The Thing from Another World

 

Moviedrome Introduction

Film Details

Release Date: 1951

Director: Christian Nyby

Stars:

Kenneth Tobey as Captain Patrick Hendry

Robert Cornthwaite as Dr. Arthur Carrington
Margaret Sheridan as Nikki Nicholson

Plot Summary 

The film is set in a remote Arctic research outpost, where a group of scientists and U.S. Air Force personnel discover a crashed alien spacecraft buried in the ice. They manage to extract a mysterious, frozen humanoid figure from the wreckage. Once brought back to the outpost, the creature thaws out and comes to life, revealing itself to be a highly intelligent and malevolent alien being.

As the creature begins to attack the outpost’s inhabitants, it becomes clear that it is both highly resilient and capable of regenerating from injuries. The team must use all their ingenuity and resources to combat the alien threat, ultimately discovering that the creature is a form of plant life that feeds on blood. The tension escalates as the team devises a plan to destroy the alien by setting a trap involving high-voltage electricity.

Personal History

Fond memories of the 1982 remake, which will surely get a re-watch as a result of inspiration from this film.

Current Review

Enjoyed this far more than expected. The dialogue zips along and despite the team's predicament by being picked off by a blood sucking plant monster (!), remains remarkably upbeat. Plenty of jokes and gallows humour.

The location sets and props are quite brilliantly done - from flying airplanes with ski's attached, to the Arctic where they find the flying saucer.

A dorsal fin out the ice is all we see - here the team measure the shape/size

Predictably yet improbably, the team somehow manage to chip a life-form thrown clear of the crash out the ice.

They managed to haul this onto the plane and into the lab

Of course, the ice melts and a Frankenstein monster is released. Attacked by the sled dogs, it rather grizzly leaves an "arm" behind allowing the tension to rack up between the team. The scientists want to protect the monster so that humanity canlearn from it. The military raid the armory and quickly learn that bullets have little impact on plant life.

The plant life resolves the tension by taking them all on with a piece of 4 by 2.

Who wants it?

Human ingenuity prevails and an impassioned, post victory speech to the wider world is transmitted on the radio from a journalist who has quite the scoop.

A fitting finale, to a short but perfectly formed film that stands the test of time well.

Watch the skies!      

Quirky Facts

• Originally, it was intended to make the creature a shapeshifter, as in the novel, but the limited budget forced the filmmakers to drop the idea. Early conceptual sketches depict a very plant-like looking creature, with one of its limbs seemingly undergoing a transformation into a human hand.
• The final line of dialogue, where Scotty admonishes his radio audience to "Keep watching the skies," became an iconic quote considered to be emblematic of the 1950s sci-fi film genre, as it evokes the flying saucer hysteria of the day as well as the Red Scare and the threat of nuclear war. It has been reused as is and referenced in modified form countless times by movies, TV shows, theatrical productions, song lyrics, book titles, and websites, usually with humorous intent.
• While Christian Nyby is credited as the director, there has been longstanding debate about how much of the film was actually directed by producer Howard Hawks. Many believe that Hawks had a significant, uncredited role in directing the film, as his style is evident in the movie's pacing and dialogue.
• Howard Hawks asked the U.S. Air Force for assistance in making the film. He was refused, because the top brass felt that such cooperation would compromise the U.S. government's official stance that U.F.O.s didn't exist.

Quotes

Ned "Scotty" Scott: All right, fellas, here's your story: North Pole, November Third, Ned Scott reporting. One of the world's greatest battles was fought and won today by the human race. Here at the top of the world a handful of American soldiers and civilians met the first invasion from another planet. A man by the name of Noah once saved our world with an ark of wood. Here at the North Pole, a few men performed a similar service with an arc of electricity. The flying saucer which landed here and its pilot have been destroyed, but not without causalities among our own meager forces. I would like to bring to the microphone some of the men responsible for our success... but as Senior Air force officer Captain Hendry is attending to demands over and above the call of duty... Doctor Carrington, the leader of the scientific expedition, is recovering from wounds received in the battle.
Eddie: [Softly] Good for you, Scotty.
Ned "Scotty" Scott: And now before giving you the details of the battle, I bring you a warning: Everyone of you listening to my voice, tell the world, tell this to everybody wherever they are. Watch the skies. Everywhere. Keep looking. Keep watching the skies.

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

Sustenance

A carrot.

Future Inspiration

The AI recommendations were predictable but welcomed.....  The 1982 The Thing deserves a rewatch.

Rather interestingly, for books, a recommendation for The Terror, by Dan Simmons. I rather enjoyed the TV Adaptation.

Howard Hawks crossed a lot of genres. I am sure that I have the Big Sleep down as a read from D.O.A. inspiration, which should include watching the movie.

His Top 5 Films;

1. His Girl Friday
2. The Big Sleep
3. Rio Bravo
4. Bringing up Baby
5. The Red River (film in the Last Picture Show?)