I stumbled upon this completely by accident and I'm very glad I did! Always loved the Alien score but had no idea about the two different versions. Now I can bore my friends with this arcane knowledge. Awesome video.
I had the great honor of meeting Jerry Goldsmith at his home back in 1979. A very kind fellow. I was starstruck and mumbled something about how I was a big fan.
I love the score when they find the space jockey. Others would have probably put some epic music there but the score in the movie makes it haunting, surprising and refreshing, even after 44 years.
Excellent! So when I saw the film when it released and bought the LP soundtrack and took it home to listen to it. I thought I was listening to the music from the film, but really I wasn’t. I didn’t find that out until years later. Crazy. Have had the Intrada / original versions on my phone for years. Tbh it’s all great music. Your video was also great. 👏👏👏
Thankfully, it's on the Alien Blu-ray as an alternate audio track. Funny how what they used for Ash's reveal in the final film was actually intended for Brett looking for Jones the cat.
I bought this soundtrack in 1979 prior to seeing the movie , it was the best thing I ever heard (especially the End title) and it still is my favourite score ! .......as with 'Legend' , Jerry will never win the argument !
OK. I am too curious now. Why would you buy a movie soundtrack back in the late 70's before you could hear samples of it on the Internet like we do now?
@@coltseavers6298Back then film soundtrack LP's and cassettes often were released a few weeks before the film. At least this was the case here in Ireland (and I assume Britain). Major films were first released in one region and then (once publicity and film prints were prepared) in other regions. There could be several months between the various release dates.
Howard Hansens Symphony No.2 is simply sublime and so very uplifting.Such a great finale to express relief that the Alien is finally gone and Ripley has survived.Gerry Goldsmiths music throughout the movie is so atmospheric and pivotal as well.Such an amazing score.
I always felt the music to this movie was the reason you felt such foreboding as it plods on. the droning and screeching of the strings added with the echoplex really draw out the dread in the sounds. Interestingly the Trailer has completely different music (if you can call it that)! by far the scariest trailer for a movie in the 1970s! Great work tho. this was really interesting to watch
My friend, oh my gosh... I must tell you, this video you’ve made is one of THE MOST engrossing things I’ve ever caught on UA-cam. I enjoyed it more than I can put in words, but I feel compelled to try! I use UA-cam mostly when I’m at work, with earbuds, for something to listen to while I carry out my task. I’ve done this for many years and RARELY do I ever find something that makes me say, “Wait. I have to save this for later so I can watch it as well.” Your video did that; I had to focus on it completely! I’ve been a Goldsmith fan for 34 years, and Alien has always been one of my top favorite scores (Planet of the Apes being #1, actually the sound track that was my introduction to his music.) From the vinyl, I feel I know the music as I am familiar with the Happy Birthday song. But you... YOU brought a level of details I’ve never heard before! For example, I had always wanted to know what the instruments were that Goldsmith used for the many alien sounds. Wow! Now I know, thanks to you. The brilliance of that man has always blown my mind, but you took my appreciation to the next level. In some parts of your video, hearing the music with the education you gave, listening to the music with the visuals, I felt near to tears. A few times I felt my scalp tingling!!! How crazy is that?!? I simply must thank you for this video. You gave me more reason to cherish the man who brought me so many years of joy with his impossibly glorious music!
There was a disco version of the Alien theme?? :) Wish I had been alive back in those days. I always loved the suble score for Alien. As far removed from the overly bombastic (and generic) Zimmer scores as possible and perfectly fine on its own even for those who never have seen the movie itself. This was a very thorough analysis. Rare these days. Kudos to you.
I owned that Meco "Star Wars" album when I was a little kid..it came out a year or so after the movie (yeah, I'm that old, lol) but I don't ever remember the Alien one... I had the Star Wars Christmas album too, that was a riot (I had that "Wookiee" song on a freakin' 45 single (!)
Can't lie, I prefer the reviewed 'eerie' opening theme in the context of the film's intended delivery. Atmospherically it is superior in portraying the emptiness of space and the echo-ey void of 'out there', making the background feel much emptier. The discordant clashing of the strings and the arco through the echoplex land perfectly the atmosphere. Musically, however, the original theme was unique and oh-so-memorable, and, thankfully, themes from Goldsmith's original occur throughout the brighter scenes of the film. Both Ridley and Jerry had differing visions for this movie's atmospheres at times, and, in my opinion, although the 'Freud' themes that play during the 'Acid Blood' scene and when Dallas navigates the tunnels before his demise is disappointing in terms of lack of originality, Goldsmith's sounds, even with his negative view on the 'borrowing' of music, sounds great in the cut. Ridley may have been out of line, but the final cut is FLAWLESS.
I don't know, i like replaces in their entirety. Acid spit was more urgent, yes, but replacement also lets us feel ourselves in crew members shoes, starting slowly as realization comes that this stuff eats trough steel floor, being more... strange (i don't know how to decribe this) giving impression of perplexity of people who don't know what is happening and only told to follow the captain, and being more constant portraying not people's rush to lower decks, but constant movement of acid trough surfaces. Or vent theme - it fits just brilliantly! The strings seem to be calm, selling fake safety of vents, but also showing claustrophobia, lonliness, and knowledge of what waits ahead Yes, Goldsmith's tracks are much more interconnected and vivid, but replacements work just better. Scott knew how to do his job back in the days. I hope he remembers once it again for Blade Runner and Alien: Covenant
As a Jerry Goldsmith fanatic I needed this. THANK YOU! I have a personal intrest in this movie and recently did a fan-edit with unused footage and the full score. It's definitely a completely different beast.
It's hard to second guess the director and film editor's scoring choices, but Jerry Goldsmith's music is also magical and mysterious. I'm glad there's comparisons out here like this video to make us aware of these choices and their effects on the final cut.
Between the original score and the Rawlings choices that ended up in the final film, I can't decide. Goldsmith, imo, was a genius, so to me, any score of his is creative, innovative, richly textured with every imaginable emotion. It's modern classical music, always a thrill to hear. I love it all. You shared some amazing info about different instruments he implemented... The didgeridoo???!!! That is awesome! Wonderful video!
Funny, this is my favorite movie of all time, and my favorite scene in the movie is Dallas in the vent. One of the main reasons for this is the score during this scene. I’m so happy they didn’t use the original score, maybe it’s technically consistent with theme or whatever, but from an uneducated viewer’s POV, someone who has loved this from a young age, the Freud score during this scene (and pretty much everywhere else they used it) is SUCH the right move.
Ultimately it's the director's decision on how the movie will look and sound and it's hard to argue that the end result was lacking. "Alien" will go down as one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time regardless of the drama behind the scenes. Jerry and Ridley are both geniuses.
I prefer the change in the acid floor sequence to the original. The small hint of mystery and wonder helped bring the whole movie together. It's flirting with familiarized style to represent the audience and the cast exploring something that has never been seen before. Without giving that contrast the whole movie would be so dark that every encounter with the alien would feel the same. I love how sometimes early on you get the feeling they are gonna make a big discovery or figure out what the alien actually is. No one has died yet! Why not sprinkle some curiosity and splendor into the soundtrack in key encounters!
Wow, half an hour just flew by. This was incredibly fascinating. I never knew Goldsmith's original version of the score would have actually worked much better in some cases.
Wow..!!! THANK YOU, for this. I've just listened to all the parties involved in this matter..but, your video really helped me understand it even more. and man...how could they do that to such an established, Oscar-winning professional, who..judging from his actual intended score for the movie..actually delivering the REAL goods..and would definitely elevated the film. To me, while like you said, what is used in the final film worked..it never really stayed with me. It didn't sound distinguished enough for me..and I've seen the film quite a number of times. and while I agree that Ridley and the editor were right to NOT use the score and opt for no music on some scenes (shown in this vid)..the rest..I think Jerry's original Alien score would've worked PERFECTLY for the film. Plus..NOT consulting him was just SO F-ing unprofessional on the part of both Ridley and that editor of his. I mean...so F-ing disrespectful, man. Sure..the director would get the final say over the composer, but, c'mon..show some professional courtesy..especially to someone of Goldsmith's stature, at the point in time. I just don't see anyone doing that to John Williams..especially newbies, like Ridley and the editor, around this time of their respective careers. If most of his Alien score was used I would definitely have noticed it more..and even considered it one of the best ones of the 70's cinema. Thanks again for this. 🙏🏽
I always wondered about the two divergent versions I had been hearing and what the story was behind them - thank you for this analysis of what happened for this iconic movie and score...
Thanks so much for this video I love Alien we were first to see it in 1979 after work in Hollywood I will never forgot that day the line was going around the corner.
What is equally amazing to me, aside from how great a score Goldsmith created, was that he hated the dynamic of the crew. The major part of his inspiration to write film music, according to his own words, is derived from the characters, and their emotional attachment to each other, or to someone...anyone. "Alien" had none of this. These were hired hands, forced to co-exist in deep space, who were underpaid, overworked, and unloved. Still, Goldsmith pulls a great score out of his proverbial arse, with a depth of haunting mystery, trepidation, and horror, that only the masters of his craft can achieve. I loved the choice of ending with Hansen's 'Romantic.' It offered a much-needed release from all the tension that Ridley Scott inflicted on his audience.
This is the best review of a classic Masterpiece Score ever, well made, very good explained for musicians as well as and non-musicians - good job! we don't have any of this here except bayern 4 cinema show on the radio and there only gets a composer recognized if he or she has a birthday jubilee. Please do some more of this!
Very enjoyable and informative. Making movies is such a messy process. It is amazing that they ever get done at all. My money is on Goldsmith's version.
+1 for the My Bloody Valentine reference. I'm a huge fan of Jerry Goldsmith and MBV. I think that Scott and Rawlings had the right idea to keep the music "ice cold horror," especially at the main title sequence. I think Goldsmith's music for the "Dallas in the air shafts" sequence works a little better than his _Freud_ music, but his music for the end credits is way too lush and triumphant. The Hanson music is calmer and less bombastic, it suits the movie much better. Goldsmith's cue for Ash's attack on Ripley is SUPERB, but again, I think it works better to have the music come in when Parker takes his head off. Scott and Rawlings made the right choice to have almost no music in that scene until then.
As an 'interesting aside' Jimmy Shields who did the amazing work as A L I E N's sound designer is the brother of Kevin Shields, the sonic architect from My Bloody Valentine
I guess you just outlined my "shameful" secret....The ALIEN soundtrack is my favorite recording where barely ANY of it was used in the original film. That still happens here and there, but because it was Jerry Goldsmith, it's certainly the example that's still been the most notorious over the years.
Scott and Rawlings choice for the opening credits score is a stroke of masterpiece. Eerie, creepy, haunting, scary, evocative of the horrors to come, and unforgettably great! I'm glad goldsmith was overridden. His choice smacked way too much of Hollywood grandiosity, reminiscent of superman scores. The concept of less is more is not big in Hollywood ( pun intended). A notable exception is gyorgy ligeti's atmospheres in 2001: a space odyssey, another masterpiece. Great commentary!
Thank you very much for this!!!! I watched your video analysis yesterday during my lunch break, prior to watching Alien:Covenant later last night. (minor spoiler to follow?) This worked out perfectly, because as it turns out, Goldsmith's original Alien soundtrack is used quite a lot in the latest movie. It's almost as if Ridley Scott was trying to make amends to the late Jerry Goldsmith for having edited out much of the original soundtrack in the original movie. I couldn't help but be very moved by hearing Goldsmith's original score in Covenant, especially knowing what I learned in your video. Kudos to a job well done sir!
Great, detailed and incredibly fun video. I'd say 'some' portions of the Goldsmith soundtrack are better, such as for the planet scene and the face-hugger aid scene, but the others are too loud and energetic. So overall the final movie score is better. The biggest problem of all is that Jerry Goldsmith, genius that he was, didn't think visually whereas Ridley Scott is all about thinking visually. But its also a communication problem on the part f Scott. Look at 'Total Recall' and the incredible work Jerry Goldsmith did there, probably thanks to Paul Verhoeven.
Cheers, mate! Bravo! THIS is why I love UA-cam as my primary source of movie information. You've broken this subject down in a way I've never seen in a DVD commentary or special features! I bought the movie score not long after ALIEN was released but was confused why so much of the music wasn't used in the film and why other pieces of music heard in the movie were absent from the score. Decades later, I stumbled over the greatly restored version of Goldsmith's score, including the Freud tracks and the Howard Hanson closing, and was utterly shocked at what I had been missing all these years. I think it's a crime against the public and creators that creations like this get withheld from those who would take great interest and pleasure in seeing them. I was wondering about some of the lost ALIEN tracks and you've done a exemplary job of showing them in their proper film context. It reveals ALIEN to me in a completely different light. I'm happy with how the film turned out but now I could see how much more atmospheric it could have been. No wonder Goldsmith was so disappointed! As far as the disco version of the ALIEN theme, I was never aware of it. I could've gone happily for the rest of my life not knowing about it. Thanks for your hard work! Subscribed.
I read an interview with Howard Blake, who had scored Scott's first film 'The Duelists' and who Scott wanted to score 'Alien'. Blake said that there were two composers under contract at 20th Century Fox at that time: John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith. "And that was the end of that", said Blake.
Man, this was great. PLEASE do more Jerry scores. Maybe, like this one, do more of his Soundtracks that either had a rough or interesting history. Or bunch them together. P.S - You notice how the "Time" melody has been in 90% of his movies, just masked as something else?
Thanks for this wonderful documentary. especially the tidbits from the recording sessions with Jerry Goldsmith, the man was brilliant in scoring ALIEN! Fortunately we have the complete Music on Intrada's Double Album since 2007. Sidenote: I wonder if someone ever noticed certain similarities in the first ominous chord that opens Jerry Goldsmith original quasi romantic Main Title-approach to the chord that opens Alexander Skrjabins "Prometheus"...
Excellent video and very informative. One of the top Alien analysis video on UA-cam. You should really make more videos like this. Maybe music from Aliens analysed next?
Privet, my friends!What a brilliant analysis of this movie's score!It is just as Mozart believed...there is beauty (and in this case HORROR) in simplicity! This is also the first movie I cannot choose sides...Composer of Director! I agree with both! Personally, I agree with Goldsmith, the beginning where the "ALIEN" title unfolding, Scott should have kept Trumpet solo in. Trumpets (Shofars) are long associated with Angels. Thus introducing the audience not only with the Main Theme, but also give viewers sense of thr Angel of Death blowing a sad warning (using whole tone scale, non-vibrato)Hostile Loneliness, the fact that it is ONE Trumpet calling sadly the strong but it's largo Tempo and using Lydian scale, whole tone scale, the PERFECT choice of placing the 7ths most effective pitches but also subtle thereby providing amazing overtones together with the Double Basses (an important Section that is almost another character of the film) creating a waveform of intense loneliness, vast space (Long Largo lines)...hostile space (7ths)... mysterious space (various harmonic inversions and modal scales esp Lydian)! At first I was disappointed when Scott removed Trumpet Solo from Sickbay's Cryogenic Lab scene! I guess I just love Goldsmith's harmonic phrases in this Film. Where can I get one of those EchoPlex Boxes? С уважением, Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov
"Goldsmith thought that it would be more interesting to start out with this romantic theme, and give no audible hint of the horrors that would eventually unfold." This is why scores like that of the original 1992 Candyman or 1980's Cannibal Holocaust haunted me on far more unnerving level than more conventional horror scores like John Carpenter's Halloween or Saw. I think it's the dissonance.
I adore Jerry Goldsmith's music and I really love his original versions for Alien BUT I still prefer the final cuts. They worked better. Anyway, Alien will always be my all-time favorite movie.
Jerry Goldmith´s original score was beautiful, as always, but i´ve always prefered the final product. Eerie, and every time i think of space, Alien´s music comes to mind.
Wow. This was very enlightening about a film I think is one of the best movies (not just sci-fi) ever made. It's difficult to divorce my ear from what I am accustomed to hearing when watching this film, but this analysis was quite compelling! Thanks!
Great video! Been a casual viewer of this movie over the years, watched it last night and noticed the soundtrack for the first time -- which lead me here. Thought the music over the credits wasn't appropriate for film but enjoyed the rest of the movie before knowing this fascinating story. Will check it out more.
Thanks for this very informative video. The more romantic ALIEN theme that Jerry Goldsmith originally composed for ALIEN wouldn't have creeped me out as soon as the movie started, but it would have bonded me to the movie, so that the later scary scenes would have spooked me all the more. Jerry Goldsmith seemed to understand this. Ridley Scott apparently didn't, and that's one reason I never saw ALIEN again after I first saw it. The movie was musically disintegrated. But the more romantic ALIEN theme that Jerry Goldsmith composed for the credits still captures the feeling of a few people aboard a ship deep in space, far from their homeland, and when I hear it today I think of the waning civilization in the USA.
And I say you are so dead wrong. Sorry but Ridley made the right choice. Just this video alone proves it when he puts the original score in, it just DOES NOT WORK with the film. Sorry but you and Goldsmith are so very wrong. I can't even imagine watching Alien without it being the way it was originally shown.
This is great. One of the best videos I've ever seen on film music--and on one my favorite sound designs (musics and sound effects) for a movie. Did Jimmy Shields, or Goldsmith, do the clinking chains in the first killing scene? Or just the sound of ship humming when Dallas is enjoying his coffee and about to go talk to mother?
Great video! Though I would've put the score more in the context of contemporary classical and modernism. It was great you pointed out Bartok (Which I knew was a direct reference when I first heard the score). But Goldsmith's score is also very evocative of Penderecki (especially), Messiaen (the parts of the score that particularly focus on the wind section), Mahler and Stravinsky. But one of the most plain influences is the main theme (the one that didn't make it to the final cut), which sounds like a pastiche of Scriabin. Very well made video though, you've got a sub! :)
+John Appleseed This is great stuff! Might be worth doing a follow up video on this. I'll admit I'm nowhere near as informed on classical as I should be. If you can tell me what pieces to look at, that'd be amazingly helpful! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Hope you ll make the videos about Aliens and Horner's music as well as Goldenthal's interesting soundtrack for the third movie. I m not musically educated but I know many things regarding classical music and movie score... If you are willing, I can help you with the future Alien music projects :)
He could also check Edgard Varèse ( Amériques AND Arcana). Einojuhani Rautavaara - esspecialy his composition Angels and Visitations released in 1978 which is QUITE reminiscent to Alien soundtrack! Giacinto Scelsi also comes to mind. His Quattro Pezzi, Anahit, Aion ,Chukrum and Hurqualia are straight from Alien universe. Very strange and unsetteling melodies. I have more references somewhere in my PC, but I need to find them :)
Great job on the musical analysis and the enteraining way you brought over the whole story about Goldsmith's score to the film. Looking forward to see/hear more from you on this level ;-) #subscribed
The ALIEN soundtrack has always been my number two favorite right behind _A New Hope._ I even bought the LP for it which I never do for films, it was that great! Personally I feel that this soundtrack should have won the Oscar despite some of it's unique two-film parts. I am an ALIEN Super-Fan and watched the film hundreds of times during the 80's on my Betamax and VHS tapes. The Betamax tape was the ONLY film that I ever wore out by watching it too much. Anyway, during those viewings-way before the Information-Super-Highway of the internet-some of those Editor/Director inserted music cues really took me out of the movie. Two of note: The acid leak/scramble scene, and the Parker/Lambert/Alien confrontation scene. Every damn time they came up I thought - _"Who's dumb idea was it to put these out of place music cues here!?"_ To me it seemed like someone had snuck into the editing room one night when nobody was around and put them there as a practical joke. They just do not feel right at all. Also I do feel that the final end credits scene is much better in the finished Editor/Director version. It always gave me a nice wind down from all the action packed horror in the final quarter of the film and let me finally relax. That was a good call there. Now thanks to the internet, my confusion has been answered. Thank you everybody for all the info on this masterpiece of film, and soundtrack.
hi there! thank you so much for such a wonder video, truly love it!!! i firmly believe that the director and editor should just do their own job and leave jerry goldsmith alone to work his music magic! luckily you can get the original, unadulterated version of the score on CD.
He wrote this and Star Trek The Motion Picture in the same year. Two of the finest scores in film history. Genius.
Same music as TNG
Indeed he was a genius. Only now getting the recognition he deserved.
Loved that Soundtrack so much.
interesting coincidence that james horner ended up doing aliens and the wrath of khan
@@davidcunningham9282 yes it is...loved his scores as well. Did he also do "Battle Beyond the Stars"? I loved that soundtrack.
Unbelievably good video.
Alien is my favorite film. Bravo! Learned a lot.
Same ❤
Jerry Goldsmith was a genius. Alien (1979) is his scariest, most stunning soundtrack. Influenced by genius Gustav Holst's Saturn and Neptune.
I see absolutely no influence by Holst. #JohnStevenLasher.
His scariest? For me, that was the Omen. Brilliant soundtrack
No, its influenced by Stravinsky's right of spring and firebird moreso with Ligeti/Penderecki for the soundfield parts
I stumbled upon this completely by accident and I'm very glad I did! Always loved the Alien score but had no idea about the two different versions. Now I can bore my friends with this arcane knowledge. Awesome video.
I had the great honor of meeting Jerry Goldsmith at his home back in 1979. A very kind fellow. I was starstruck and mumbled something about how I was a big fan.
I love the score when they find the space jockey. Others would have probably put some epic music there but the score in the movie makes it haunting, surprising and refreshing, even after 44 years.
And yet the only one who didn't think it was a masterpiece, was Jerry Goldsmith himself.
Excellent! So when I saw the film when it released and bought the LP soundtrack and took it home to listen to it. I thought I was listening to the music from the film, but really I wasn’t. I didn’t find that out until years later. Crazy. Have had the Intrada / original versions on my phone for years. Tbh it’s all great music. Your video was also great. 👏👏👏
This is precious. All the detail in this doc is outstanding. 7 years late and still relevant. Thank you so much.
Great video! Sad that most of Goldsmiths original score was cut, it is a masterpiece.
Thankfully, it's on the Alien Blu-ray as an alternate audio track.
Funny how what they used for Ash's reveal in the final film was actually intended for Brett looking for Jones the cat.
He is simply a genius, especially if you consider the many and variant movies and the soundtracks he made for them !
I bought this soundtrack in 1979 prior to seeing the movie , it was the best thing I ever heard (especially the End title) and it still is my favourite score ! .......as with 'Legend' , Jerry will never win the argument !
mark griffiths so did you notice that some of the score had been cut from the film and if so, were you annoyed?
OK. I am too curious now.
Why would you buy a movie soundtrack back in the late 70's before you could hear samples of it on the Internet like we do now?
@@coltseavers6298Back then film soundtrack LP's and cassettes often were released a few weeks before the film. At least this was the case here in Ireland (and I assume Britain). Major films were first released in one region and then (once publicity and film prints were prepared) in other regions. There could be several months between the various release dates.
Howard Hansens Symphony No.2 is simply sublime and so very uplifting.Such a great finale to express relief that the Alien is finally gone and Ripley has survived.Gerry Goldsmiths music throughout the movie is so atmospheric and pivotal as well.Such an amazing score.
Goldsmith = Genius
I always felt the music to this movie was the reason you felt such foreboding as it plods on. the droning and screeching of the strings added with the echoplex really draw out the dread in the sounds. Interestingly the Trailer has completely different music (if you can call it that)! by far the scariest trailer for a movie in the 1970s!
Great work tho. this was really interesting to watch
My friend, oh my gosh... I must tell you, this video you’ve made is one of THE MOST engrossing things I’ve ever caught on UA-cam. I enjoyed it more than I can put in words, but I feel compelled to try! I use UA-cam mostly when I’m at work, with earbuds, for something to listen to while I carry out my task. I’ve done this for many years and RARELY do I ever find something that makes me say, “Wait. I have to save this for later so I can watch it as well.” Your video did that; I had to focus on it completely! I’ve been a Goldsmith fan for 34 years, and Alien has always been one of my top favorite scores (Planet of the Apes being #1, actually the sound track that was my introduction to his music.) From the vinyl, I feel I know the music as I am familiar with the Happy Birthday song. But you... YOU brought a level of details I’ve never heard before! For example, I had always wanted to know what the instruments were that Goldsmith used for the many alien sounds. Wow! Now I know, thanks to you. The brilliance of that man has always blown my mind, but you took my appreciation to the next level. In some parts of your video, hearing the music with the education you gave, listening to the music with the visuals, I felt near to tears. A few times I felt my scalp tingling!!! How crazy is that?!? I simply must thank you for this video. You gave me more reason to cherish the man who brought me so many years of joy with his impossibly glorious music!
Your detailed work about the fabulous film ALIEN open my brain . Jerry Goldsmith was realy the greatest composer in the history….
Hope you get a million-billion subscribers. This was very interesting !
Dirka dirka! Islamic jihad!
@@oaktree2406 bakala
There was a disco version of the Alien theme?? :) Wish I had been alive back in those days.
I always loved the suble score for Alien. As far removed from the overly bombastic (and generic) Zimmer scores as possible and perfectly fine on its own even for those who never have seen the movie itself.
This was a very thorough analysis. Rare these days. Kudos to you.
I owned that Meco "Star Wars" album when I was a little kid..it came out a year or so after the movie (yeah, I'm that old, lol) but I don't ever remember the Alien one... I had the Star Wars Christmas album too, that was a riot (I had that "Wookiee" song on a freakin' 45 single (!)
Can't lie, I prefer the reviewed 'eerie' opening theme in the context of the film's intended delivery. Atmospherically it is superior in portraying the emptiness of space and the echo-ey void of 'out there', making the background feel much emptier. The discordant clashing of the strings and the arco through the echoplex land perfectly the atmosphere. Musically, however, the original theme was unique and oh-so-memorable, and, thankfully, themes from Goldsmith's original occur throughout the brighter scenes of the film. Both Ridley and Jerry had differing visions for this movie's atmospheres at times, and, in my opinion, although the 'Freud' themes that play during the 'Acid Blood' scene and when Dallas navigates the tunnels before his demise is disappointing in terms of lack of originality, Goldsmith's sounds, even with his negative view on the 'borrowing' of music, sounds great in the cut. Ridley may have been out of line, but the final cut is FLAWLESS.
Well, that's your opinion about the final cut, which I do not share.
Totally agree.
I don't know, i like replaces in their entirety. Acid spit was more urgent, yes, but replacement also lets us feel ourselves in crew members shoes, starting slowly as realization comes that this stuff eats trough steel floor, being more... strange (i don't know how to decribe this) giving impression of perplexity of people who don't know what is happening and only told to follow the captain, and being more constant portraying not people's rush to lower decks, but constant movement of acid trough surfaces. Or vent theme - it fits just brilliantly! The strings seem to be calm, selling fake safety of vents, but also showing claustrophobia, lonliness, and knowledge of what waits ahead
Yes, Goldsmith's tracks are much more interconnected and vivid, but replacements work just better. Scott knew how to do his job back in the days. I hope he remembers once it again for Blade Runner and Alien: Covenant
As a Jerry Goldsmith fanatic I needed this. THANK YOU! I have a personal intrest in this movie and recently did a fan-edit with unused footage and the full score. It's definitely a completely different beast.
It's hard to second guess the director and film editor's scoring choices, but Jerry Goldsmith's music is also magical and mysterious. I'm glad there's comparisons out here like this video to make us aware of these choices and their effects on the final cut.
Oh thank God this video has been brought back. One of the most informative and entertaining film score analysis videos
Between the original score and the Rawlings choices that ended up in the final film, I can't decide. Goldsmith, imo, was a genius, so to me, any score of his is creative, innovative, richly textured with every imaginable emotion. It's modern classical music, always a thrill to hear. I love it all. You shared some amazing info about different instruments he implemented... The didgeridoo???!!! That is awesome! Wonderful video!
25:58 OH 🤯🔥🎧👽
I need to experience *ALIEN* with Goldsmith’s original soundtrack in full!
Funny, this is my favorite movie of all time, and my favorite scene in the movie is Dallas in the vent. One of the main reasons for this is the score during this scene. I’m so happy they didn’t use the original score, maybe it’s technically consistent with theme or whatever, but from an uneducated viewer’s POV, someone who has loved this from a young age, the Freud score during this scene (and pretty much everywhere else they used it) is SUCH the right move.
Couldn’t have put it better myself mate 👍👊
Ultimately it's the director's decision on how the movie will look and sound and it's hard to argue that the end result was lacking. "Alien" will go down as one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time regardless of the drama behind the scenes. Jerry and Ridley are both geniuses.
You are an absolute genius and this analysis was a treat
What a beautiful love letter to Jerry's work!
Quite possibly the best soundtrack ever. Hauntingly beautiful, scary , atmospheric. Great content cheers.
The intro to Alien is superb.
I saw the movie when it first came out (I was 22). When the opening credits started I was already scared. The music is brilliant!
This is fantastic.
The wall of sound part is A+. That song always puts a smile on my face.
You deserve waaaaay more likes and views. This was an incredibly fascinating watch!
The theme score is half of this films greatness.
This is an excellent analysis of Jerry's score. Much appreciated.
A fantastic documentary. ... you should do more .. Thanks for your hard work on this !!
German UA-camr BeHaind brought me here! Great stuff!!!
Fascinating analysis. My favorite Jerry Goldsmith score.
Came here from the german youtuber behaind who recommended this in hist last video about Alien 👍👍
I prefer the change in the acid floor sequence to the original. The small hint of mystery and wonder helped bring the whole movie together. It's flirting with familiarized style to represent the audience and the cast exploring something that has never been seen before. Without giving that contrast the whole movie would be so dark that every encounter with the alien would feel the same. I love how sometimes early on you get the feeling they are gonna make a big discovery or figure out what the alien actually is. No one has died yet! Why not sprinkle some curiosity and splendor into the soundtrack in key encounters!
Wow, half an hour just flew by. This was incredibly fascinating. I never knew Goldsmith's original version of the score would have actually worked much better in some cases.
Those windy sounding conches were perfect
I remember hunting for this CD for years back in the 90s. Excellent stuff.
OMG, I have to watch this movie again now, and its already 2am. It will be worth it though :)
Buckarooz i NEVER get tired of this movie!
That conversation between Goldsmith and Scott had me in tears. Brilliant video that aside!
Those 2 cords…omg send shivers down my spine!
Wow..!!! THANK YOU, for this.
I've just listened to all the parties involved in this matter..but, your video really helped me understand it even more.
and man...how could they do that to such an established, Oscar-winning professional, who..judging from his actual intended score for the movie..actually delivering the REAL goods..and would definitely elevated the film.
To me, while like you said, what is used in the final film worked..it never really stayed with me. It didn't sound distinguished enough for me..and I've seen the film quite a number of times.
and while I agree that Ridley and the editor were right to NOT use the score and opt for no music on some scenes (shown in this vid)..the rest..I think Jerry's original Alien score would've worked PERFECTLY for the film.
Plus..NOT consulting him was just SO F-ing unprofessional on the part of both Ridley and that editor of his. I mean...so F-ing disrespectful, man. Sure..the director would get the final say over the composer, but, c'mon..show some professional courtesy..especially to someone of Goldsmith's stature, at the point in time.
I just don't see anyone doing that to John Williams..especially newbies, like Ridley and the editor, around this time of their respective careers.
If most of his Alien score was used I would definitely have noticed it more..and even considered it one of the best ones of the 70's cinema.
Thanks again for this. 🙏🏽
I always wondered about the two divergent versions I had been hearing and what the story was behind them - thank you for this analysis of what happened for this iconic movie and score...
Amazing work ! Very interesting video for soundtrack lovers. The 2 CD's album of Alien is a must have because it contains alternate cues too
This video is phenomenal! I think what we found in final film couldn’t be topped.
Thanks so much for this video I love Alien we were first to see it in 1979 after work in Hollywood I will never forgot that day the line was going around the corner.
What is equally amazing to me, aside from how great a score Goldsmith created, was that he hated the dynamic of the crew. The major part of his inspiration to write film music, according to his own words, is derived from the characters, and their emotional attachment to each other, or to someone...anyone. "Alien" had none of this. These were hired hands, forced to co-exist in deep space, who were underpaid, overworked, and unloved. Still, Goldsmith pulls a great score out of his proverbial arse, with a depth of haunting mystery, trepidation, and horror, that only the masters of his craft can achieve. I loved the choice of ending with Hansen's 'Romantic.' It offered a much-needed release from all the tension that Ridley Scott inflicted on his audience.
This video is a gold mine. Thank you.
This is the best review of a classic Masterpiece Score ever, well made, very good explained for musicians as well as and non-musicians - good job! we don't have any of this here except bayern 4 cinema show on the radio and there only gets a composer recognized if he or she has a birthday jubilee. Please do some more of this!
Jerry Goldsmith absolute GENIUS!!
Very enjoyable and informative. Making movies is such a messy process. It is amazing that they ever get done at all. My money is on Goldsmith's version.
+1 for the My Bloody Valentine reference. I'm a huge fan of Jerry Goldsmith and MBV.
I think that Scott and Rawlings had the right idea to keep the music "ice cold horror," especially at the main title sequence. I think Goldsmith's music for the "Dallas in the air shafts" sequence works a little better than his _Freud_ music, but his music for the end credits is way too lush and triumphant. The Hanson music is calmer and less bombastic, it suits the movie much better.
Goldsmith's cue for Ash's attack on Ripley is SUPERB, but again, I think it works better to have the music come in when Parker takes his head off. Scott and Rawlings made the right choice to have almost no music in that scene until then.
As an 'interesting aside' Jimmy Shields who did the amazing work as A L I E N's sound designer is the brother of Kevin Shields, the sonic architect from My Bloody Valentine
I guess you just outlined my "shameful" secret....The ALIEN soundtrack is my favorite recording where barely ANY of it was used in the original film. That still happens here and there, but because it was Jerry Goldsmith, it's certainly the example that's still been the most notorious over the years.
Scott and Rawlings choice for the opening credits score is a stroke of masterpiece. Eerie, creepy, haunting, scary, evocative of the horrors to come, and unforgettably great! I'm glad goldsmith was overridden. His choice smacked way too much of Hollywood grandiosity, reminiscent of superman scores. The concept of less is more is not big in Hollywood ( pun intended). A notable exception is gyorgy ligeti's atmospheres in 2001: a space odyssey, another masterpiece. Great commentary!
Thank heavens you didn't work on this film. Had you done so it would have been a mess.
When that satirical Newcastle accent came up from "Cut out" Ridley Scott Iaughed my ass off....quality.
I had that disco Star Wars Album...You don't know how many times it comes up in conversation and I wish I still had it.
Thank you very much for this!!!! I watched your video analysis yesterday during my lunch break, prior to watching Alien:Covenant later last night. (minor spoiler to follow?) This worked out perfectly, because as it turns out, Goldsmith's original Alien soundtrack is used quite a lot in the latest movie. It's almost as if Ridley Scott was trying to make amends to the late Jerry Goldsmith for having edited out much of the original soundtrack in the original movie. I couldn't help but be very moved by hearing Goldsmith's original score in Covenant, especially knowing what I learned in your video. Kudos to a job well done sir!
Great, detailed and incredibly fun video. I'd say 'some' portions of the Goldsmith soundtrack are better, such as for the planet scene and the face-hugger aid scene, but the others are too loud and energetic. So overall the final movie score is better.
The biggest problem of all is that Jerry Goldsmith, genius that he was, didn't think visually whereas Ridley Scott is all about thinking visually. But its also a communication problem on the part f Scott. Look at 'Total Recall' and the incredible work Jerry Goldsmith did there, probably thanks to Paul Verhoeven.
Cheers, mate! Bravo! THIS is why I love UA-cam as my primary source of movie information. You've broken this subject down in a way I've never seen in a DVD commentary or special features!
I bought the movie score not long after ALIEN was released but was confused why so much of the music wasn't used in the film and why other pieces of music heard in the movie were absent from the score. Decades later, I stumbled over the greatly restored version of Goldsmith's score, including the Freud tracks and the Howard Hanson closing, and was utterly shocked at what I had been missing all these years. I think it's a crime against the public and creators that creations like this get withheld from those who would take great interest and pleasure in seeing them.
I was wondering about some of the lost ALIEN tracks and you've done a exemplary job of showing them in their proper film context. It reveals ALIEN to me in a completely different light. I'm happy with how the film turned out but now I could see how much more atmospheric it could have been. No wonder Goldsmith was so disappointed!
As far as the disco version of the ALIEN theme, I was never aware of it. I could've gone happily for the rest of my life not knowing about it.
Thanks for your hard work! Subscribed.
Very nice video essay. Great job!
"The Alien Planet" is one of the creepiest score cuts ever written.
I read an interview with Howard Blake, who had scored Scott's first film 'The Duelists' and who Scott wanted to score 'Alien'. Blake said that there were two composers under contract at 20th Century Fox at that time: John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith. "And that was the end of that", said Blake.
It came out perfect! nothing should be changed...
Man, this was great.
PLEASE do more Jerry scores. Maybe, like this one, do more of his Soundtracks that either had a rough or interesting history. Or bunch them together.
P.S - You notice how the "Time" melody has been in 90% of his movies, just masked as something else?
Brilliant video - Thank you !.. And the Geordie Ridley Scott / Cockney Terry Rawlings had me rolling about (>_
Thanks for this wonderful documentary. especially the tidbits from the recording sessions with Jerry Goldsmith, the man was brilliant in scoring ALIEN! Fortunately we have the complete Music on Intrada's Double Album since 2007. Sidenote: I wonder if someone ever noticed certain similarities in the first ominous chord that opens Jerry Goldsmith original quasi romantic Main Title-approach to the chord that opens Alexander Skrjabins "Prometheus"...
Excellent presentation and informed content, good enough for TV broadcast in my view, can't find that Disco track at the end anywhere though. Haha.
Your vocal impression of Terry Rawlings is hilariously accurate. “Cor! Love a duck!”
Excellent video and very informative. One of the top Alien analysis video on UA-cam. You should really make more videos like this. Maybe music from Aliens analysed next?
Privet, my friends!What a brilliant analysis of this movie's score!It is just as Mozart believed...there is beauty (and in this case HORROR) in simplicity! This is also the first movie I cannot choose sides...Composer of Director! I agree with both! Personally, I agree with Goldsmith, the beginning where the "ALIEN" title unfolding, Scott should have kept Trumpet solo in. Trumpets (Shofars) are long associated with Angels. Thus introducing the audience not only with the Main Theme, but also give viewers sense of thr Angel of Death blowing a sad warning (using whole tone scale, non-vibrato)Hostile Loneliness, the fact that it is ONE Trumpet calling sadly the strong but it's largo Tempo and using Lydian scale, whole tone scale, the PERFECT choice of placing the 7ths most effective pitches but also subtle thereby providing amazing overtones together with the Double Basses (an important Section that is almost another character of the film) creating a waveform of intense loneliness, vast space (Long Largo lines)...hostile space (7ths)... mysterious space (various harmonic inversions and modal scales esp Lydian)! At first I was disappointed when Scott removed Trumpet Solo from Sickbay's Cryogenic Lab scene! I guess I just love Goldsmith's harmonic phrases in this Film. Where can I get one of those EchoPlex Boxes?
С уважением,
Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov
Amazing breakdown and deserves a place on the official release blue ray etc. Well done.
thanks for mentioning Bela Bartok, I just noticed that JG must have loved his tune since he use it in various scores.
"Goldsmith thought that it would be more interesting to start out with this romantic theme, and give no audible hint of the horrors that would eventually unfold."
This is why scores like that of the original 1992 Candyman or 1980's Cannibal Holocaust haunted me on far more unnerving level than more conventional horror scores like John Carpenter's Halloween or Saw. I think it's the dissonance.
I adore Jerry Goldsmith's music and I really love his original versions for Alien BUT I still prefer the final cuts. They worked better.
Anyway, Alien will always be my all-time favorite movie.
Jerry Goldmith´s original score was beautiful, as always, but i´ve always prefered the final product. Eerie, and every time i think of space, Alien´s music comes to mind.
Amazing Video. You should do more.
Well this was just great. Many thanks, I got a lot of enjoyment from it.
While Jerry was a genius, your documentary here is too - and I've been a fan since 1979! Even as a musician myself, excellent learning for me!
Wow. This was very enlightening about a film I think is one of the best movies (not just sci-fi) ever made. It's difficult to divorce my ear from what I am accustomed to hearing when watching this film, but this analysis was quite compelling! Thanks!
Great video! Been a casual viewer of this movie over the years, watched it last night and noticed the soundtrack for the first time -- which lead me here. Thought the music over the credits wasn't appropriate for film but enjoyed the rest of the movie before knowing this fascinating story. Will check it out more.
Thanks for this very informative video. The more romantic ALIEN theme that Jerry Goldsmith originally composed for ALIEN wouldn't have creeped me out as soon as the movie started, but it would have bonded me to the movie, so that the later scary scenes would have spooked me all the more. Jerry Goldsmith seemed to understand this. Ridley Scott apparently didn't, and that's one reason I never saw ALIEN again after I first saw it. The movie was musically disintegrated. But the more romantic ALIEN theme that Jerry Goldsmith composed for the credits still captures the feeling of a few people aboard a ship deep in space, far from their homeland, and when I hear it today I think of the waning civilization in the USA.
And I say you are so dead wrong. Sorry but Ridley made the right choice.
Just this video alone proves it when he puts the original score in, it just DOES NOT WORK with the film. Sorry but you and Goldsmith are so very wrong. I can't even imagine watching Alien without it being the way it was originally shown.
This is great. One of the best videos I've ever seen on film music--and on one my favorite sound designs (musics and sound effects) for a movie.
Did Jimmy Shields, or Goldsmith, do the clinking chains in the first killing scene? Or just the sound of ship humming when Dallas is enjoying his coffee and about to go talk to mother?
aaaand subbed! You did an impeccable job!!
I feel so proud of you right now
Great video! Though I would've put the score more in the context of contemporary classical and modernism.
It was great you pointed out Bartok (Which I knew was a direct reference when I first heard the score). But Goldsmith's score is also very evocative of Penderecki (especially), Messiaen (the parts of the score that particularly focus on the wind section), Mahler and Stravinsky. But one of the most plain influences is the main theme (the one that didn't make it to the final cut), which sounds like a pastiche of Scriabin.
Very well made video though, you've got a sub! :)
+John Appleseed This is great stuff! Might be worth doing a follow up video on this. I'll admit I'm nowhere near as informed on classical as I should be. If you can tell me what pieces to look at, that'd be amazingly helpful!
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Hope you ll make the videos about Aliens and Horner's music as well as
Goldenthal's interesting soundtrack for the third movie. I m not musically educated but I know many things regarding classical music and movie score... If you are willing, I can help you with the future Alien music projects :)
He could also check Edgard Varèse ( Amériques AND Arcana). Einojuhani Rautavaara - esspecialy his composition Angels and Visitations released in 1978 which is QUITE reminiscent to Alien soundtrack! Giacinto Scelsi also comes to mind. His Quattro Pezzi, Anahit, Aion ,Chukrum and Hurqualia are straight from Alien universe. Very strange and unsetteling melodies. I have more references somewhere in my PC, but I need to find them :)
Charles Ives - The Unanswered Question. Trumpet parts!
This should have more views and likes.
Great job on the musical analysis and the enteraining way you brought over the whole story about Goldsmith's score to the film.
Looking forward to see/hear more from you on this level ;-) #subscribed
Loved this! Alien will always be my all time favorite film.
That was really interesting, captivating, and informative. Thank you very much!
This was beyond fascinating. Thank you so much.
Brilliant analysis, please do more
The ALIEN soundtrack has always been my number two favorite right behind _A New Hope._ I even bought the LP for it which I never do for films, it was that great! Personally I feel that this soundtrack should have won the Oscar despite some of it's unique two-film parts.
I am an ALIEN Super-Fan and watched the film hundreds of times during the 80's on my Betamax and VHS tapes. The Betamax tape was the ONLY film that I ever wore out by watching it too much.
Anyway, during those viewings-way before the Information-Super-Highway of the internet-some of those Editor/Director inserted music cues really took me out of the movie. Two of note: The acid leak/scramble scene, and the Parker/Lambert/Alien confrontation scene. Every damn time they came up I thought - _"Who's dumb idea was it to put these out of place music cues here!?"_ To me it seemed like someone had snuck into the editing room one night when nobody was around and put them there as a practical joke. They just do not feel right at all.
Also I do feel that the final end credits scene is much better in the finished Editor/Director version. It always gave me a nice wind down from all the action packed horror in the final quarter of the film and let me finally relax. That was a good call there.
Now thanks to the internet, my confusion has been answered. Thank you everybody for all the info on this masterpiece of film, and soundtrack.
hi there! thank you so much for such a wonder video, truly love it!!! i firmly believe that the director and editor should just do their own job and leave jerry goldsmith alone to work his music magic! luckily you can get the original, unadulterated version of the score on CD.
bravo, appreciate sharing all these info