Rent Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019)
3.3 of 5 from 165 ratings
1h 35min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Memory reveals the chilling, untold origins of Ridley Scott's cinematic masterpiece Alien, rooted in Greek and Egyptian mythologies, underground comics, parasitology, H.P. Lovecraft's weird fiction, the art of Francis Bacon, and the symbiotic genius of Dan O'Bannon (writer), H.R. Giger (designer), and, of course, Ridley Scott. Discover a treasure trove of unreleased materials from the O'Bannon and Giger estates, including original story notes, rejected designs and storyboards, sketches and concept art, behind-the-scenes photographs and footage, and Dan O'Bannon's never-before-seen, original 29-page script from 1971, titled Memory. A fitting and long-overdue tribute to the man who started it all, Memory boldly goes where no film essay has gone before, to deliver an entrancingly cinematic and wholly original take on one of Hollywood's most beloved and iconic shockers. - Actors:
- Bijan Aalam, Tim Boxell, Axelle Carolyn, Veronica Cartwright, Roger Christian, Roger Corman, Mickey Faerch, Henry Jenkins, William Linn, Ben Mankiewicz, Adam Egypt Mortimer, Shannon Muchow, Diane O'Bannon, Rhoda Pell, Ivor Powell, Terry Rawlings, Linda Rich, Carmen Scheifele-Giger, Gary Sherman, Ronald Shusett
- Directors:
- Alexandre O. Philippe
- Studio:
- Dogwoof
- Genres:
- Documentary, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Reviews (2) of Memory: The Origins of Alien
Like "ALIEN"? You Should Like This. - Memory: The Origins of Alien review by BG
Is really 40 years since that puppet popped out of John Hurt's chest? Here's a documentary about one of the biggest and most successful Science Fiction films ever made. I remember reading reviews when it first came out, some which said as a thriller it works, but doesn't do much for the mind. This film attempts to explain how ALIEN was a lot deeper than some people thought, and covers many aspects that reflected the times in the late seventies and still resonate today. Some of the original cast are interviewed, and a lot of time is spent on that famous chest-buster scene, one of the most famous in cinema history along with a certain shower sequence in a Hitchcock film. Some ground has been covered in the extensive DVD extras already, but to celebrate the 40 years of the film, its still good to check this documentary out, which might make you feel wanting more, and deepen your appreciation of a true classic.
5 out of 5 members found this review helpful.
Solid but unnecessary - Memory: The Origins of Alien review by AER
This documentary felt like an exercise in restoring Dan O'Bannon's ownership of the Alien myth. We get the most new material about his input and background. Elsewhere there the film takes in Francis Bacon, Ridley Scott, HR Giger but they all deserve a film of their own such is the wealth of material that could have been included. The film has the feel of the Alien Quarilogy extras and as such isn't very cinematic in its own right. It leans heavily into our existing knowledge and doesn't work as a stand-alone film. One for completists, although I'm not sure if there is any material that is unique to this particular film.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.