Memory: The Origins of Alien

Jan 24, 2019

1h 35m

★ 6.3

Before Alien, there was Starbeast. Before Starbeast, there was… Memory.

Overview

The untold origin story behind Ridley Scott's Alien - rooted in Greek and Egyptian mythologies, underground comics, the art of Francis Bacon, and the dark visions of Dan O'Bannon and H.R. Giger. A contemplation on the symbiotic collaborative process of movie-making, the power of myth, and our collective unconscious.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

Screen Media Films

Legion M

Dogwoof

Memory: The Origins of Alien Trailers

Cast

Self

Ronald Shusett

Self

Roger Christian

Self

Ivor Powell

Self

Terry Rawlings

Self

Tom Skerritt

Self

Veronica Cartwright

Self

Roger Corman

Self

Gary Sherman

Self

Carmen Scheifele-Giger

Self

Clarke Wolfe

Self

Diane O'Bannon

Self

Adam Egypt Mortimer

Martin Scorsese’s electrifying concert documentary captures The Rolling Stones live at New York’s Beacon Theatre during their A Bigger Bang tour. Filmed over two nights in 2006 with an all-star team of cinematographers, the film combines dynamic performances with archival footage and rare glimpses behind the scenes, offering a vibrant portrait of the band’s enduring energy and legacy.

6.7

Counter Shot: Departure of the Filmmakers

Feb 14, 2008

Documentary about filmmakers of the New German Cinema who were members of the legendary Filmverlag für Autoren (Film Publishing House for Authors). Among them are Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and Wim Wenders.

0.0

Odyssey

Oct 6, 2023

Six California kids test their brains and talents against students in Odyssey of the Mind, a problem-solving competition requiring mechanical, creative and intellectual skills. With little money and zero adult participation, the teens build a robot to tell a story about bullying, exclusion and mental health. But how does their solution measure up?

0.0

Signs of Vigorous Life: The New German Cinema

Dec 2, 1976

BBC documentary about the rise of the New German Cinema and several of its most important figures.

6.3

The China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun

Dec 30, 1987

Documentary about the making of director Steven Spielberg's film Empire of the Sun

7.8

Disclosure

Jun 19, 2020

An investigation of how Hollywood's fabled stories have deeply influenced how Americans feel about transgender people, and how transgender people have been taught to feel about themselves.

No Image Available

0.0

Omnibus: François Truffaut

Dec 2, 1973

No overview available.

8.5

Thelma & Louise: Born to Live

Apr 5, 2025

The story was born from the pen of debutante Callie Khouri: Thelma, married to a macho man, and Louise, an independent waitress, go on a girls' getaway that turns into a runaway when the latter, during a stopover in a bar, shoots a man who was trying to rape her friend. But at the dawn of the 1990s, screens were dominated by testosterone-fueled opuses, and Hollywood studios were reluctant to entrust the steering wheel to a female duo. Seduced by the script, forwarded by his associate Mimi Polk, Ridley Scott agreed to produce the film and decided, against all odds, to direct it himself. Under the British director's watch, the two accidental outlaws, fabulously portrayed by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, flee across the vastness of the Far West on an emancipatory epic that sees them defy male oppression and reveal themselves to themselves.

No Image Available

6.1

Citizens of Cosmopolis

Sep 25, 2012

An in-depth documentary about the making of David Cronenberg's feature film, Cosmopolis (2012), an adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel of the same name.

9.0

Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn

Oct 17, 2007

The story of Tasmanian-born actor Errol Flynn whose short & flamboyant life, full of scandals, adventures, loves and excess was largely played out in front of the camera - either making movies or filling the newsreels and gossip magazines. Tragically he was dead from the effects of drugs and alcohol by the time he was only 50 & the myths live on. But there is another side of Flynn that is less well known - his ambitions to be a serious writer and newspaper correspondent, his documentary films and his interest in the Spanish Civil War and Castro's Cuba

7.5

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio: Handcarved Cinema

Dec 9, 2022

With mesmerizing footage and time lapses of animators at work, this behind-the-scenes special captures the artistry of a unique tale years in the making.

4.8

Hollywood Rated 'R'

Jun 19, 1997

A roller-coaster ride through the history of American exploitation films, ranging from Roger Corman's sci-fi and horror monster movies, 1960s beach movies, H.G. Lewis' gore-fests, William Castle's schlocky theatrical gimmicks, to 1970s blaxploitation, pre-"Deep Throat" sex tease films, Russ Meyer's bosom-heavy masterpieces, etc, etc. Over 25 interviews of the greatest purveyors of weird films of all kind from 1940 to 1975. Illustrated with dozens of films clips, trailers, extra footage, etc. This documentary as a shorter companion piece focusing on exploitation king David F. Friedman.

5.7

A Brony Tale

Jul 8, 2014

Vancouver-based voice artist Ashleigh Ball has been the voice of numerous characters in classic cartoons such as Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, Cinderella and more. When Ashleigh was hired to voice Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash for Hasbro's fourth series to use the My Little Pony name - My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - she had no idea she would become an Internet phenomenon and major celebrity to a worldwide fan-base of grownups. Bronies are united by their belief in the show's philosophy. This documentary gives an inside view of the Pony fan-world, and an intimate look at the courage it takes to just be yourself...even when that means liking a little girls' cartoon.

6.8

Jackass Forever

Feb 1, 2022

The Jackass crew, along with some newcomers, returns for one final round of hilarious, absurd, and dangerous stunts.

8.7

The Making of Fallout: New Vegas

Oct 19, 2010

This 8-part documentary includes behind the scenes interviews, concept art, and promotional trailers for the game.

4.0

Mia and Roman

Jul 9, 1968

Mia and Roman is a 1968 23-minute documentary film which was shot during the making of Rosemary's Baby.

6.0

Robin Hood: The Myth, the Man, the Movie

Jun 13, 1991

U.S. network TV special surveying the history of Robin Hood in popular culture, emphasizing the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves". Interviews with principal cast and crew from that film highlight the special. Pierce Brosnan hosts.

6.0

UV Protection: The Making of 'Ultraviolet'

Jun 27, 2006

A short documentary about the making of Ultraviolet. It delves into castings, directing, visual effects and such.

0.0

To Paint With Pictures

Jan 1, 2005

Documentary about the making of Swedish film director Jan Troell's "The New Land" (1971) and "The Emigrants" (1972).

6.2

VHS Revolution

Aug 28, 2017

Using testimonies by pioneers and witnesses of the times, delve into the feverish visual culture the media generated – with far-fetched examples of canine television games, seduction manuals, aerobics class while holding a baby, among others.