Alien

Alien Teaser Poster Country United States Directed by Ridley Scott Release Date 1979 Studio 20th Century Fox Distributor 20th Century Fox Main Cast Character Actor Ripley Sigourney Weaver Dallas Tom Skerritt Parker Yaphet Kotto Lambert Veronica Cartwright Ash Ian Holm Kane John Hurt Brett Harry Dean Stanton

Alien is the 1979 science fiction film that launched the Alien film franchise. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film revolves around a space transport crew who stumble upon an unknown lifeform that poses a grave threat to their lives. The film launched the movie career of Sigourney Weaver and would spawn three direct sequels: Aliens, Alien³, and Alien: Resurrection as well as the Alien vs. Predator series of films. For the film's twentieth anniversary, a "Director's Cut" of Alien was released with added scenes. Ridley Scott would return to this universe in 2012's Prometheus and 2017's Alien: Covenant.

The following weapons were used in the film Alien:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Custom Flamethrower

The main weapon used by the crew of the Nostromo is a flamethrower assembled by Parker (Yaphet Kotto). The customized flamethrower is seen used by Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Parker (Yaphet Kotto), and Dallas (Tom Skerritt). In a deleted scene reinstated in the 2003 "Director's Cut", Ripley uses the flamethrower to incinerate a nest.

Screen used flamethrower from Alien. Image from Prop Store of London.

Closeup of the flamethrower used by Dallas (Tom Skerritt).

Parker (Yaphet Kotto) holds the flamethrower.

In a scene from the Director's Cut, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) uses the flamethrower. This scene would be echoed in both Aliens and Alien: Resurrection.

Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) lets loose with the flamethrower.

Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) heads for the shuttle holding the flamethrower.

Harpoon Gun

Ripley is seen holding a harpoon gun when confronting the Alien in the escape pod. It is likely based on a Mares Snub Nose.

Mares Snub Nose.

Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) enters the shuttle with the harpoon gun.

Closeup as the barbs are deployed.

Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) fires the harpoon.

Closeup as the gun is jammed in the door.

Laser Pistol

Before investigating the derelict ship, Dallas (Tom Skerritt) tells the crew to break out the weapons, the larger of which was based on the Swiss Rexim-Favor, the other based on a Webley Junior Mk II Air Pistol. According to the novelization of the film, these are laser pistols. The Rexim-Favor-based weapon features a 4x20 scope and an underbarrel Singlepoint scope (which would make the scope unusable). The Rexim-Favors were used by the actors dressed in full-sized spacesuits, while the Webleys were used by children dressed in scaled down spacesuits, who were used in all wide shots to make the derelict set seem bigger. While not seen being fired, they are seen in holsters on the crew's spacesuits and Kane (John Hurt) is briefly seen holding one in the Director's Cut.

Rexim-Favor Mk5 - 9x19mm

Webley Junior Mk II Air Pistol - .177 pellet

Screen used laser pistol from Alien.

One of the handgun props is seen below the cattle prod prop. This is based on the Swiss Rexim-Favor.

A display of the some of the weapons.

Closeup of the Webley Junior Mk.II version. Note the "Webley" grip.

A handgun is briefly seen in a holster in Kane's yellow spacesuit. In order to make the set seem larger, children were dressed up in smaller scale suits.

Kane (John Hurt) holding a laser pistol in the Director's Cut.