good day when Alien Theory posts a video ❤
Yeah its good to see him back in saddle.
Agreed 💯💯💯💯💯💯
More fun than a bug hunt 😂
I don't worry about the difference between eggs. The trailer for Alien was spin-chillimg, without using one single frame, or audio track from the actual film.
Setting the mood, and putting the audience on edge, way before you'd even bought a ticket.
There have been loads of trailers, where afterwards you can comfortably say "I don't need to worry about watching that film now!" Because it's given away all the plot points, and twists, and you can easily join all the dots yourself. Or you see an upcoming comedy and think that's going to be fun. Only to realise all the best jokes were in the trailer!
Then - imagine being in the cinema to watch a completely different film. Your getting settled, munching into your snacks, thinking about the film your there to see, not the adds and trailers that are running.
Suddenly - the Alien trailer appears. Its enough to make people stop, leaving the audience guessing, and looking at each other, thinking WTF was that....!
Now that's great advertising 😎
That is EXACTLY what happened to me. I am English, and I was at the cinema as a child back in 79 to see various films. I was ten years old and the Alien trailer was attached to stuff like Moon Raker. It was around in 78 as well, the teasers were great, we had no clue as to what they were for. I cant even remember what films I was there to see. I was way too young to see Alien at the time, but we saw the trailers and it scared my brother and I no end. We saw the teaser with one movie, and a while later the full trailer with the hatching egg and clips of the film. I can clearly remember thinking it looked incredible and I wanted to see it straight away, but I knew I was too young. I sat there thinking, one day I will get to see that film.....And I did, years later, which may explain why I collect so much Alien and Aliens stuff, because of the profound impact the trailer and then the films had.
I saw Alien in the cinema when it first came out. The only thing we knew about it was the egg and that no one could hear you scream. It really was frightening seeing the film, and everything was a surprise.
I was too young to see it on the big screen when it came out. But - I watched it with my father and older brother for the first time on the small screen. Still, far too young to officially be watching it - different times and all that....!
Needless to say, it had a lasting effect on my young mind. It finished and then Dad said "OK, time for bed, where's your bed clothes?" It was at that point I realised that my clothes were upstairs, in my room. Dad looked at me and said "well, you going to have to go upstairs and get them!"
Now, for some reason - my folks had this obsession with helping us to get dressed, even though we had both worked out how to do it ourselves 🤷♀️
Anyway; I was tasked with going upstairs - in the dark - on my own! With Alien fresh in my mind. It didn't take me long to retrieve my clothes. I got back to find both my father and brother in fits of laughter - all my "must keep it cool" attitude went out the window.
From this experience came a fascination for this film. I wanted to work out why it had this effect on me, which grew into a fascination for film making and special effects. Does that mean I got the last laugh....?
"Without using a single frame from the film"? Are you sure?
@Desmond Dolan
I'm pretty sure, the initial trailer was just closeups of the egg and the egg cracking at the end.
There was a later one that had a few quick scene shots of the film, without audio.
I'm going to have to go through the extras now to confirm this! Anyway, my point was that it's a big slap around the face to any unsuspecting cinema audience. A true "less is more!" Triumph, designed to make people stop and go WTF....!
I remember the commercials from the movie and how terrifying they sounded with that unearthly shrieking/howling. It was like nothing else at the time, I wish I had been old enough to see it in the theaters at the time.
I remember seeing it on tv as well and being excited about it, thinking that it was going to be something special.
Oh, yes! That commercial. The train whistle sound scared me so bad I don't think I saw the movie until years later. I was 12 in 1979 🎉
I miss Sigourney...She looks good and healthy..Her pretty smile..I miss seeing one of the industries best actresses actually in more stuff. I know Avatar 2 just released but i miss Galaxy Quest,Heartbreakers era Weaver..Not as prolific as Aliens,Gorillas in the Mist era.Its just the lack of good actors being in actual movies about things not involvings Super Hero s and franchise .. Just a well written movie..What a piss poor time in history...
Yes I am still really cross we never got that last new Alien film where they were going to bring back her and Hicks and Newt etc and ignore Alien 3 and its events. But instead we got the dire Prometheus and the truly dreadful Covenant. Which I think did so much damage it will be hard for the new films on the way to step out from. I hope they get it right and do something that is truly from the first two films line of continuity and Universe and leave all the meeting God garbage out of it.....
I get what you're saying but as you've spoken about she's been a part of some pretty massive cinematic works. I just think she's a wonderful actor who seems to really appreciate the work she's been a part of, rather than the typical Marvel checkbook actor who's clearly just in it for the bag and doesn't really feel any connection to the work. She's also a very elegant older woman, the type Hollywood has historically only recognized very rarely, and generally only in regards to "important" films, in which the Science fiction genre she's had such a part in has no place.
Talking of Sigourney, I really loved her in the comedy "Dave", it showed her in a different and sensitive light. I miss her too, one of the greats.
@@alabasterlight Yes very good movie and Kevin Kline I miss so much as well. One of the all time best comedies he was in was a movie called I Love You to Death with Tracy Ullman playing his haggard wife. Either jew or Italian like her Husband who cheats on her to the point he doesn't even hide it. So she hires a couple mongloids high on everything. One of them being Keanu Reeves in his first film. ALso Co starring River Phoenix in the last film he d ever be seen in b4 he OD ..
Jeez this was supposed to be about Sigourney,buuut Soooomeone just had to bring up the Movie Dave, In which I then had a warm memory of the year 1994 and I oozed up and smiled I smelled something sorta well I can't describe it.. Oh my nose is bleeding..So yeah I miss Kevin Kline too and River was on the path to be a legend in that cesspit. That had to be 94 or 95..She followed that with a interesting role in the psychological film Copycat with Holly Hunter. The movie I really enjoyed and one of my favorite films next to Slums of Beverly Hills..It was and ensemble picture.It was a film in 1997 called The Ice Storm. Great movie and featuring like nearly all awesome cast. Like the Rise of Tobey Mcguire began She played the bitter, alcoholic who goes to those Sleazy 70s gatherings that only Boomers can do.. The y went to Swingers gatherings. They went to a tese as a term it c3 called Ah! That's it.. A Key Party.She has this look about her and she acts mainly by her body language,mood and some rowdy Stare Glares she has with her husband. Who is Kevin Kline again I think..She would've exploded his head in the new Scanners with one of these. She takes a drink of like some iced mixed drink and then then death stares her husband with a Glare Stare .Mary McDonnell would play her again but more of a I'm a bit dissatisfied with life..Not a I'm gonna stab my idiot Husband for something from like 15 years ago kind of performance..,This was a movie called Donnie Darko..Yes and I still think she should gotten an Oscar for Aliens, but yeah we know why she didn't. But the year of 2 Oscar nominated movies and lost them both. One which was a extra layup for Meryl Streep.She was nixed for Gorillas in the Mist,then in qreat fashion a supporting role and one of her best in Working Girl..
I think one reason they may have stuck with this egg is that people could identify what is on the poster.
If it was an ovomorph then I think most people would go, "what is that? Is the alien like a fat, stubby worm?"
I think it would be cool if someday this egg was canonized in some way, like with the idea that the first xenomorph ever came from this egg or something.
In 1991 I met Brian Glover in a Fish and Chip shop in Edinburgh.
I told him that I didn't much like Alien 3 and he agreed with me.
Then I told him I loved American Werewolf in London and his face lit up, he pointed his finger at me and said 'Now that were a good movie'.
Good movie. Real bloody.
In 1991?
@@Chef_Alpo Good point. It must have been '92'. I was in Edinburgh twice, I guess it was the second time.
I always wondered about this egg. It made no sense at the time to me.
Cool info on the egg. No matter what that egg is easily identified to the Alien franchise.
Side note, I love Alien 3. Especially the assembly cut. That is pretty close to David Finchers movie he wanted.
James b about as close as fox would let him but fincher has said to get his true directors cut it would have to be refilmed
You are right Jim. Too bad Fincher was handcuffed and the studio screwed it up.
Hello Derek,
This isexactly why i love your videos! (Even tho i seen each movie countless times,watched all "making of's",know all the stories/problems & quirks from sets,but still u manage to make a great 15 min video about Alien that i watch with my mouth open...)!
Keep it up mate,all the best to u
For Alien 3, it sucks that we never got to see Vincent Ward’s full vision of the film. I hate when big movie corporations get in the way of a story writer’s and director’s vision
Well prepare for more disappointment with Disney taking over.
@@Stuart267 Anti Disney I see. I totally get it. Me not so much since Bob Iger took back the reigns over good old Bobby “Cheapek.” I think Romulus will give us a good indication though on where the series is going. I’d like Ridley Scott to just be a consultant and not have so much creative say over the next films.
@@adamzielinski2001 I am hardly anti-Disney I have just seen what they have done with their franchises I paid a ridiculous amount of money for 37 of the MCU movies on 4k steelbook but can still take my fanboy glasses off. I think its a little late for Iger to change things. Look at Star Wars & MCU, Since Endgame the MCU has struggled to break even with every passing instalment, that is because Disney have fell into the habit of lecturing the audience instead of entertaining them Black Widow, Shang Chi & The Eternals were awful films & considering they were supposed to kick off phase 4, yet bombed in box office. be it franchise fatigue or the fact Disney hire hack writers who jam their own agendas into films its not surprising to me. As for Scott I feel he's passed his prime as a film maker Prometheus & Covenant both sucked
@@Stuart267 Give Iger sometime. But Star Wars is better now since Kevin Feige took over and Kathleen Kennedy now longer has much say in Star Wars. Andor was a great series. Yes Marvel is struggling and I’m not sure there’s much hope for phase 5 either. I think X-men 97 and Deadpool 3 have some promise. The rest of Marvel though is looking pretty bad. However I think I’ll give Disney a chance with Alien depending on this Romulus project. Look at Prey and how well that did. I’m cautiously optimistic when it comes to how Disney will handle the Alien Franchise
@@adamzielinski2001 As long as they don't go PG13 with Alien or jam their tired & tested politics into it.
History lessons I didn't know I needed! Thank you!!
I love how you always explain give background and understandable information on our beloved Alien(s).
Either the real xeno egg design wasn't fully fleshed out when the trailer and posters were released, or the creators didn't want to reveal the finished egg design before people saw it in the film.
As always when I have down time , My go to is your channel! Another wonderful video and perfect for a Friday!
That's the egg from the *Alien 3* promo: "In space, no one can hear you scream.. but on Earth, everyone can."
4:56 yup.. I figured as much. It was far too big for either egg used in the *Alien* poster or teaser, and I remember how the camera moves very close along the surface of the *Alien 3* egg to make you think it was a planet or moon.
10:30 the convicts came from David Twohy's script, which did not have Ripley in it. It took the "humans experimenting on Aliens, while using humans as guinea pigs" idea that both Hill and Giler wanted to play around with, as it was introduced in William Gibson's script for the 1st incarnation of *Alien 3* when Hill and Giler wanted a pair of sequels for *Aliens* in that style. At the last minute, Hill and Giler decided they did not want to "follow James Cameron" and wanted to do their own thing, which led to the pre-production nightmare of *Alien 3* and somewhere between $3 to 5 million spent on pre-production scripts, artwork and props.
It was the unused Twohy script that *Pitch Black* and Riddick came from.
Let's not over-egg (ha) that last connection. Twohy merely carried out a rewrite on Pitch Black that mirrored some of his Alien3 ideas. It's very different otherwise.
Gibsons script was more action than Cameron’s and they would have had to build more suits for gibsons second draft didn’t make any of those changes so they asked him do a third and he declined
@@skepticalbadger I’m saying his prison script for *Alien 3* was the impetus to *Pitch Black* being created. Things like the character of Riddick (who is a very Ripleyish sort of character: a stoic orphan who doesn’t take a lot of shit off of anyone) and the basic plot I’m sure were something created later as the idea progressed.
Something many people overlook: Jonsey is the only character from the first movie to not die as a result of the xenomorphs. He likely ended up dying of old age back on the space station, having been left behind when Ripley went with the marines.
Her cat? Man, a cat based alien would have been evil.
@@aquariandawn4750no it wouldn't. If anything it's more humane than a human based alien.
@@CosmicCustodian here is a verifiable fact you can look up online. The common house cat kills a larger variety of animals than any other animal on the planet. Not even for eating them just for killing. Don't get me wrong I'm not some cat hater I love all kinds of animals except for monkeys. Cats are killers and often cats love playing with their prey before they kill it. Surely you've seen this.
As a long-time fan of the franchise (I got to see the original in the theater during it's original release, albeit with an adult guardian present, as I was in my early teens and the film was Rated R), I never tire of your videos on all things related. Thank you so much, and keep up the great work! Your hard work is appreciated.
I watched alien 1, 2 and 3 as a kid but apart from the famous scenes I didn't remember much about them. My girlfriend started playing alien isolation (which is amazing) and decided to watch the movies so in the space of 2 months I have played alien isolation and watched every alien film (including avp) I've been so consdumed by this series and am so happy I've now found this channel
I wish Walter Hill would return to write at least one draft of another Alien. He's a legitimately good filmmaker and his iconic contributions to Alien are underrated.
It’s really interesting hearing the early concept for alien 3’s story. I think alien 3 was still a good movie but perhaps that original story would have been better to go with. Great work as always.
Dang I thought for SURE you were going to somehow - in spite of the date on which this video was released - that the revelatory link back to that original poster was the ALIEN COCOON ASTEROID from ROMULUS and that we weren't seeing the egg at all the whole time but the cryptobiosis cocoon.
Really interesting and fascinating video Derek.
Really interesting all the behind the scenes stuff that took place for this one prop that has a place in our culture alongside other notable things from history.
Nicely done - Thanks for this!
Watching the video, I noted at the 11.48 mark, for the first time, the incorrect use of the word "insure" in the original Mother computer read-out. Surely it should be "ensure"? Strange I never noticed it before.
But another top-notch video.
Saw your notification, got out of bed to watch it.
Thanks mate
Still my fav movie poster of all time.
Your presentation hasn't dulled a bit.
Dose make me wish they did advertisement like this again for films.
When teasers, were teasers and not nearly 3 mins long of the whole movie.
It never gets old hearing one of my favorite youtube voices say my name. Anyway, another fun and insightful video to add to the list, well done! Now please excuse me as I go rewatch one of your old narrations of the Earth War. That series is my emotional support narration.
I love your RUclips channel, Great stuff, Cheers from Australia 😊
Ironically, the writers currently striking should mostly be paid less for the quality of work they've been putting out.
I appreciate these snippets of uncovered history, thanks, man!
I remember being confused and angry that the egg in the film did not match the one in that trailer - 9-year-old me wanted an explanation as to how an alien creature could come out of a chicken egg! Sadly, the world had to wait until "Carnosaur" to see this happen.
Ridley Scott (or his casting director) seems to have a knack of both casting actors on the cusp of them going mainstream, and catching long neglected actors fading into obscurity.
As a kid around the time of Alien's release, some movie posters really scared me. The classic Alien egg poster of course, along with "It's Alive" and "The Howling".
I remember hearing about this story. As problematic as Alien 3 might be, this egg still has its place in film history. At least it has been preserved, unlike what Universal did with Quint's Orca from Jaws.
Love your content!!!! ❤
WELCOME BACK MASTER !! Your videos are like therapy for me !!!! Keep up good work . You are our number 1 guide thorugh ALIEN UNIVERSE !!
For just a tiny half of a split second, I thought "Giant Egg" was the aliens version of the popular "X franchise's iceberg" phrase that's going around.
The shell of the egg also looks a bit like the surface of some desolate planet… it worked well for the trailer.
great Video as always buddy, just when im jonesing for some news from my all time favourite universe you sort it out :) thanks again
One of the biggest things I have noticed these days about Hollywood is how the story is considered secondary to the action and special effects when in reality the story is everything. Without a good story the rest is irrelevant. Its one of the main reasons I seldom to to the movies anymore.
One of the reasons I'm excited for Noah Hawley's upcoming Alien series is the fact that he's one of the rare creators/writers/showrunners who prioritizes the story first and foremost over the other aspects that most executives care about. His work on Fargo and Legion (in addition to the books he's written), both of which are outstanding and better than most modern films, is clear proof of that. He's one of the only people currently working within the Hollywood system who has my complete and utter confidence in regards to whatever project he works on.
If they’d tried it with the egg today, Reddit would have clocked it right away. I might have clocked it myself because Alien 3 (Assembly Cut) is my second favorite Alien film.
The assembly cut is good but it kinda pisses me off not finchers fault it pisses me off because it shows that if they’d just trusted fincher it could have been 100 percent on par with the first 2 films
You should ask the powers that be to make an chocolate egg version to sell in shops at easter, with a toy face hugger inside. Have the cardboard box packaging open with 4 petals.
Heheeheh that would go over so well with the Kiddos.....Its Easter kids, and so enjoy your nightmares as you tuck into a chocolate Alien parasite! Hey parents! This Easter why not get your kids a chocolate themed Egg from a movie they are not legally allowed to see until they are 18!!!! Its a great idea though, but sadly it cant or wont happen because of those reasons. My local Marks and Spencers here in the Uk is still trying to sell off Harry Potter Hedwig themed eggs and Golden Snitches etc and its long past Easter now. I wonder what happens to all the ones that never sell? Do they go back to factory? Are they melted down and recycled? Or does someone in the store just take them off the shelves after the sell by date and eat them themselves? The greedy lot...heh......
6:40 “disbelieved or dismissed…usually by men” ugh….Aliens does such an amazing job at adding women to every single group of people that Ripley encounters who all treat her the same way. It’s not about the gender - it’s about how those particular groups function. The greed of the corporates who don’t believe her and need their plans to succeed, the bravado of the marines, etc. Ripley is such an awesome feminist icon, but it’s precisely because she is not narrowed down to a “female character” which is typically what the feminist reading of the movie does to a T. Rob Ager’s video on why Aliens is the best feminist movie is fantastic and it truly shows why the majority of feminists have no idea what they’re talking about when it comes to their interpretations.
Alien in 1979 and Aliens in 1986 and Alien 3 in 1992 is My Favorites Ones in The series ❤️
nah,sigourney didnt play ripley in 4 movies,i assure you,there are only 2 alien movies
Thank you for this one! Glad that you filled in a lot of blanks here...
And I wonder if the U.S. Open or Wimbledon will ever make a parody of this ad (that grill at the bottom looks like the catgut of a tennis racket, and the ball speaks for itself)...
In an Ace, no one can hear you scream?
Another awesome video, Derek! Thanks, keep it up!
very interesting trivia and behind the scenes info.
The Egg is an amalgam of symbolism related to the franchise; even the texture of the egg evokes the landscape of the planetoid where the Xenomorphs were found (in the first movie).
1979’s Alien had a BRILLIANT ad campaign for the time. It was intriguing and made you want to see the film. I remember the trailer for Alien 3 because I saw it during the opening weekend of Terminator 2: Judgement Day. This egg absolutely looks like the egg featured in that trailer. We were SO excited because it seemed that the third film would take place on Earth. The possibilities were endless. Imagine our disappointment when that didn’t happen. I personally did not like Alien 3 but my position softened after seeing The Assembly Cut. Still not a good film in my opinion and when you hear the stories about its torturous production you see why.
I was about 6 when this movie came out, so didn’t see it until I was an adult(saw Aliens first when I was a teen). Didn’t see the trailer either. Just this image and because of the font and an undiagnosed weak eye, I thought for YEARS, the poster said Allen. Had no idea what this movie was about, but I thought it must be something paranormal or demonic like Poltergeist.
I still remember the first teaser on TV, it was quick but in that short time, did everything to entice you, alarm and scare you! Especially when it was shown on late night TV! Back in the day!
I’m glad you made this video because I was thinking about the 🥚 and the movie poster shows it cracking at the bottom. But we know it open up at the top.
Excellent Video, keep up the good work!
When I was a kid I always thought the egg was like our imagination trying to contemplate the aliens origin without actually seeing its birth
Never really thought about the differences.
Great vid! Love the research presented. More, please. :)
I was scared of the original tv commercial as a kid, and that OG poster in a theater lobby. I guess I was 7 or 8, but I knew I was not ready. But definitely watched it before Aliens came out, and IT’S STILL SCARY!!!!
That explains why that prop looks like a combo of an egg and the Moon.
I think one of the reasons Alien 3 was a mess was because of them trying to shoehorn the Ripley character into it. It meant killing off her and the other survivors, took away their "happy" ending in such a cold and empty manner.....not to mention the BS of the egg being on the ship and the complete destruction of the Sulaco.
Thank god for Alien Theory !
I am only part way through the video... Just got to the egg being presented to the Smithsonian and there was something I noticed that wasn't quite right... The Crack is too high up!
The Egg form the Original Movie cracked lower... While to me its not a big controversy, I can understand the Smithsonian being a little pissed as Fox said it was the OG
5:40 Insert sad Alien face with text: "Im not ugly...."
I really would love to have seen that original Vincent Ward version of Alien 3
Same
I never wondered too much why the egg was different in advertisement from the eggs in the actual movie before this video.
The original looks like a real egg, so I thought that was gonna be the controversy, that people were mad that they used a real egg decades go. 😅
"Ripley is dismissed my men." Um no, Ripley is dismissed by everyone including the woman that was on the investigation board at the beginning of Aliens. Infact SGT and Hicks (men) are the two that do believe her story that they are potentially up against a formidable enemy. They are also both NCO's which is probably why their characters are more likely error on the side of caution.
I think it's awesome that this egg was preserved and on display, considering it was from a trailer for a scrapped version of an unpopular movie, it's a miracle it wasn't thrown in the dumpster.
I'm insulted that nobody calls Alien³ by it's real name... Alien CUBE! (high pitched violin shriek)
There are many happy accidents in Hollywood, and Alien³ is one of them. Its much better than Aliens and Alien Resurrection, thats for sure.
Minority opinion of course, but I stick to it. Sigourney had good intuition.
You arn’t alone in your opinion.
if these film and tv shows are in the same vein as the recent books they are going to be insufferable
The original poster at 0:35--can anyone explain what is the horizontal trellis-like structure at the bottom of the poster? Have always wondered.
In space no one can hear you making an omelette.
My god sir, this was a very engaging watch. Thank you for the time and effort to give this to us. xo
Great work as always.
Fantastic video many thanks 😊
I actually still enjoy ^3 and Resurrection. Each had amazing casts and some truly fantastic moments.
Fincher didn't kill ^3; that was studio eff-around.
Res was basically a test run for "Firefly", but still provided some good stuff.
Hey A.T. I definitely caught what you said at the end there about supporting the Writer's Guild and I couldn't agree more. They are the unsung heroes of Hollywood and deserve just as much recognition, credit, and financial affirmation as the directors. Thank you for standing with them!
I thought you were talking to me at first lol
very well written and spoken video by you man.
It's fun seeing alien references in the least expected places like manga
Sigourney Weaver/Ripley will always be the most bad ass female who ever lived in my book.
Late night Alien Theory!
Fantastic video!!
Sounds like the music bed for this video is William Basinski's "Silent Night."
I think you should cover the article I just read about a finished 10 episode alien vs predator anime that Disney shelved. One of the producers said it was completed and they didn't know why Disney decided not to release it
I remember covering it a long while ago when it was just a rumor, but now that it’s been confirmed as 100% true it might be worth revisiting.
You support the writers? The haven't exactly been putting out much in the way of quality over the past several years.
Oof.
🤣
You ain't lying
It's shocking to me that anyone thought that this prop was from the original Alien as it looks nothing like the versions in the film OR the trailer. When I first saw it I immediately thought of the Alien 3 teaser as it always bugged me that, like the Alien trailer, the egg is an incorrect version of the ones in the films. I may be a nerd for this stuff but you would think the production people involved with these films would have more insight and memory than an invested fan.
Given how shitty the writing in Hollywood has been this last decade or so, I support neither side of the strike.
Ripley did not tell Dallas she would get him to the “shuttle“; she said “I’ll get you up to the autodoc”
the Smithsonian screens films for us locals in the IMAX theater and one time we got to see Alien inI MAX format. At that showing they showed photos of the egg in the collection. I'm looking forward to seeing it soon.
Having the egg hatch in the Smithsonian would've been a better movie than Alien Resurrection