David Giler

American filmmaker and co-founder of Brandywine Productions.

David Kevin Giler was an American filmmaker active in the film industry from the early 1960s until his death in 2020. He is known for his work as a writer, producer, and director, notably co-founding Brandywine Productions and contributing to the Alien franchise.

Quick Facts

Birth name: David Kevin Giler
Born: 23 July 1943
Birthplace: New York City, U.S.
Died: 19 December 2020
Place of death: Bangkok, Thailand
Occupation: Film/television producer, screenwriter
Years active: 1962–2017
Notable works: Alien, The Parallax View

Facts from the source article.

Career

Giler began his career collaborating with his father Bernie, a writer, on television programs such as The Gallant Men, Kraft Suspense Theatre, Burke's Law, and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.. After his father's death in 1967, he received sole credit on shows like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Bold Ones: The Lawyers. He moved into feature film writing, with his first produced credit being the critically reviled Myra Breckinridge, an adaptation of Gore Vidal's novel; although the film was a disaster, Giler's script, heavily rewritten by director Michael Sarne, was praised.

He wrote a remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice and adapted The King Must Die, both shelved, and did uncredited rewriting on Skin Game. He received credit on The Parallax View, then directed his only film, The Black Bird. He wrote Fun with Dick and Jane and an adaptation of Fear of Flying that was never filmed. With Walter Hill and Gordon Carroll, he formed Brandywine Productions, and in 1979 the trio co-produced and rewrote the script for Alien.

A public dispute arose with original writer Dan O'Bannon over screenplay credit: Giler and Hill claimed they completely rewrote the script and wanted O'Bannon to receive only a 'story by' credit, while O'Bannon said they changed little more than character names and dialogue. Ultimately, O'Bannon received sole screenplay credit, with a 'story by' co-credit with Ronald Shusett. Giler and Hill later wrote Southern Comfort and, with James Cameron, the storyline that became the basis for Aliens.

Giler alone wrote The Money Pit, did an uncredited rewrite on Beverly Hills Cop II, produced Rustlers' Rhapsody, and wrote a remake of The Decline of the American Empire that was not filmed.