The Thing from Another World (1951)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Christian Nyby

Writers:

John W. Campbell Jr. (story)
Charles Lederer (writer)

Release Date:

29 April 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Look Out...It's

Plot:

Scientists and American Air Force officials fend off a blood-thirsty alien organism while at a remote arctic outpost.

Plot Keywords:

Arctic | Scientist | Alien | Arctic Expedition | Pilot

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Margaret Sheridan	...	Nikki
Kenneth Tobey	...	Captain Patrick Hendry
Robert Cornthwaite	...	Dr. Carrington
Douglas Spencer	...	Scotty
James R. Young	...	Lt. Eddie Dykes (as James Young)
Dewey Martin	...	Crew Chief
Robert Nichols	...	Lt. Ken Erickson
William Self	...	Corporal Barnes
Eduard Franz	...	Dr. Stern
Sally Creighton	...	Mrs. Chapman
James Arness	...	'The Thing'

Also Known As:

The Thing (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

87 min | USA:81 min (re-issue version) | USA:85 min (original US 16 mm television syndication prints)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #14925) | USA:Unrated (DVD rating) (video rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | West Germany:12 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Company:

Winchester Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The scene in which The Thing is doused with kerosene and set ablaze is believed to be the first full body burn accomplished by a stunt man.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the movie Tex is operating from the Radio Room with large windows clearly showing the snow. Later in the movie he states that the Radio Room has no windows.

Quotes:

Dr. Arthur Carrington: We owe it to the brain of our species to stand here and die... without destroying a source of wisdom.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Creature (1985)

Soundtrack:

A Lovely Way To Spend an Evening

There is something more chilling than the North Pole here.

"The Thing" without a doubt is one of the finest science fiction films ever made. A group of scientists and air force officers at an Arctic station discover something in the ice and that something sees them as dinner. The battle goes on in the claustrophobic station in a scenario that without a doubt was the model for the original "Aliens". The cast is a very fine ensemble and the direction is crisp and on the edge. Conversations overlap and at times runs simultaneously but the direction is so good that you miss nothing. Best of all is that this is one of those films where what you don't see is what scares you. There is no splatter or graphic detail but tantalizing hints that lets your mind conjure up your worst nightmare. A great one for a dark and stormy night.