David Giler

Known for ProductionBorn 1943-07-23Died 2020-12-19New York City, New York

David Giler (July 23, 1943 – December 19, 2020) was an American filmmaker who has been active in the motion picture industry since the early 1960s. He started his career as a writer, providing scripts for television programs such as Kraft Suspense Theatre and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. He then moved to screenplays in the 70's, helping to write films such as The Parallax View and the original version of Fun With Dick and Jane. He produced his first film in 1970, the critically reviled Myra Breckinridge, an adaptation of Gore Vidal's controversial novel (he also co-wrote the film with director Michael Sarne). He helped Walter Hill produce the legendary horror thriller Alien in 1979, and it is for this film that he is probably best remembered. He and Hill became embroiled in a much-publicized behind-the-scenes fight with Alien's original writer, Dan O'Bannon, over who was to receive screenplay credit. Giler and Hill claim that they completely rewrote the script from top to bottom, and therefore they wanted to relegate O'Bannon to a "story by" credit only. O'Bannon claims that they did little more than change the names of the characters and dialogue, and felt that the two were trying to bully him out of the more prestigious screenplay credit. As evidenced by the interviews on the supplemental DVD features, the two parties were extremely antagonistic when it comes to this topic (O'Bannon has since died), though O'Bannon was the only one to receive credit for the screenplay in the final film. The various drafts can be found online, allowing audiences to decide for themselves. Giler worked with Hill on several more projects, including the continuation of the Alien franchise. The two were responsible for the final and very controversial rewrite of the Alien 3 story which killed off the Bishop, Hicks and Newt characters from Aliens. Some of the films that he wrote during this period include The Money Pit, Southern Comfort, and an uncredited rewrite for Beverly Hills Cop II. He also directed one film, The Black Bird (1975). Description above from the Wikipedia article David Giler, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. Read more

Movies & web series

The Beast Within: Making Alien

Alien

Rebel Highway

Wreckage and Rage: Making 'Alien³'

Tales from the Crypt

Aliens

Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens'

Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Southern Comfort

Prometheus

One Step Beyond: The Making of Alien Resurrection

The Parallax View

Undisputed

Fun with Dick and Jane

The Money Pit

The Alien Saga

Alien: Covenant

Alien³

Let It Ride

Alien Resurrection

Perversions of Science

AVP: Alien vs. Predator

Runaway Daughters

Bordello of Blood

Roadracers

Rustlers' Rhapsody

Aliens vs Predator: Requiem

Two-Fisted Tales

The Black Bird

Ritual

Girls in Prison

Myra Breckinridge

Dragstrip Girl

W.E.I.R.D. World

Alien: Paradise