Alien Nation (1988)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Graham Baker

Writer (WGA):

Rockne S. O'Bannon (written by)

Release Date:

7 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Prepare Yourself.

Plot:

A few years from now, Earth will have the first contact with an alien civilisation. These aliens, known as Newcomers...

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Police | American Flag | Drug Dealing | Bullet Proof Vest

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

James Caan	...	Det. Sgt. Matthew Sykes
Mandy Patinkin	...	Det. Samuel 'George' Francisco
Terence Stamp	...	William Harcourt
Kevyn Major Howard	...	Rudyard Kipling
Leslie Bevis	...	Cassandra
Peter Jason	...	Fedorchuk
Conrad Dunn	...	Quint (as George Jenesky)
Jeff Kober	...	Joshua Strader
Roger Aaron Brown	...	Det. Bill Tuggle
Tony Simotes	...	Wiltey
Michael David Simms	...	Human Dealer
Ed Krieger	...	Alien Dealer
Tony Perez	...	Alterez
Brian Thompson	...	Trent Porter
Francis X. McCarthy	...	Capt. Warner (as Frank McCarthy)
Keone Young	...	Winter
Don Hood	...	Moffet
Earl Boen	...	Duncan Crais
William E. Dearth	...	Coroner's Technician
Robert Starr	...	Coroner's Attendant
Bobby Sargent	...	Coroner's Driver
Bebe Drake	...	Computer Operator (as Bebe Drake-Massey)
Edgar Small	...	Minkler
Thomas Wagner	...	O'Neal
Abraham Alvarez	...	Mayor
Diana James	...	Ortiz
Frank Collison	...	Bentner
Tom DeFranco	...	Detective
Angela O'Neill	...	Kristin Sykes
Seth Marten	...	Helicopter Pilot
Kendall Conrad	...	Mrs. Francisco
Brian Lando	...	George Jr.
Tom Morga	...	Raincoat
Regis Parton	...	Mr. Porter (as Reggie Parton)
Jessica James	...	Mrs. Porter
Tom Finnegan	...	Natuzzi
Doug MacHugh	...	Victor Goldrup
Lawrence Kopp	...	Human Cop #1
Alec Gillis	...	Newcomer in Bar
Shuko Akune	...	Police Secretary
Stephanie Shroyer	...	Female Cop
Frank Wagner	...	Derelict
Clarence M. Landry	...	Old Man Driver (as Clarence Landry)
Van Ling	...	Newcomer #1 on TV
Mark Murphey	...	Newcomer #2 on TV
Kirsten Graham	...	Kid at Burger Stand
George Robotham	...	Boat Captain
Debra Seitz	...	Harcourt's Girlfriend
James De Closs	...	Detective
Douglas Cameron	...	S.I.D. Photographer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jasper Cole	...	Neighbor (uncredited)

Directed by
Graham Baker

Writing credits (WGA)
Rockne S. O'Bannon		(written by)

Produced by
Gale Anne Hurd	....	producer
Richard Kobritz	....	producer

Original Music by
Curt Sobel

Cinematography by
Adam Greenberg

Film Editing by
Kent Beyda

Casting by
Karen Rea

Production Design by
Jack T. Collis

Art Direction by
Joseph C. Nemec III		(as Joseph Nemec III)

Set Decoration by
Jim Duffy

Costume Design by
Erica Edell Phillips		(as Erica Phillips)

Makeup Department
Janice Alexander	....	hair stylist
David LeRoy Anderson	....	alien makeup effects (as David Anderson)
Grant Arndt	....	sculptor: Stan Winston Studios
John Blake	....	alien makeup effects
Roger Borelli	....	alien makeup effects
Katalin Elek	....	makeup artist
Zoltan Elek	....	alien makeup applier (as Zoltan)
Zoltan Elek	....	makeup artist (as Zoltan)
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	alien makeup applier (as John Elliott)
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	makeup artist (as John Elliott)
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	makeup co-department head
Greg Figiel	....	alien makeup effects
Steve Frakes	....	alien makeup effects
Mark Garbarino	....	alien makeup effects
Emilio M. Gonzales	....	alien makeup effects
Jeff Kennemore	....	alien makeup effects
Makio Kida	....	alien makeup effects
Eryn Krueger Mekash	....	alien makeup effects (as Eryn Krueger)
Richard J. Landon	....	alien makeup effects
Karen Mason	....	alien makeup effects
Michael Mills	....	makeup artist
Brian Penikas	....	alien makeup effects
John Price	....	alien makeup effects
Matt Rose	....	prosthetic painter
Russell Seifert	....	alien makeup effects
Michael Spatola	....	alien makeup effects
Michiko Tagawa	....	alien makeup effects
Mike Trcic	....	alien makeup effects
Monty Westmore	....	makeup artist
Kenny Myers	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joan Bradshaw	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Herb Adelman	....	first assistant director
Newt Arnold	....	first assistant director (as Newton D. Arnold)
Jim Behnke	....	first assistant director: second unit (as James Behnke)
Patricia Earnest	....	dga trainee
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	second unit director
Barbara M. Ravis	....	second second assistant director (as Barbara Ravis)
Harvey Waldman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Nigel A. Boucher	....	leadman
Mike Carrillo	....	assistant property master
Dennis DeWaay	....	construction coordinator (as Dennis De Waay)
Steven E. Fegley	....	construction foreman
Louis S. Fleming	....	property master
John Warnke	....	set designer

Sound Department
Wayne Allwine	....	sound editor
Don J. Bassman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael J. Benavente	....	sound editor
Steve Bowerman	....	boom operator
Kevin E. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin F. Cleary	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith	....	sound editor (as Lucy Coldsnow)
Gabriel Cubos	....	sound utility
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Warren Hamilton Jr.	....	sound editor
Bill Henderson	....	sound re-recording engineer
Ken J. Johnson	....	sound effects recordist (as Ken Johnson)
Donlee Jorgensen	....	sound editor
Nicholas Vincent Korda	....	adr editor
David MacMillan	....	sound mixer
Mark A. Mangini	....	sound effects (as Mark Mangini)
Mark A. Mangini	....	supervising sound editor (as Mark Mangini)
Colin C. Mouat	....	sound editor
Richard Overton	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Pospisil	....	special sound effects
Robert Renga	....	sound recordist
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	sound editor
David Spence	....	sound editor
Peter Tomaszewicz	....	foley editor
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
Gordon Webb	....	boom operator
Charles M. Wilborn	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Stanley Amborn	....	assistant special effects coordinator (as Stan Amborn)
Alec Gillis	....	aliens creator: Stan Winston Studio
Richard Lopez	....	special effects
Jeffrey Machit	....	special effects
Shane Mahan	....	aliens creator: Stan Winston Studio
Alan Rifkin	....	special effects
John Robles	....	special effects
John Rosengrant	....	aliens creator: Stan Winston Studio
Shannon Shea	....	aliens creator: Stan Winston Studio
Michael P. Stipe	....	special effects (as Michael Stipe)
Joseph A. Unsinn	....	special effects coordinator (as Joseph Unsinn)
Tom Woodruff Jr.	....	aliens creator: Stan Winston Studio

Visual Effects by
Robert Grasmere	....	special visual effects
Bret Mixon	....	animation camera/titles

Stunts
Dennis C. Alpert	....	stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunts (as Bruce Barbour)
Simone Boisseree	....	stunts
Brad Bovee	....	stunts
Harold Burns	....	stunts
Roydon Clark	....	stunts (as Roydon E. Clark)
Eugene Collier	....	stunts
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Roger Creed	....	stunts
Gregg Dandridge	....	stunts
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunts (as Greg W. Elam)
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts
George Fisher	....	stunts
Ralph Garrett	....	stunts
Steve Geray	....	stunts
Dick Hancock	....	stunts
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunt driver
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunts
Terry Jackson	....	stunt double: Terence Stamp
Mike Johnson	....	stunts
Paul M. Lane	....	stunts
Dwayne McGee	....	stunts
Bill McIntosh	....	stunts
Troy Melton	....	stunts
Wayne Montanio	....	stunts
Gary Morgan	....	stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt coordinator
Nick Palmisano	....	stunts
Chere Rae	....	stunts
Jeff Ramsey	....	stunts
Thomas Rosales Jr.	....	stunts (as Tom Rosales Jr.)
Wally Rose	....	stunts
Bill M. Ryusaki	....	stunts (as Bill Ryusaki)
Rick Sawaya	....	stunts
Sharon Schaffer	....	stunts
Lori Seaman	....	stunts (as Lori Van der Veer)
Rick Seaman	....	stunts
Jerry Summers	....	stunts
Greg Walker	....	stunts
Rock A. Walker	....	stunts
James Welch	....	stunts
Jim Wilkey	....	stunts (as James Wilkey)
Brian J. Williams	....	stunts
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Benson	....	camera operator (as Michael A. Benson)
Philip Caplan	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Phil Caplan)
David Christie	....	best boy grip
Alicia Craft	....	second assistant camera
Donald Dahlquist	....	best boy electric
Donald L. Hartley	....	dolly grip
Frank M. Holgate	....	director of photography: second unit (as Frank Holgate)
Gene Kearney	....	key grip
Jono Kouzouyan	....	gaffer
Bob Munoz	....	best boy grip (as Robert Munoz)
Jane O'Neal	....	still photographer
John Pierce	....	best boy electric
Vance Piper	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Doreen Lane	....	casting assistant
Franklyn Warren	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dan Bronson	....	costumer
Michael J. Long	....	costume supervisor
Linda Serijan	....	costume supervisor (as Linda Serijan Fasmer)

Editorial Department
Don Brochu	....	additional editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Phil Downey	....	color timer
Tracy Granger	....	assistant editor
Jean Morrisey	....	associate editor
Lorraine Salk	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Budd Carr	....	music supervisor
Jerry Goldsmith	....	musician
Daniel J. Johnson	....	music editor
Carlton Kaller	....	music editor
Robert Schaper	....	score mixer
Ellen Segal	....	additional music editor
Lonnie Sill	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Buster Kohloff	....	transportation coordinator
Mike Paventi	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Bill Borden	....	production executive
Craig Caton	....	consultant: effects
Janis Benjamin Collister	....	production coordinator
Bill Davis	....	armorer
Sarah Elgart	....	choreographer
Ernest D. Farino	....	title designer: main titles
Kerry Fetzer	....	caterer
James W. Gavin	....	helicopter pilot
Van Ling	....	linguistics consultant
Cass Martin	....	location manager
Vicki Matlin	....	caterer
Richard Powell	....	location manager
Bruce Rush	....	location manager
Susan Trembly	....	unit publicist
Anne Warner	....	script supervisor
Karl A. Wickman	....	helicopter pilot (as Karl Wickman)

Production Companies

• American Entertainment Partners II L.P.
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (1991) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Twentieth Century Fox (1989) (Austria) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox Video (1990) (Belgium) (video)
• Fox Video (USA) (VHS)
• Fox Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Stan Winston Studio

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extra casting
• Pacific Title  end titles
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Park Public Relations  publicity
• Video Image  video displays
• Video Image  video sequences

Also Known As:

Future Tense (USA) (working title)
Outer Heat (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Belgium:16 (video rating) | USA:R (Certificate #29061) | UK:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American Entertainment Partners II L.P.

Trivia:

The October 1987 draft of the screenplay credits a rewrite to James Cameron. He is not credited in the final film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When George drinks the milk at Matt's house the milk disappears from his lip between shots.

Quotes:

Det. Sgt. Matthew Sykes: [Sykes has just cornered Harcourt] Hands Up!
[Harcourt raises his hands, producing a tube of ja-bru-kha]
Det. Sgt. Matthew Sykes: You make one move and you're history.
William Harcourt: Not history... ETERNITY!
[consumes the ja-bru-kha]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Smallville: Doomsday (#8.22)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL

Alien Politics

In 1991, three years have passed since a huge spaceship crash landed on Earth, dumping over a thousand humanoid beings into our already rapidly expanding population. These "Newcomers", which is what we have come to know them as, were genetically-engineered for the specific purpose of slave labor. Soon afterwards, they are put it into quarantine. The newcomers have almost all the physical features of human beings except for a few. They have no hair on their heads, the males can become pregnant and they have two hearts instead of one. When released, they are then integrated into our society. They are given names of famous places or important historical figures like San(m) Francisco or Ronald Reagan. This integration into our society however, opens the door for a new kind of racism. Racial slurs like "slags" are uttered behind their backs. Perhaps for the first time minorities are going to be looked upon from a different perspective. Human beings begin to fear for their jobs as the newcomers start to take over people's employment opportunities. It isn't long before they are being featured advertisements too. Much as Chinatowns have formed in major cities around the world, the newcomers are given their own "Slag Town". Even as the newcomers start to become a big part of our society, this also opens the door for extraterrestrial crime. This in turn, introduces us to human cop, Detective Matthew Sykes(James Caan). Sykes, who has a slight distrust towards newcomers, becomes even more hateful of them one night after getting into a shoot-out with two newcomers, which leaves his partner dead and him thirsty for revenge. Matthew then sees his chance for revenge the next day, when he is assigned to be partnered up with Detective Sam Francisco(Mandy Patinkin, who is only recognizable by his voice and a few facial features). Francisco has recently been promoted and in turn has set a milestone for newcomers and the history books as becoming the first humanoid detective. Sykes who refuses to introduce Francisco as Francisco, gives him the nickname "George". Sykes is naturally hateful towards Francisco, but as time goes on he soon begins to accept him for who/what he is. As their investigation goes on, it leads them to the center of an extraterrestrial drug ring, headed by a shady newcomer named William Harcourt(Terence Stamp). The drug, known to the newcomers as "Jabluka" but better off known to us as liquid detergent, is a very potent narcotic. As George says "it's more potent than any human drug." He is right about that. The drug, when taken in large quantities, can trigger a change in the newcomers, a change that is best kept secret. This is why George becomes so eager to see the drug destroyed before its presence is known to the human population.

"Alien Nation" is such a unique piece of science-fiction that had the potential to be something really spectacular. It really bugs me that this movie had the chance to be something so amazing, so new, that it instead became a standard buddy flick with some sci-fi stuff thrown in it. James Caan and Mandy Patinkin make a good team and Terence Stamp is good to as the evil Harcourt.

I believe that even though this movie is basically failed potential, I have gotten the bizarre social message hidden within it. It contains a message about how amazingly fast the newcomers have become a major part of our society. It amazes me that William Harcourt, although he is the bad guy in this movie, he is also extremely well educated. It's pure genius that he is able to use his high social status amongst the humans as a means of becoming a well known drug dealer. Human drug dealers probably would not need to envy or want to kill Harcourt, since they could find equal business opportunities in both their own communities as well as the newcomer community. The story also tells about the competition of aliens over humans. For millions of years, humans have been the dominant species on Earth. Now with the arrival of the newcomers, humans for the first time ever, are facing competition with a species that becomes more and more advanced every day. This explains largely in part as to why we are becoming more afraid of them, for fear of not only our jobs, but our place as the dominant species of our own planet. It won't be long before the newcomers become involved in human politics and then there may soon enough be a humanoid president. With this in mind, it is possible that not far down the road, that the newcomers could enslave us, as they were back on their own planet.

In some ways, the origin of the newcomers and their position in our society, reminds me of the history of African-Americans. Being African-American myself, the story reminds me largely of the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's. African-Americans, as well as any other minority group, have faced about as much discrimination as one could take. The racism that has been associated with the newcomers is almost exactly like what happened when minorities began taking up jobs that whites had been vying for.

Do you see what I mean? "Alien Nation" could have tackled so many social issues dead-on and would be a classic by now. Even with these faults, I enjoyed myself while watching this and I will try not to hold them against the movie.

I give "Alien Nation" an 8/10.