If Ridley Scott made Alien, it’s thanks to Star Wars! But what happened?
At that time, Scott released his first feature film, The Duelists, a period film set in the 19th century. The film was a flop, but critics embraced it and it unanimously won the prize for best first feature at the Cannes Film Festival.
From the Middle Ages… to Science Fiction!
Based on the success of this profession, the young director remains in the same mindset for his next project: an adaptation of the myth of Tristan and Isolde. The script is ready and preparations for filming can begin when someone comes to his office at Scott Free Productions to recommend that he see the movie of the moment: “Star Wars.”
Scott does this and realizes the magnitude of the phenomenon:
I’ve never seen anything like it, a sense of mass excitement, before or since. It was palpable.
Ridley Scott is mesmerized by the seance and special effects of a George Lucas film. Then he declares (Mit Wired):
“Why the hell am I doing Tristan and Isolde?”
I was amazed. Star Wars completely blew my mind. So much so that when I left the cinema I said to myself: “What the hell am I doing with Tristan and Isolde?!” Things are changing! It’s time to get down to business!’
With this revelation that science fiction will offer so much emotion to the audience, Scott receives a request from the studio, Twentieth Century Fox, the distributor of Star Wars:
“Within six weeks, they offered me Alien. I was the studio’s fifth choice.”
As usual, Scott draws on the storyboards from the existing script, meeting with Fox executives who are blown away by his visual suggestions. The planned budget is doubled and work on the film begins.
This time the audience is afraid
Sigourney Weaver in “Alien”
Of course, Alien and Star Wars have nothing in common except their genre and setting. The first “in a galaxy far, far away” as a story once upon a time, the second a space in which “no one can hear you scream”. The sequel is famous: Alien, the eighth passenger is a huge success, which caused another stir in the theaters than before Star Wars, because this time the audience is afraid.
Despite this success and the later success of Blade Runner, Ridley Scott returned to making films set in the medieval era, returning to his first love and no less: Kingdom of Heaven with Orlando Bloom, Robin Hood with Russell Crowe and most recently The Last Duel. With Matt Damon and Jodie Comer.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
