Alien 1979 Director's Cut: What's Different and Where to Watch It
Alien 1979 Director's Cut: What's Different and Where to Watch It
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon. It follows the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who encounter the eponymous Alien, a deadly and aggressive extraterrestrial set loose on the ship[^3^]. The film is widely regarded as one of the best movies of all time, and spawned a successful franchise of sequels, prequels, spin-offs, comics, games, and merchandise.
Alien 1979 Directors Cut 720p Or 1080p
In 2003, Ridley Scott released a director's cut of Alien as part of a DVD box set of the franchise. The director's cut is about a minute shorter than the theatrical version, but it adds some new scenes and removes some others. The changes are mostly subtle, but they affect the pacing, atmosphere, and character development of the film[^1^]. Here are some of the main differences between the theatrical and director's cut of Alien:
The opening sequence is slightly shorter in the director's cut, cutting out some shots of the Nostromo in space and inside the ship.
The scene where Dallas (Tom Skerritt) contacts Mother (the ship's computer) for the first time is extended in the director's cut, showing more details of the ship's systems and Dallas' frustration with Mother.
The scene where Kane (John Hurt) explores the alien derelict is also extended in the director's cut, adding more shots of the mysterious spacecraft and its eerie interior.
The most significant addition in the director's cut is the scene where Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) discovers Dallas and Brett (Harry Dean Stanton) cocooned by the Alien in the ship's lower levels. Dallas begs Ripley to kill him, and she obliges by using a flamethrower. This scene explains what happened to Dallas and Brett after they were taken by the Alien, and also foreshadows the Alien's ability to create eggs from its victims, which is explored further in Aliens (1986).
The most significant deletion in the director's cut is the scene where Lambert (Veronica Cartwright) slaps Ripley after finding out that she refused to let them back on board with Kane. This scene shows Lambert's emotional breakdown and Ripley's cold rationality, but it also slows down the action and creates a conflict between the characters that is not resolved.
The final confrontation between Ripley and the Alien is slightly different in the director's cut. In the theatrical version, Ripley puts on a spacesuit and opens the airlock, causing the Alien to be sucked out into space. In the director's cut, Ripley puts on a spacesuit and straps herself to a chair, then activates the self-destruct sequence of the ship. The Alien emerges from a hiding place and attacks Ripley, but she manages to open the airlock and blast it with a harpoon gun. The Alien is still attached to the ship by a cable, so Ripley cuts it with a hatchet.
Both versions of Alien are widely available on various streaming platforms and physical media. The director's cut can be found on Blu-ray, DVD, iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies & TV, YouTube Movies[^3^], and Archive.org[^2^]. The theatrical version can be found on Hulu, HBO Max[^1^], iTunes[^3^], Amazon Prime Video[^3^], Google Play Movies & TV[^3^], YouTube Movies[^3^], and Archive.org[^2^]. Both versions are rated R for sci-fi violence/gore and language.
Whether you prefer the theatrical or director's cut of Alien , you can't go wrong with either one. They are both masterpieces of sci-fi/horror cinema that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just don't watch them alone in the dark. e0e6b7cb5c