David Giler

David Giler (July 23, 1943 – December 19, 2020) was an American filmmaker who has been active in the motion picture industry since the early 1960s. He started his career as a writer, providing scripts for television programs such as Kraft Suspense Theatre and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. He then moved to screenplays in the 70's, helping to write films such as The Parallax View and the original version of Fun With Dick and Jane. He produced his first film in 1970, the critically reviled Myra Breckinridge, an adaptation of Gore Vidal's controversial novel (he also co-wrote the film with director Michael Sarne). He helped Walter Hill produce the legendary horror thriller Alien in 1979, and it is for this film that he is probably best remembered. He and Hill became embroiled in a much-publicized behind-the-scenes fight with Alien's original writer, Dan O'Bannon, over who was to receive screenplay credit. Giler and Hill claim that they completely rewrote the script from top to bottom, and therefore they wanted to relegate O'Bannon to a "story by" credit only. O'Bannon claims that they did little more than change the names of the characters and dialogue, and felt that the two were trying to bully him out of the more prestigious screenplay credit. As evidenced by the interviews on the supplemental DVD features, the two parties were extremely antagonistic when it comes to this topic (O'Bannon has since died), though O'Bannon was the only one to receive credit for the screenplay in ...

The Beast Within: Making Alien (2003)

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Alien,” the terrifying classic about a spaceship crew trapped with a hideous monster that's hunting them one by one.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles de Lauzirika
CAST:  Ridley Scott  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Tom Skerritt  •  John Hurt

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Alien,” the terrifying classic about a spaceship crew trapped with a hideous monster that's hunting them one by one.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles de Lauzirika
CAST:  Ridley Scott  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Tom Skerritt  •  John Hurt

One Step Beyond: Making 'Alien: Resurrection' (2003)

The making of Alien Resurrection (1997) is covered in this feature-length documentary, created for the film's 2003 DVD release. The cast and crew tell us how this movie came to be, from it's script which never changed through production, to its initial theatrical ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles de Lauzirika
CAST:  Jean-Pierre Jeunet  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Winona Ryder  •  Ron Perlman

The making of Alien Resurrection (1997) is covered in this feature-length documentary, created for the film's 2003 DVD release. The cast and crew tell us how this movie came to be, from it's script which never changed through production, to its initial theatrical ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles de Lauzirika
CAST:  Jean-Pierre Jeunet  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Winona Ryder  •  Ron Perlman

Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens' (2003)

This feature-length documentary, made especially for the 2003 Aliens (1986) DVD release, is incredibly informative with all its interviews with both the cast and crew, as well as behind the scenes footage filmed during the making of the film. Every possible element ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles de Lauzirika
CAST:  James Cameron  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Bill Paxton  •  Michael Biehn

This feature-length documentary, made especially for the 2003 Aliens (1986) DVD release, is incredibly informative with all its interviews with both the cast and crew, as well as behind the scenes footage filmed during the making of the film. Every possible element ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles de Lauzirika
CAST:  James Cameron  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Bill Paxton  •  Michael Biehn

Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³' (2003)

The creation of the film Alien³ (1992) is covered here in this feature-length documentary in exhaustive detail. Many interviews with the cast and crew give us an idea of how hard of a time David Fincher had creating his first feature film, as well as present us ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles de Lauzirika
CAST:  David Fincher  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Gordon Carroll  •  Charles Dance

The creation of the film Alien³ (1992) is covered here in this feature-length documentary in exhaustive detail. Many interviews with the cast and crew give us an idea of how hard of a time David Fincher had creating his first feature film, as well as present us ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Charles de Lauzirika
CAST:  David Fincher  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Gordon Carroll  •  Charles Dance

The Black Bird (1975)

The son of famous detective Sam Spade carries on the family tradition of getting involved with the Maltese Falcon - and with the people who will stop at nothing, including murder, to get it.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Giler
CAST:  George Segal  •  Stéphane Audran  •  Lionel Stander  •  Lee Patrick

The son of famous detective Sam Spade carries on the family tradition of getting involved with the Maltese Falcon - and with the people who will stop at nothing, including murder, to get it.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Giler
CAST:  George Segal  •  Stéphane Audran  •  Lionel Stander  •  Lee Patrick