Thing from Another World, The (DVD)

Right off the bat, this review is biased. This is a favorite movie of mine and each year for Halloween, I watch this movie and "The Creature from the Black Lagoon". I personally love the older classic monster movies and do not like most of the newer generations of horror movies. If all the movie has to offer is gore, that isn't really my taste in movies. "The Thing from Another World" does not have any gore in it. With modern ratings, it is probably a G or barely a PG rating. If you have not seen the movie before, I suggest you give it a try. It is a pleasant view of an older style of film-making and the story inspired another classic, and great, monster or horror movie: John Carpenter's "The Thing" and its more recent sequel also titled, "The Thing". In some ways, the story also feels like it inspired some episodes of the "X-Files" and other movies and television programs that have come after. The plot is straight-forward which is common for films of the era. The Thing is the bad guy. The Air Force officer and his crew are the heroes. The scientists fall on both sides of the fence based on their perspective regarding The Thing. Also typical for this era, the leading lady in the film is more of a damsel in distress than an action star but she is more capable than others and is not portrayed as being incapable of taking care of herself. Part of the scientists want to open a dialogue with The Thing because it is a vastly more intelligent species that has mastered the ability to travel between stars. Once things start to go poorly, some of the scientists exhibit common sense and a legitimate desire for self-preservation and want to eliminate The Thing. The characters do not waffle on who they are or how they behave. In that respect, they are less developed but for the era and genre, that is not uncommon. Also, considering the story takes place over the course of a couple of days, there would not be much time for the characters to experience a change in their personas. The effects for the time are typical but better than some movies. Most of the movie follows the human characters and the story is mostly told in the interior of the scientists camp in the Arctic. The Thing of the title of the movie does not have much screen time and there is not an attempt to tell any of the story from its perspective. A little trivia about The Thing, the alien is played by James Arness who went on to the more famous role of US Marshall Matt Dillion in the long-lived western drama "Gunsmoke". He was partially selected to play the alien because of his large stature and in some scenes where he is with some of the other cast members, he does appear physically intimidating. I previously had a copy of this movie on DVD and I honestly cannot see much of a difference in quality between the DVD and the Blu-Ray release. It is 70 year old black and white movie shot on film with cameras decades before high definition was a thing and a lot of people went to drive-in movies. The video WILL NOT compare to modern films or television shows shot in 16:9 frames, 1080p, or Dolby sound. If those things are paramount to you, then the movie will be disappointing. However, if you watch it as an enjoyable piece of film history and a classic monster movie that is serious and not campy, I think you will enjoy the movie a great deal. Personally, a big reason I bought the movie on Blu-Ray was because I prefer the slimmer and shorter Blu-Ray packaging. The package for this movie is no-frills. A simple, plastic case with a paper insert is all there is.Being a fan of this movie and the remake and prequel that followed, I would purchase these movies again in a collected edition if one existed. Some elements of the movie that I think helped influence other works include the premise of the protagonists being isolated and being in an enclosed area. I think this is a forerunner of ideas that were explored in the movie "Alien" and in episodes of the "The X-Files" such as "Ice. They are common themes and present in many films, television programs, and novels but I think at least some of them were influenced by this movie.

OK, it's in black-and-white, so you don't see blood and gore in living color. In fact, you don't see blood and gore at all--special effects were low-key back in those pre-PC days. But "The Thing From Another World" has something too often lacking in thrillers back then and now--a brain behind the camera! In this case, it's the brain of producer Howard Hawks doubling as uncredited director for a friend who was nominally "directing" his first film. In addition, Hawks and buddy Ben Hecht, known as the "Shakespeare of Hollywood," were uncredited contributors to the screenplay. No wonder the actors' lines snap and sparkle as in other Hawks hits like "The Big Sleep," "Red River," "Rio Bravo," and "His Girl Friday" based on the "Front Page" play written by Hecht and Charles MacArthur. So you have a tight, fast-moving story full of interesting dialogue, and no big-name actors so any of the soldiers and scientists confronting The Thing in a remote arctic station could be its next victim. But wait! There's more! This was the very first alien invader film ever made, just a few short years after the "Roswell Incident" in New Mexico. That makes it the great-granddaddy of hostile alien films from the "Alien" to "The Astronaut's Wife," "Mars Attacks!" and beyond. It set the mark for everything that followed. The cast is a good one. If there is a "leading man" it would have to be James Arness in the title role of the monster. But you'll never recognize him--his appearances are few, brief, and generally a surprise. The commander of the soldiers is Kenneth Tobey. Although never a big star himself, he studied at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse with Gregory Peck, Eli Wallach, and Tony Randall. Hawks picked him for this role based on a short comedy bit he did in "I Was a Male War Bride." Also in the cast is a young, upcoming Texan, Dewey Martin. And keep your eye on Douglas Spencer as the lone newsman in the bunch, who voices the film's final warning: "Look to the skies!" A character actor, Spencer's main occupation for years was as stand-in for star Ray Milland. The sets look real and really cold--you can see the actors' breath in many scenes. The camera work is outstanding, including one scene lighted only by a flaming stuntman. And the film is chocked full of hopes and fears of the 1950s. A confident military, some cold scientists who prize knowledge over emotion and some who fear they're treading on God's toes, a dawning recognition we may not be alone in our universe, and all the fears of the Cold War and the Red Scare. Quite a load for one movie to carry. But what I remember best about this film is the Saturday matinee at the theater where I and most of the other kids in town first saw it. The soldiers are tracking the deadly Thing through the arctic station with a geiger counter that follows it's radioactive "scent." The tick-tick-ticks come faster and louder as the soldiers approach a large cabinet. Is the Thing inside? They whip open the door--and out tumbles one of the sled dogs the monster has killed! Boy, every kid in that theater jumped, and popcorn shot straight up several feet from the boxes we were holding. As the popcorn fell around us, it looked like a snow-storm inside the theater. Now that's entertainment!

"The Thing from Another World" is an absolute must-have for any fans of 1950's science fiction films, but is easily one of the best that the genre has produced in any era. The movie is now sixty plus years old at the time of this review, but the movie has more than held its own against time and advancement in movie making ability. I suppose that this film is to be a B-rated film that had a small budget and relative lack of acting talent, but don't let either of these issues stop your viewing of this film, the actors hold their own quite well, and the budgetary restraints don't rear their ugly head all too often. The film is an absolutely seminal film when it comes to '50s sci-fi and horror, but it also serves as a reminder of just how hysterical the world was at the dawn of the atomic age and Cold War. This film encapsulates all the things that made the '50s what they were: America was at their peak around the world, the U.S. Military was seen as a voice of reason and goodness, and the thought of outer space was distant and all too often frightening. Out of all the acting, James Arness' turn as "the Thing" is absolutely top-notch though he never mutters a single phrase. The eerie looks and sights of Arness, coupled with his imposing height makes his turn as the creature still spine tingling till this day for many viewers. Though the budget was small and the actors unknown, " The Thing" is an essential and classic movie of a bygone movie age. The film does more than just make you jump or shriek, it reminds the viewer of a time when the fear of the total destruction of the human race was so real that films like this live forever. This film is a must for all fans of sci-fi and horror no matter what the age. The film is just a remarkable and breathtaking vantage point of an America that exists only in memory now; a world that was scared to death of both space monsters and creatures, as well as the Soviet menace that threatened the peace and security of the Earth itself.

"The Thing from Another World," released in 1951, is not just a movie; it's a milestone in the science fiction genre. A chilling tale of an alien organism discovered in the Arctic, it set the stage for a new era of cinematic storytelling. Influential Plot: The story revolves around a group of scientists and military personnel who uncover a frozen alien being. When it awakens, the terror begins, and the struggle for survival ensues. The plot's gripping tension and mysterious antagonist have become templates for many subsequent sci-fi films. Stylistic Impact: The movie's style, from its atmospheric cinematography to its suspenseful pacing, has been influential in shaping the horror and sci-fi genres. Its legacy can be seen in numerous films, including John Carpenter's famous 1982 remake. Acting and Direction: The performances are top-notch, with a cast that brings authenticity and intensity to their roles. Under the direction of Christian Nyby (and uncredited Howard Hawks), the film achieves a balance of horror, drama, and even moments of humor. Cultural Relevance: "The Thing from Another World" continues to resonate with audiences, reflecting fears of the unknown and the uncontrollable. Its themes are as relevant today as they were at the time of its release. Must-Watch Status: For fans of the genre, this movie is a must-watch. Its status as a classic is well-deserved, and it's a film that continues to be discovered and appreciated by new generations. "The Thing from Another World" is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring appeal of well-crafted cinema. It's not just a film to watch; it's an experience to savor. Its impact on the world of sci-fi is immeasurable, and its place in the pantheon of classic films is secure. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and delve into this piece of cinematic history. It's a journey into terror and wonder that you won't soon forget.

This review is for the Blu-Ray edition of 'The Thing From Another World' released by Warner Archives in November, 2018. On the off chance that you are not familiar with this movie, this is the 1951 original and does not have a lot in common with the original novella by John Campbell nor the John Carpenter classic from 1982 and it's prequel in 2011. I have included a brief comparison between the novella and three movies made based on the novella below. BLU-RAY & EXTRA'S: The picture is clear but not perfect. Like many of these releases from the time period, the picture sharpens and softens throughout. I'm guessing that's because of the source materials. The picture itself is free from most imperfections and I didn't really notice any spots, lines, etc. As far as the extra's go, you get two trailers and subtitles. The two trailers are essentially the same. One of them is HD. That is the one with Spanish subtitles. The American one is in standard definition. Both have many imperfections and have not been cleaned up. To tell you the truth, I didn't notice much difference between the HD and the SD versions. PLOT/SUMMARY: The movie opens with Captain Hendry (Kenneth Tobey) and some other air force service men sitting around in Anchorage, Alaska. Hendry gets a request from Dr. Carrington near the North Pole to head up there. They are told that an airplane has crashed near by. When they get there they find out that it is probably not an airplane but some sort of UFO that has crashed about 40 miles from their outpost. They take their plane and find the crash site. The ice has melted from the heat generated by the UFO and re-froze around it with just the tip sticking out of the ice. They make the very questionable choice of using thermite bombs to try and free the UFO. The ship ends up exploding but they find an alien frozen under the ice. They cut out a block of ice that contains the alien. Back at base, Captain Hendry decide's against Dr. Carrington's wishes to leave the alien frozen until they receive further orders. They are having trouble with the radio. Unfortunately, Corporal Barnes puts an electric blanket on the block of ice so he doesn't have to look at the alien. Well...it melts and after Barnes fires at it, the Thing goes hunting for food. The problem is that it's preferred food is blood. The Thing is some sort of super vegetable and for nutrition it uses the blood of living creatures. Aside from the dogs there are only humans to feed on. Since it is made up of vegetable matter it has no blood and you can't kill it by shooting it. The base must find a way to stop the 'Thing' before it kills all of them. Either that or they must hold out till help can arrive. Either way they must stop it because it reproduces at a very high rate and will threaten the survival of all living creatures on Earth. WHAT DOES THE THING'S ORIGINAL FORM LOOK LIKE?: This is unclear but a description is given twice in the 1938 novella. Here is a quote from the novella about whether or not one of the scientist's believes they have seen the Thing's real form: "It may have been imitating the beings that built that ship - but I don't think it was. I think that was its true form." Here are two descriptions given in the novella: "It was face up there on the plain, greasy planks of the table. The broken half of the bronze ice-ax was still buried in the skull. Three mad, hate-filled eyes blazed up with a living fire, bright as fresh-spilled blood, from a face ringed with writhing, loathsome nest of worms, blue, mobile worms that crawled where hair should grow". "They haven't seen those three red eyes, and that blue hair like crawling worms". A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE NOVELLA "Who Goes There" by John W. Campbell and THE THREE 'The Thing' MOVIES: -Who Goes There? (1938) The novella was first published in Astounding Science Fiction magazine. The author, John Campbell was a legendary editor of the magazine who helped many famous science fiction author's get their start such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein and A.E. van Vogt. - The lead protaganist, MacReady, is the same in John Carpenter's 1981 version of 'The Thing' as it is in the original story. -The testing sequence is done similarly in the novella and the 1982 movie. -After the testing is done, the novella is different from the movies based on it. -The Thing in the novella is telepathic and it is building a device with which it hopes to escape. -The Thing From Another World(1951) - The main difference at the start is the setting and premise.This movie takes place in the Arctic instead of the novella's Antarctica. -In the 1951 movie the military discovers the UFO and in the novella it's a scientific research team just as in the 1981 movie. -A UFO is discovered in the ice and it is accidentally destroyed by using thermite charges. -An alien frozen in a block of ice is recovered and brought back to base. From this point on, this movie takes it's own course and is very different than the novella. There is no creature taking over other people's bodies. -The Thing (1982) This movie will ultimately become the second movie of a two movie sequence that starts with the 2011 movie. The 2011 movie serves as a prequel to this one. -This movie uses the middle part of the novella along with the premise of a scientific research team as the principals. In the novella, the thing takes over a dog and a scientist. Whereas in this movie a dog comes to the base after it has already taken over it's body at another base. The main part taken from the novella is the testing sequence. Once it is discovered there is a creature, testing is done using blood samples much the same as in the novella. -The novella goes in to much more detail with the testing and the aftermath. -After the testing is done, the novella and this movie go in a different direction. -The Thing (2011) - This movie serves as the prequel to the 1982 movie. -This movie starts with the premise of the novella that a spaceship has been discovered in Antarctica. Instead of blowing up the ship as is done in the 1951 movie, an alien is discovered nearby. It is brought back to base much the same as it is done in the novella and 1951 movie. The creature gets loose and the goes on to kill most of the people on the base. The movie from this point on doesn't have a lot in common with either the novella or the 1951 movie. -Obviously since it is the prequel, it sets things up nicely so that the base looks exactly as it does when the scientists from the 1982 movie visit the base. -Unlike the first two movies, this movie did not do well and was pretty much a commercial failure. A COMPARISON OF THE THING IN EACH VERSION: - Novella from 1938 - The Thing can take the form and thoughts of any creature it comes into contact with just as it does in the 1982 movie and 2011 prequel. It is unclear if in fact the creature's actual form is ever shown but the novella does give a description twice in the novella of what it's original form may be. I have included the description in this review, above. - 1982 movie and 2011 prequel - We never really see what the original creature looks like. It may well be that the alien ship crashes because the Thing has killed the aliens and taken over their bodies. The Thing in these movies can take the form and thoughts of any creature it comes into contact with just as in the novella from 1938. - 1951 movie - The Thing in this movie is essentially a vegetable creature or as they call it a 'Super Carrot'. It needs the blood of living creatures for nourishment. COMMENTS/PRODUCTION: 'The Thing' was produced by Winchester Pictures in 1951 and it was distributed by RKO Pictures. - This movie was directed by Christian Nyby...officially. There is much controversy about this. Nyby never showed this type of directing ability again. He had been Howard Hawks' editor up till this movie and Hawks gave him a chance to direct. Many experts and people involved say that it was really Hawks doing the directing and it was Nyby just basically following his orders. There are some people that come out on Nyby's side, thus the controversy. - The title was originally going to be called 'The Thing'. The "From Another World" was added to avoid confusion with a hit song from the time period that had the title, 'The Thing'. I always thought that part looked sort of tacked on and it turns out it was. -This movie had a very high budget for a science fiction film during the 50's. It cost over $1.5 million. -The sets were built in an ice storage plant. Some scenes were shot in Glacier National Park in Montana. -This was the third time I had watched this movie. The first time as a kid, I hated it. There wasn't enough action. All I remembered was sitting around waiting for a monster to show up. When it does....well...you know the ending. So obviously as a young Godzilla fan this movie wasn't going to cut it. The second time I watched it was about 5 years ago and it was then that I understood why it was considered a sci-fi classic. The third time...I'll be honest...I was a bit bored. There isn't a whole lot in this movie that makes me want to see it again. Even though I'm not an action junkie, the only thing I looked forward to were the scenes with the 'Super Carrot'. Obviously it's air time is minimal to say the least. -I don't know what to think of the fast talking. For those of you who don't know and for those of you who noticed like me, the characters start speaking immediately after the previous one stops speaking. Basically they speak too quickly for it to be real. If this were real life then people would be constantly interrupting each other or finishing each others sentences! This is also called overlapping dialogue even if it doesn't actually overlap. From what I've read, Howard Hawks, encouraged this in some of his movies. On the one hand I like it. On the other hand I don't like it. There are pros and cons to this ways of film making. I like the fact that it keeps the movie moving. This is especially important in a film in which there is a lot of talking such as 'The Thing'. It also allows for more depth of story since the director can pack more information into the time allotted. The downside is, that if you are slow like me or easily distracted by things on the screen then you have to constantly back track for stuff that didn't register because it came at you too fast. You can do that if you are alone but if you are watching with people then it becomes a distraction. These days I always watch with subtitles when provided. -I like movies that take place in remote locations, especially horror and science fiction movies. This movie obviously fills the bill on that front. -I thought the scene with Hendry's hand's tied was 'risque' for the time period and I'm surprised it go past the censors. -Dr. Carrington was originally supposed to be killed in his scene with the Thing, apparently with his head being cut off. -Bill Warren uses the final line of dialogue in this movie as the title for his definitive book on Science Fiction movies from the 1950's (up to 1962), 'Keep Watching the Skies!' SOME THOUGHTS AND NOTES ON THE ARMY ALWAYS WANTING TO DESTROY ALIENS -I have to say I agree with Dr. Carrington on this. -Just what is up with army always wanting to destroy aliens from another planet? Don't they understand the significance? Obviously the command did but Captain Hendry and crew certainly didn't. Don't they understand the magnitude of the discovery? -Yes, I get it....it was a danger to all mankind...but they didn't know that in the beginning and started shooting at it before they completely understood the creature. -Even having destroyed it, any reasonable person would want the remains of an alien being. If for nothing else, to study it. -Let's be clear here....I'm talking about the army from science fiction movies. I'm not criticizing the 'real' one. -I'd like to make another important point about the constant disagreement between scientist's and servicemen during the time period. These Sci-Fi movies of the 50's were made soon after World War II and apparently the country was high on the military and down on scientists for having been responsible for starting the Cold War. SOME COMPLAINTS: Just because I have to complain about something....love fests are boring. -I still can't get over the absolutely stupendously dumb idea of using thermite to blow up the spaceship. I can't imagine any scenario in real life where this would be duplicated. Today it would probably take years before they were even ready to start digging the spaceship out of the ice and then take years to dig out. Even for the 1950's this was incredibly stupid. Even for 1938 when the novella was written this would have been idiotic. OK...'nuff said on that! -A minor complaint.... What was up with that line from Captain Hendry about it being too cold to see!?!...Yeah, I know what he meant but still.... -Why exactly was Corporal Barnes shooting like mad at the Thing before he even knew what it was up to? He didn't even give it a chance. He just started shooting the moment it melted. -You'd think that they would put multiple guards on duty to protect the 'find of the century (or millennium for that matter)'. -Uh Captain Hendry...you might want to save part of the remains of the Thing so you can study it. If it is part of an alien force headed to Earth to take over then you might want to study it for weaknesses. How hard would it be to seal it in a secured cage or room? RECOMMENDATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Everyone knows this movie is a science fiction classic. For me it is a good movie and I totally get why it is considered one of the best ever science fiction movies not only from the 50's but of all time. That still doesn't mean I have to agree it should be in anybody's top 10. For 1951 it was a great movie and in a way it still holds up today. The problem is that in my eyes it is not a very exciting movie. This is more of a thoughtful movie. Therein lies another problem. I didn't like the army's "kill first, ask questions later" attitude. That takes away some of the 'thoughtfulness'. Dr. Carrington is basically shoved aside and treated like an idiot despite being a Nobel laureate. That said, everyone should watch this movie at least once. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give this movie an 8 for the time period or 4 stars for the plot. The extra's are minimal so no added value there. The picture is let's call it a 7/10 or 3 1/2 stars. Cost/value - 3 stars. Overall I'm giving this release 3 to 3 1/2 stars but I'm bumping it to 4 stars because it is the best available print of a science fiction classic. As I say for just about all of the Warner Archive movies, I'd like to see some better value with the release in the form of some extra's and/or commentary track. Highly Recommended for all science fiction fans.

This movie was always a favorite of mine, glad to add it to my collection!

THE THING.. Need I say more. Another great classic sci-fi movie. Good quality DVD..

The Warner Archive Collection (blu-ray) of The Thing from Another World is a welcome addition to my movie collection. While the video/audio merits of this disc presentation aren't exactly stellar, the movie itself is a real classic. A very taut, suspenseful and well produced science fiction story. In my opinion, both this 1951 classic and John Carpenter's 1982 revision are about on par with one another.

Film bien fait, typique des années 50 avec bien sur toutes sortes de clichés, mais qui a plutôt bien vieilli et est un témoignage de l'époque.

pelicula de culto , y el transfer el mejor que puedes tener actualmente

My first exposure to “the thing”. Happy to finally have this one in HD after growing up watching the vhs. The movie looks better than ever and the packaging is great.

If you want a classic 1951 science fiction movie. This is ok.

Soy fan de las películas clásicas de Ciencia Ficción y cuando supe que Warner Archive Collection había restaurado en formato Blu-Ray el clásico "The Thing From Another World", la compre de inmediato. Se ve espectacular, mejor que nunca, con una calidad de imagen fuera de serie, el único inconveniente es que no trae subtítulos en español. Llegó rápido y en perfectas condiciones