Review of The Thing from Another World (1951) by Van R — 04 Apr 2011

A classic Cold War era sci-fi thriller that remains influential.

When a mysterious aircraft crashes at the North Pole near a scientific outpost, the labcoats contact the U.S.A.F. in Anchorage, Alaska, and request a team of investigators with supplies. General Fogarty (David McMahon) dispatches Captain Patrick Hendry, Lieutenant Eddie Dyes, and Lieutenant Ken 'Mac' MacPherson to load up a C-47 and fly out to see them. A newspaper reporter, Ned â~Scottyâ(TM) Scott (Douglas Spencer), is searching for a story when this happens and hitches a ride up with them. After they arrive, the scientists explain to them that the aircraft was not a meteor because of its flight path. Dr. Carrington estimates that the craft could weigh as much as 2o,ooo tons. They fly 48 miles away to the crash site and find the craft buried in the ice with what appears to be a stabilizer sticking up through the ice. Since they cannot chop it out of the ice, Hendry orders Crew Chief Sergeant Bob (Dewey Martin of âLand of the Pharaohsâ?) to wire up thermite to burn the ice. This strategy constituted Air Force standard operating procedure. However, when they set off the charges, the ship catches fire and burns up. Later, the civilians and the military discover the humanoid body of an ugly-looking, 8 foot tall alien frozen in the nearby ice. They chop the alien out of the ice and fly it back to their outpost. During the evening, the alien recovers his ability to walk after the ice melts. It seems that Corporal Barnes (William Self) couldnâ(TM)t stomach the sight of the evil monster and draped a heating blanket over it. The scientists led by Dr. Arthur Carrington urge Captain to show compassion when dealing with the creature. Although Hendry receivers repeated orders from Fogarty not to kill the alien, Hendry ignores each directive. Our heroes discover that their bullets are useless because the alien hasa plant-based origins. They rig up an arc of electricity, lure the alien down a hallway and hit him from three sides with electricity that eventually destroys it.

The creature escapes and hides out on the base. Meanwhile, our heroes are snowed in and they cannot get any messages out. Worse, the alien presents a clear and presence dangers. Not even 12 dogs could slow him down and they gnawed off a forearm. The scientists discover that the alien is an example of an intelligent vegetable. Indeed, the newspaperman refers to it as a â~carrot.â(TM) The so-called â~carrotâ(TM) proves to be more than a handful for our beleaguered heroes to contend with. The creature survives the lost of an arm by growing a replacement. Eventually, it kills two scientists looking to safeguard its welfare. The alien strings them up like cattle and slit their throats. Dr. Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite) opposes Captain Hendry every step of the way. Carrington doesnâ(TM)t believe that the alien poses a threat. Even if the alien poses a threat, Carrington argues that it is their duty to learn everything that they can about it on penalty of death. Our heroes engage in a brief fight with the â~Thingâ(TM) and give it the â~hot footâ(TM) when they drench it with kerosene and set if aflame. The problem is that they wind up burning down a room just to get rid of it. Of course, while all of this action is transpiring, a desperate Scott keeping bugging Hendry about his story.

When Howard Hawks produced âThe Thing from Another World,â? the Pentagon had adopted the policy that UFOs didnâ(TM)t exist. Ultimately, although the military and the scientist clash over the welfare of the eponymous alien, nothing which would lend credence to the existence of aliens survives in this 87 minute epic. âThe Thing from Another Worldâ? qualifies as one of the earliest alien invasion movies in science fiction. It came out the same year that the more peaceful alien invasion movie âThe Day the Earth Stood Still.â? Altogether, âThe Thing from Another Worldâ? ranks as a trail-blazing alien invasion opus with emphasis on pugnacious aliens. Future âGunsmokeâ? star James Arness appears as the rampaging alien. The cast and their camaraderie bolster this straightforward but atmospheric tingler. âThe Thing from Another Worldâ? was derived from the 1936 novella âWho Goes There?â? by John W. Campbell, Jr., but scenarist Charles Lederer departed considerably from the source material to create a crack jack B-movie monster picture.