Alien (1979), some rattling and papers moving?

[Gains]

Between 3.40-3.47 there's some rattling sound and some stuff moves, papers gust of wind.
What is that?
The crew is in cryo sleep so either it's just a "gust of wind" or something more sinister.

[Beast]

It's probably Mother re-oxygenating the environment before waking up the crew.

There's no sense to waste oxygen or the other life support systems while they're in cryosleep.

So it's likely the air from the vents moving things around while she's doing that.

[Thomas Guycott]

Yeah, Mother's just turning the HVAC back on.

[Gains]

That makes sense, a gust of wind from Mother, thank you

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by Gains

Between 3.40-3.47 there's some rattling sound and some stuff moves, papers gust of wind.
What is that?
The crew is in cryo sleep so either it's just a "gust of wind" or something more sinister.

Riddly Scott wanted to creat tension from start of the movie .

[kristoffer]

Hmm, I never thought about what caused it.

[JMDiaz718]

It's the ship's air system coming up to full blast. The crew has been asleep in the cryo tubes, the air on full, is not needed. You also see the navigation helmet things on the bridge flicking on. Those helmet looking things are part of the Nostromo's auto pilot function.

You also see the lights leading to the cryo sleep chamber flickering on.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

Hmm, I never thought about what caused it.

Me neither. But, like the inane discussion about the self-destruct in the Anthology thread, it can always be explained away. Makes perfect sense too, it's simply the air supply being started up or recycled ahead of the crew awakening from hyper sleep.

[kristoffer]

I need to rewatch it soon.

[Al_The_Strange]

Ah, I remember this was mentioned in the Movie Review thread:

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Alien (1979)

-Questions for ALIEN NERDS: (1) in opening shot on ship, the camera pans around the ship (while crew asleep, before tranmission pops up on screen), and a bunch of papers FALL OFF a table as the camera pans what the fack is that? an error of camera knocking papers off table? or is there something already on the ship?? (see 5:46-5:51 in video below!)

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Funny, I don't think I ever gave the fluttering papers much thought. I think I always assumed it was the ship's air conditioning or something making them move.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Then why hadnt they moved previously?

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

The AC kicked in JUST as the camera panned over it. That's how precise they timed the shot.

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Impressive. Very! Scott's a genius.

[Mr.Twinks]

That part is a great use of sound subtlety in Alien! I always thought it was Jonesy running round but I agree it is probably the ships environmental systems coming on.

[Nocturnaloner]

Originally Posted by Mr.Twinks

That part is a great use of sound subtlety in Alien! I always thought it was Jonesy running round but I agree it is probably the ships environmental systems coming on.

That's the difference between Alien, and that spate of crappy Mars movies starting in the 90s, where the goal of the production design seemed to be showing off the male actors in short sleeves. Give me that used universe look any day.

[Mr.Twinks]

Originally Posted by Nocturnaloner

That's the difference between Alien, and that spate of crappy Mars movies starting in the 90s, where the goal of the production design seemed to be showing off the male actors in short sleeves. Give me that used universe look any day.

Agreed! Every time I see Mission to Mars, I always chuckle at Gary Sinese's eyeliner makeup. Not his fault but damn!

[Al_The_Strange]

I've always considered all those movies to be a different thing altogether, nothing like Alien, maybe more akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey, but obviously nowhere near as good anyway.

The closest thing Alien has would be Event Horizon. Still no comparison.

[Mr.Twinks]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I've always considered all those movies to be a different thing altogether, nothing like Alien, maybe more akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey, but obviously nowhere near as good anyway.

The closest thing Alien has would be Event Horizon. Still no comparison.

Now you got my wheels turning on similar settings like Alien. Hmmm, Saturn 3, Outland..Those kinda look like the sets of Alien but yeah only slightly.

[SethRex]

Funny. I never even noticed.

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by Brightstar

Riddly Scott wanted to creat tension from start of the movie .

Nailed it.

This is addressed in the new doc Memory: The Origins of Alien. The rattling and papers moving are meant to convey a sense of unease, that's all, even if they seem to defy logic.

But I agree with the user who said it could have a practical explanation within the film, like the air system being back on right before the crew being awakened.

[Damon1281]

Glad we got that cleared up.