Inspired by WOTAN's fabulous Alien article I remembered seeing a stylish film a couple of years ago by the 1950's Italian schlockmeastro Mario Bava, PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (PoV) made in 1965. For years a debate has raged as to whethere the imagery in the film influenced Ridley Scott and HR.Giger in their 1979 acid-for-blood opus. The crux is the appearance of a huge abandoned spacecraft piloted by a gigantic fossilised being in PoV, supposedly one inspiration for the 'derelict' and 'space jockey' in the early stages of Alien. PoV is segmented on You Tube and these elements appear at the start of section 6. See for yourself below:
I'm sure the discussion will continue unabated as the influences of many modern films are as murky as a xenomorph's egg sack. I would be interested to know if the author of the Alien story, Alan Dean Foster, included the derelict and space jockey?
I still shudder with regret when the Kenner 12-inch Alien figure is mentioned. Now a sought-after boxed collectable (often missing the clear brain dome), at one time it was being sold off for pence in British discount chains in the mid-1980's! I didn't know back then! In Poundstretcher everyone can hear you sob!
1 comment:
Whenever I need to scream, I always go out into space where no one can hear me. Similar regrets lurk in my mind, hiding in the shadows - items I could have bought inexpensively but didn't ... only to kick myself later.
But do I learn? Do I heck.
Post a Comment