“No pleasure, no pain, no emotion, no heart. Our superior in every way.”
This month marks the 75th anniversary of THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD.
Directed by Christian Nyby, produced by Howard Hawks, and based on the 1938 novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell, THING told the tale of a U.S. Air Force crew who discovers a flying saucer in the Arctic ice and a lone, frozen occupant…which eventually thaws and terrorizes the residents of a scientific research station.
Considered to be one of the best sci-fi films of the 1950’s, THING was adapted from the novella by Charles Lederer, with rewrites from Howard Hawks. The film was partly shot in Glacier National Park in Montana, with interior sets built in a Los Angeles ice storage plant. Leading the Air Force crew was veteran actor Kenneth Tobey, and he was joined by Margaret Sheridan, Robert Cornthwaite, Douglas Spencer, James Young, Dewey Martin, and Robert Nichols. Appearing in a small role as a scientist was George Fenneman, who was Groucho Marx’s announcer on the popular quiz show You Bet Your Life. James Arness would play THE THING.
On release, THING was a solid earner, out-gaining fellow sci-fi classic THE DAY EARTH STOOD STILL. In 2001, the film was selected for preservation in the United States Film Registry. In 1982, James Carpenter would direct a remake which became another classic.
*
This Blogger’s introduction to THE THING came by way of the old WPIX Sunday Afternoon Matinee movie, where it was run with other classics such as KING KONG and THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD. It was a clever, scary, and exciting creature-feature that went up against the good ol’ boys of the American military. It clicked well back then, and it does now.
Beyond the creature-feature, THE THING was very much a product of its time. As with most good sci-fi, the film was a reflection of the times. This was a post-WWII world where everyone had seen the horrors of an atomic bomb, and scientists were held responsible for creating such an abomination. This is a heavy theme in THE THING, as the Air Force crew are often at odds with the scientists. Still, the film shows a connection between the two; the lead scientist and the Air Force General both quip lines such as “close the door”, showing their secretive ways which have deadly consequences.
After 75 years, THE THING still holds influence over cinema. It’s isolated setting and closed-quarters paranoia has inspired other landmark films such as ALIEN (1979), ALIENS (1986), and HALLOWEEN (1978), and James Arness’ hulking figure is impressive. The simple premise and execution really works, and Howard Hawks’ fondness for American bravery and ingenuity give the film a beating heart. And for 1951, the film is progressive; Margaret Sheridan’s character is the one who comes up with the final solution to defeat THE THING. Today, many fans flock towards the 1982 remake, but this Blogger will always fly to the original.
“Watch the skies!”