# Alien 1979, deleted scene and the eggs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136 "2012-06-14T14:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/1 "2012-06-14T14:21:25Z")
There is a deleted scene on the Alien DVD where Ripley finds the still living crew members “cocooned” and in the process of being turned into facehugger eggs, Dallas begs her to burn them all with the flamethrower before it happens. Assuming this had made it into the film was this supposed to be the origin of the eggs in the hold of the derelict? I always assumed it was clear by their placement and the laser alarm over them that they were cargo being hauled, instead of the crew of the derelict turned into eggs by the xenomorph that burst out of the famous pilot? ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/2 "2012-06-14T15:43:52Z")
Aliens (the movie) kinda retconned the Alien’s actions into **just** cocooning them to the wall. Sort of an instinctive behavior which would result in more aliens if there was an egg to place in front of them. Incidentally, if you buy the Blu-ray quadrilogy, that’s not a deleted scene anymore. It’s been professionally remastered and inserted into the film. ---
**Author:** ![JMH125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@JMH125](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMH125)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/3 "2012-06-14T15:49:14Z")
> [@grude](#): > > There is a deleted scene on the Alien DVD where Ripley finds the still living crew members “cocooned” and in the process of being turned into facehugger eggs, Dallas begs her to burn them all with the flamethrower before it happens. > > Assuming this had made it into the film was this supposed to be the origin of the eggs in the hold of the derelict? I always assumed it was clear by their placement and the laser alarm over them that they were cargo being hauled, instead of the crew of the derelict turned into eggs by the xenomorph that burst out of the famous pilot? yeah, that scene is in the official director cut. But it takes place on the Nostromo, not on the planet or in the derelict, so it would have no connection anyway. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/4 "2012-06-14T16:28:07Z")
I meant was it there intention to imply the eggs in the derelict were the former crew, sort of a mirror image of what happened on the Nostromo. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/5 "2012-06-14T17:02:45Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I meant was it there intention to imply the eggs in the derelict were the former crew, sort of a mirror image of what happened on the Nostromo. I thought the eggs were laid by a queen? [Xenomorph life cycle.](http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/089/a/a/Alien_Life_cycle_by_Noel4.png) ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/6 "2012-06-14T17:12:21Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > I thought the eggs were laid by a queen? The idea that an egg-laying queen alien even exists was introduced in the sequel. The original concept was for eggs to be produced directly from the bodies of victims. As noted above, the scene showing the Nostromo crew being transformed into eggs was removed, leaving Cameron a bit more freedom in expanding on the xenomorph life cycle. I think the batch of eggs on the alien ship were meant to be what’s left of the derelict crew, but there’s clearly enough ambiguity that all sorts of explanations can be retroactively inserted. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/7 "2012-06-14T18:14:46Z")
Interesting side note: Giger, being Giger, originally designed the egg opening to resemble a vagina, but the producers objected so it was altered to the final design. ([Interesting couple of articles about the movie and Giger.](http://www.littlegiger.com/articles/files/Cinefantastique_09_01.pdf) [pdf]) ---
**Author:** ![JMH125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@JMH125](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMH125)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/8 "2012-06-14T18:28:54Z")
it’s not too late for them to make Prometheus sequels now with oozing vagina eggs 🙂 haha. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/9 "2012-06-16T19:36:44Z")
You should always remember that the original Alien is gothic horror first, scifi second. Even if the egg scene had been left in, its primary purpose was to be horrifying, not to pander to fanboys’ interest in back story. Ridley Scott, having made two of the biggest fanboy films ever (the other being _Blade Runner_) makes a point of steering clear of any such discussions. It’s just not something he’s interested in (witness his constant statements that although, yes, they exist in the same fictional world \*Prometheus \*is not an Alien prequel film). ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/10 "2012-06-17T01:49:09Z")
I always though the ‘nest’ scene tied in nicely with Ash’s belief that the alien was ‘perfect’. It’s sole purpose was reproduction and by turning it’s victims into eggs, it was simply perfect in design, function and execution of that goal. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/11 "2012-06-17T20:26:36Z")
> [@JMH125](#): > > yeah, that scene is in the official director cut. Just wanted to note that the “official director’s cut” of Alien isn’t really. Scott DID make the cut, but he said it was just an alternate cut the studio wanted to renew interest. The original theatrical cut of Alien is his “director’s cut” and is the film as he would still prefer to present it. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/12 "2012-06-17T21:50:45Z")
> [@holmes](#): > > I always though the ‘nest’ scene tied in nicely with Ash’s belief that the alien was ‘perfect’. It’s sole purpose was reproduction and by turning it’s victims into eggs, it was simply perfect in design, function and execution of that goal. I don’t recall Ashe saying the Alien was “perfect”, but I thought he said “I admire it’s purity” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/13 "2012-06-18T00:31:00Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > I don’t recall Ashe saying the Alien was “perfect”, but I thought he said “I admire it’s purity” \*Ash: You still don’t understand what you’re dealing with, do you? A perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility. Lambert: You admire it. Ash: I admire its purity. A survivor… unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality \* ---
**Author:** ![Enigma42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/87869e/32.png) [@Enigma42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enigma42)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/14 "2012-06-18T13:57:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Interesting side note: > > Giger, being Giger, originally designed the egg opening to resemble a vagina, but the producers objected so it was altered to the final design. ([Interesting couple of articles about the movie and Giger.](http://www.littlegiger.com/articles/files/Cinefantastique_09_01.pdf) [pdf]) Interesting reading, thanks for linking those articles. Did anyone else think that Giler came across as a complete jerk in his interview? He was pretty harsh in his treatment of Dan O’Bannon. I don’t how much truth there might be in his statements, but he was remarkably free of tact. I guess the producer doesn’t have to treat a lowly writer with any degree of diplomacy. . . ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/15 "2012-06-18T16:39:08Z")
If it’s a Queen now laying eggs, why then in Alien 4 do they still glue people to the walls like the cut scene in Alien 1? And if Prometheus isn’t a prequel to Alien, why then is there a freaking ALIEN at the end of the film? ---
**Author:** ![JMH125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@JMH125](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JMH125)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/16 "2012-06-18T16:59:57Z")
Do you think it’s possible to have the deleted scene with people turning into eggs, AND the Queen laying eggs? what if a single alien, without the presence of a queen, has the ability to propagate the species? Albeit slowly. the Queen is much, much more efficient. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/17 "2012-06-18T17:03:57Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > And if Prometheus isn’t a prequel to Alien, why then[/spoiler] It’s a prequel in the sense that it’s set in the same universe and takes place prior to the events of _Alien_. It’s obviously related in some ways. It’s not a prequel in the sense that it necessarily directly sets up the events of _Alien_. ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/18 "2012-06-18T18:21:09Z")
> [@JMH125](#): > > Do you think it’s possible to have the deleted scene with people turning into eggs, AND the Queen laying eggs? what if a single alien, without the presence of a queen, has the ability to propagate the species? Albeit slowly. the Queen is much, much more efficient. That was always my personal way to unify the two processes. The first alien collects material (hosts) to create a queen facehugger. Once she’s ‘born’ and matures, she takes over the reproduction and begins laying eggs en mass. This works because if there’s not enough hosts to support a hive, then a queen isn’t needed and is wasted; but an egg will have been created to release a queen when/if the need arises. ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/19 "2012-06-18T18:25:41Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > If it’s a Queen now laying eggs, why then in Alien 4 do they still glue people to the walls like the cut scene in Alien 1? They are held to walls for a dual purpose: one is to keep them still so the facehuggers can get easy access to them and then they are held so that they can’t escape/or kill the alien that is growing inside them. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136/20 "2012-06-18T18:47:22Z")
> [@Enigma42](#): > > I don’t how much truth there might be in his statements, but he was remarkably free of tact. I guess the producer doesn’t have to treat a lowly writer with any degree of diplomacy. . . He did come across a bit harsh, but O’Bannon really was a hack writer. I think it was a matter of how poorly his script came across. Having read some of the original script ideas, it appears they turned a horrible retread of bad 50s SF and instead redefined the genre, with some help from brilliant visual designers and Ridley Scott, of course. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-1979-deleted-scene-and-the-eggs/625136.md?page=2)