Exploring The Thing from Another World - Essential Sci-Fi

[@sheilaholmes996]

I have loved this movie ever since I was a kid.

[@nemesisn4sir242]

Watch this once or twice every year; always one of favorites.

[@watamatafoyu]

One of the most terrifying films ever made for audiences at its release was... about a monster carrot.

[@danielellis6728]

A monster carrot that looked simply ridiculous. The name of the film should have been called "A Vegetable From Another Garden".

[@royjudson4380]

Remember watching The Thing as a 10 year old back in 1970. i was terrified, i turned it off half way through, then heard my dads car pull up, so switched it back on before he got in so i could look brave.

[@seymourup4monday]

The jump scare when he's behind the door is top tier for any era

[@Chrisfeb68]

This is the perfect movie to watch on a cold October night.

[@docmach8794]

The Thing had some of the best acting in any movie. Lines were given as if they were from the person not a script, timing was perfect and the banter between actors was smooth as satin.

[@gerrydooley951]

it had overlapping dialogue which was a Howard Hawks thing

[@danielellis6728]

The choreography and dialogue were well done by far, but the alien looked completely ridiculous --- an un-intimidating killer carrot top. Frankenstein from space. Couldn't they have made the eyes totally black at least?

[@clintmcbride7830]

I love that the novella, 50s adaptation, and 80s re-adaptation are all considered to be influential in their own ways.

[@watamatafoyu]

I'm really hoping the 2011 prequel is not considered that...

[@KhailSOLO]

@@watamatafoyu as much as i'm fond of that movie, what else is there to it? when it's a retread made worse by studio meddling?

[@gallendugall8913]

One of my all time favorite movies. I love the overlapping dialog. It feels so natural.

[@jeremysmetana8583]

My understanding is that was one of the aspects of the film that helped to scare audiences so much. The natural flow of the dialog was something somewhat new at the time.

[@gepmrk]

Precisely.

[@rmhartman]

This was one of Hawks' hallmarks, iirc.

[@DragonKingX78]

Love this movie, really wish the blu ray release wasn't so bar bones.

[@johngriffiths118]

Saw it on TV yesterday . This was the most noticeable aspect of the film

[@bigdmac33]

After watching TTFAW for the 4th time this evening, I realised that there is not one boring frame in the movie. It's filled with a strong cast in what is, for my money, one of the best ensemble acts ever.

[@18661873]

Agreed. At the point where Scotty remarks, "What if our boyfriend gets lonely and starts strolling around? What do we do then?" is when they realize that they are barely one step ahead of this monster. The pace of the film shifts into high gear from that point and culminates in the last round, do-or-die ending. You are correct, there is not one boring frame in this movie.

[@danielellis6728]

The movie was good -- to a point. The two legged alien with a carrot top with a human face. Wow. Really horrific. What was the name of this thing's home planet, Gunsmoke? The alien in this version looked nothing less than ridiculous and simply laughable. And to think director Christian Nyby dissed John Carpenter for his 1982 version of "The Thing" even though it was much closer to the novella "Who Goes There?" than his version about a killer carrot from outer space?! Please.... Dude has no taste. His movie was good in a number of parts but he got a tad full of himself, it's nothing to write about. The original version contained mostly dialogue due to budget constraints. So, yeah, let's fill time by having lots and lots of talking and maybe two or three scenes with a monstrous vegetable which doesn't even fall under any definition of a "Thing". And why name the movie "The Thing ------- From Another World"..? Were people that stupid back then to the point where a title of a movie has to spell it out for them? Not too bright.

[@gallery7596]

Yes, it's well paced, expertly written, and the overlapping dialogue Howard Hawks' films were noted for is very effective.

[@Troy_nov1965]

The fire sequence in this film is still breathtaking to watch till this day. Its a wonder no one was killed or burned badly.

[@mjt07f]

Amazing that people could think "the thing" was a bad movie...one of the best movies of all time!

[@matthewwolfstein2359]

As someone who is currently studying Old Hollywood history for a film encyclopedia I’ve been working on for two years, this was probably one of the best videos for me to see pop up in my notifications. Thanks for such a wonderful treat GBF, and keep up the stellar work! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@jamegumm474]

Hit me up when encyclopedia is done,that'd be sweet🤙

[@brandonpage7087]

I look forward to reading your film encyclopedia when it's done.

[@thomaspayton436]

you might want to start with westerns a lot of good charcter actors got their starts there

[@shizzmcgizz8686]

If you’re just learning about “The thing from another world,” you’re way behind

[@frankpienkosky5688]

@@shizzmcgizz8686 ..."OH,..that one"....great line....

[@adad-nerari4117]

Thanks for this video. For me, "The thing" of 1951 is, from far, the best sci-fi movie I have seen. This film succeeded to create a great suspense with a sobriety of the means : no weird monster, no tentacles, no roars etc ... but a tall, silent and frightening humanoid that appears rarely, but whose threat hangs over.

[@theninjamaster67]

Anything else but a humanoid monster would've looked like shit with 50s special effects just look at how bad some of the monsters in Doctor Who looked and that was made a full 12 years later in 1963.

[@coyoteboy5601]

I watch both 'Things' every Halloween.

[@pontiusporcius8430]

1954 was a landmark year for sci fi horror. Thing, black lagoon, gojira, them. A year of classics.

[@randyacuna5643]

Pontius, the Thing was made and released in 1951 , not 1954.

[@sulaco2122]

What still impresses me is the dialog of the 1950's Thing. The actors talk at, around and over each other in what sounds like impromptu real conversation not scripted dialog.

[@kensellers4082]

Howard Hawks used that technique in many of his films.

[@dolnick7]

It was always a big treat when the week's TV Guide showed up and showed that The Thing was being shown that Saturday night (This being long before movie rentals or DVDs). What struck me even as a child was the realistic reactions of the cast -- they behaved as I imagined real grown-ups would in that situation, as opposed to the two dimensional movie heroes of the day. That's one of the things wrong with movies today -- they can realistically show entire worlds being blown up yet who gives a darn about the characters? The original The Thing got so many things right.

[@mcwalton6721]

This a very tight film. It's a master class in editing, tension-building, character development and NO fluff or padding. Simply one of the best sci-fi films ever.

[@austintrousdale2397]

Yes… and the Arnold UFO sighting plus the Roswell incident cast a discernible shadow over the movie’s screenplay and vibe if you listen between the lines of dialogue. At least IMO

[@elroma7712]

this is one of my granpa's favorite films, he used to watch it a lot in the double features in the local cinema back in the mid 60's

[@GliderBane]

I saw John Carpenter's Thing first and was a huge fan. I saw the origional on PBS and wasn't expecting much, as I heard it was made in 1950. I was really impressed. While I greatly prefer Carpenter's version, the 50's thing is without a doubt the best horror movie of its era.

[@pontiusporcius8430]

Creature from the black lagoon would like a word.

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

My favorite 50's horror movie will always be "Fiend without a face" tbh

[@erikramaekers63]

I saw The Thing from Another World first (1970 on tv) The two movies are very different but in my opinion the 50s version is much more entertaining( probably why i saw it at least 50 times)PS Howard Hawks directed the movie,he stood behind Nyby for the entire shoot and told him what to do

[@TequilaToothpick]

What about Les Diabloque or Night of the Hunter?

[@pontiusporcius8430]

@@TequilaToothpick In terms of sci fi horror. Though night of the hunter outclasses both.

[@lupiniiifan6095]

Fun Fact: Paul Frees, know for voicing thousands of cartoon characters, plays a small role as Dr Voorhees

[@Erikr-ex9dj]

And grouchy marks sidekick George Fenneman.

[@hoagland1943]

From everything that I have read, both Nyby and Hawks both directed the movie. Close up or very detailed scenes, Hawks stepped in and with all other scenes Nyby directed. Some of the actors, Kenneth Toby was one who said that both of them did.

[@cwdkidman2266]

As a longtime Hawksite I find The Thing endlessly fascinating because it puts his philosophy and themes on a more stark relief than his other movies. Also, it's a classic. 1. It's a Hawks film. Nothing Nyby did afterward comes close to this movie. Either Hawks directed it or he told Nyby what to do on a micro level. 2. It's optimistic. Two scientists we never meet are murdered off screen. And some dogs. For an alien invasion movie, that's pretty low. But it doesn't ignore the horrible way they died. 3. Ned Scott gives Carrington a very kind word in his report. And Lt. Dykes says "Good for you. Scotty." 4. Leaders lead. Good leaders tolerate ribbing from his men, acknowledge that they don't have any solutions but pick the best solution offered, and good leaders expect to be obeyed once they give an order. 5. Professionals behave like professionals. It's that simple. Do your job. If you're a scientist, if you can help, great. But you don't fight. It's not your job. It's the job of military men who've taken an oath to protect the country. 6..Ned Scott pushes himself into the fight. That's HIS job. He needs to be on hand in order to report. And Captain Hendry let's him do his job. 7. Future Groucho sidekick and Electrician George Fennerman comes up with the final and best way to fight the thing, but no one expects him to be out front with an axe. And he isn't. So Pat doesn't have to worry about his safety. 8. Nikki is one of the best Hawksian women. She's smart, sexy, wears slacks, is sexual, can drink like a man, and comes up with two Big Ideas. One, heat fights plants. Two, she spots the lowering temperatures when the thing cuts off the oil. SHE is brought into the group of guys for the first big fight. 9. Sex and Double Entendres. Hawks' major desire for his characters is for them to have unfettered sex lives. He attacked Army red tape in I Was A Male War Bride that kept Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan apart. He attacked it without mercy, less than 4 years after the war. It was the first service comedy. It didn't care, like A Foreign Affair that same year, who won or lost. Hawks only cared about who was keeping our couple from fucking. The U.S. Army. And he eviscerated it Double Entendres. Hawks pushed as far as he could with censorship and usually got his way. He could have Cary Grant read a line and make it sound like pure filth, even if it were perfectly innocent on paper. An extra like Dabbs Greer in Monkey Business could give a look that said volumes. Monkey Business was his smuttiest film, yet no one could object to it. It seemed innocent when he explained it. And Hawks' double entendres usually refer to anal sex. 'Looking for polar bear tail" "Barnes flushed a polar bear" "we got up in there" etc. Carrington praises the thing's asexuality for not hindering its pursuit of technology. But fans of Hawks know that this is the thing's death sentence. It's going to be destroyed down to its shadow and echo.Hendry burns the thing, its hand, the seeds, and the little things in the garden. He'd burn the memory of it if he could. 10. Common sense. Hawks was pro-common sense, not pro-military. He wasn't pro journalist in His Girl Friday or pro scientist in Ball of Fire or Monkey Business. He was for people doing their jobs. In The Thing, the Air Force guys ignore orders in the face of facts on the ground. They mock the atom bomb even though they know it probably saved millions of lives in the Pacific in WW2. They bungle the thermite but they know they'd do it again if they didn't know the outcome. And Barnes isn't even yelled at for the electric blanket incident. What would be the point? It's clear Barnes learned his lesson. 11. More common sense. Some people have criticized this movie for destroying EVERYTHING about the thing. They think we'd learn more if we'd kept a few seeds..But what would we learn? We know what it is and how to kill it. If we kidnapped a Russian infant in 1951 and raised it in America, what could we find out about the Politburo or Soviet military technology? Nothing. The US government could weaponize the thing. And maybe that's what Hendry had in mind in destroying EVERYTHING. After all, they'd mocked atomic power as being too dangerous. They'd probably fight tooth and.nail.to keep us from weaponizing plant people. 11. The group dynamic. The individuals who make up a Hawks group are two things: professional and LIKEABLE. THAT'S the biggest difference between Hawks and Carpenter's remake. I wouldn't want to share an elevator with Carpenter's group it it were going from the second floor to the first. Hawks' group is a great hang out with your buds group. And so are most of the scientists, half of whom are against Carrington from the start of the ice block and behind Dr. Chapman. Only a.superficial.view of Hawks would make anyone think he's pro-military. Just watch I Was A Male War Bride. Hawks was a modern guy who never depicted middle class marriage except once, in Monkey Business. And that movie wrecked the marriage so it could be brought together again. And Hendry resists the idea of marriage but you know he'll take the plunge. No one attacked or ridiculed the American middle class more than Hawks did. And he was pretty subversive about it, cloaking his attacks in comedy. Or in fast-talking characters. I agreed with most contemporary critics of the 1982 remake but I've warmed to it over the years. It moves along briskly and I like Kurt Russell and Wilford Brimley. But I still wouldn't spend ten minutes with the rest of them.

[@runlarryrun77]

Agreed re Nyby. You just have to look at the rest of his work to see that regardless of who got the credit - either Hawks directed this with Nyby as a 1st assistant, or as you say, co-directed through Nyby to the point of telling him exactly what to do. There's a level of precision here you just don't see in the rest of Nyby's filmography. Some of his television work in particular was a little ragged, even when you consider the budgetary & time constraints of tv.

[@kensellers4082]

@@runlarryrun77 Some of the cast of the original 1951 film said that Howard Hawks did really direct this sci-fi classic.

[@cwdkidman2266]

@@runlarryrun77 There's one scene in The Thing that demonstrates Hawks's invisible mastery of cinema. They go to the radio room where Tex is, They look around, explaining the Thing is out and free. As the group leaves, Pat says to use his fireax because a gun's no good. Tex says "wait a minute! What do you mean a gun's no,good?" Half of this line is spoken in the radio room and the other half is heard from the hallway as the group moves on. And it's spoken seamlessly. It's a small touch and easily could he been spoken without double coverage but it adds a little comic touch to Tex's confusion and so Hawks did it that way. And only a film editor, cinematographer, and sound tech would pick up,on the degree of difficulty in doing one scene so effortlessly to the average viewer. As Hawks always said "don't annoy the audience with tricks that don't work." This one little touch to a scene that didn't need it but was the better for it is why the French called Hawks Hollywood's first and best auteur. And deservedly so. Hawks never blew his own horn, never took credit for all the rewrites he and Faulkner did to already good scripts, and ran from analyzing his own films. He was also credited to have quoted Faulkner as saying "the worst critic of any artist's work is the artist himself. He never knows what he's saying until years after he's said it. And then he's usually wrong"

[@AmityvilleFan]

I love this. Last time I've watched this noticed, a lot of the times people are half out of the frame. It creates a kinda found-footage feeling, like the audience is there as a character.

[@gerrydooley951]

I saw this movie for the first time around 1962: Million Dollar Movie in NY showed it every night for a week. My God we kids in the neighborhood loved it, just fantastic

[@wstine79]

I'm glad your spotlighting the THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD. People forget that this and focus on the John Carpenter remake. The monster was cool, especially when he was on fire.

[@KRhetor]

Unfortunately, too many of the other commentators are still focusing on Carpenter's remake instead of the actual movie being discussed in the video. Hell, it's annoying how the Carpenter cultists try to make his version of The Thing the subject of EVERY film discussion on the Internet.

[@theoneandonlysoslappy]

One of my favorite scenes in all of film history is when the soldiers go out onto the ice to trace the shadow of the crashed craft and realize it is circular.

[@Luxinda]

Yes!!! Get goosebumps every time.

[@alantasman8273]

Actually that could be seen from the air as they flew over the landing/crash site.

[@sheilaburns8977]

Love the movie, and always love the eerie music that plays during this scene.

[@lesnyk255]

I first saw the original on Sat matinee tv back when I was 9 or 10 (ca 1960) - and that scene where they fanned out along the spacecraft's perimeter and came into a perfect circle has stayed with me all these decades. Even then the rapid-fire dialog seemed to impart a reality that a lot of B-movies of the era lacked. I tend to agree with Roger Ebert's assessment that the characters in Carpenter's remake were straw men waiting to be eaten (Kurt Russell in particular annoyed me), but it hews more closely to the written story, and it's a master class in practical special effects. I also like how Carpenter copied the original's "burn through" of the movie's title, in homage to Hawke's version of the film. I have both versions in my home video library.

[@KinksKomments]

@@lesnyk255 the situation in 1982 "Thing" develops so fast that wasting time trying to make the characters "likeable/relatable" actually detracts from the suspense and mystery that is building quickly. I agree with S F/X mastery class and more akin to original story. As for Ebert's assessment, he was so negatively critical of most movies, that when he thumbs downed them I would go see them as they turned out to be reall entertaining movies.

[@michaelproctor8100]

In the later years of his life, James Arness had a website where he sold autographed photos from Gunsmoke and How The West Was Won, and even posters from The Thing, so I guess he got over his resentment of the film. He donated a portion of the proceeds to his favorite charity which was cystic fibrosis.

[@mikekutz5776]

My all-time favorite sci-fi picture. Great cast, Great writing, Great direction.

[@justletmelistthese]

even after his death Ebert never ceases to amaze me with his complete lack of taste

[@mizedom8167]

Wow! Yes. I'm so happy you chose one of my favorites. A classic that set the mark for all future sci-fi monster movies. Great choice! Thanks.

[@tedbusiek8888]

If he keeps exploring films of this caliber he'll have to rename the channel Good Good Flicks.

[@theninjamaster67]

@@tedbusiek8888 Pretty sure the purpose of that name in the first place was because many of the movies he was exploring were good movies made bad by the studio making shit decisions for instance his video on Blair Witch 2 which is a much better movie when edited the way the director meant for it to be and honestly a better movie than the first one since the first doesn't really work without the original hype.

[@gonogazz]

I saw The Thing on tele when i was seven..1974..o boy..when they open the door..And the Thing just is there..Made my hair stand up.. The end i dreamed about for a long long time..How they trick him on to the electric rail...Almost left the sofa of fear.. A great flic..Mr Carpenters The Thing..pure class from a Master..!

[@michaelaldan6969]

still remember this movie to this day...what a groundbreaker....thanks for the upload Cecil!

[@pdzombie1906]

Ah, the 80's!! Back when remakes were good and critics were not (well, actually, critics are worst now). Thanx, Cecil! Great as usual!!!

[@intrepid5144]

"The Thing" came out the same year I was born, and it wasn't until I was older, that I saw it on TV! It is my Favorite "Monster Movie" of all time, and although I have read the original story, I still love this movie!

[@ChaosTicket]

John Carpenter's The Thing is a masterpiece. Not all of his films are quite to that level(more like 80% of them), but its a great film. The combination of subtle acting, paranoid atmosphere, amazing special effects, just wow. Along with 1980s remakes The Fly, and The Blob its one of the all times greats. Maybe Exploring "the Fly" some day?

[@mgass1354]

Carpenter's The Thing is NOW considered a good movie. At the time, it was raked over the coals and called the "Barf bag of the summer".

[@ChaosTicket]

@@mgass1354 Im a fan of general filmography. Ive seen many horror films but I own few. I had to binge watch Friday the 13th, Halloween, and Nightmare of Elm Street series about a decade ago to really see them 100%. So Im not actually a horror-fan, but a film-fan. Yeah I would agree that The Blob, The Fly, and The Thing are barf-bag films. Its a shame that the Film-Critics are really biased. Siskel and Ebert hated horror films from everything Im told and have seen. They should have rated films based around a fair and neutral mindset.

[@mgass1354]

@@ChaosTicket I own over 2,000 movies, either dvd or VOD. I tell my caregiver I have nothing to watch because I can run every movie in my head. Yes, Siskel and Ebert really didn't like horror. And the more gore the worse they rated it. That's why The Thing was a flop at the box office, but, today considered a good film. And, yes, I'm old enough to remember that review by Siskel and Ebert. The Blob, both original and remake, are great. The Fly original I like even though the remake is considered by many to be superior.

[@Cakegolem]

@@mgass1354 It didn't help being released slightly behind E.T. the Extraterrestrial, which had audiences enamored with the concept of benign alien visitors.

[@jeffsmith2022]

I can't agree that the redo of the film should be called a 'masterpiece'...it is not...

[@rossbach451]

This was great, and it adds to my "I really don't like Roger Ebert" collection. Such a pseudo-intellectual who wrote screenplays for Russ Meyer while downgrading people like John Carpenter. Regardless, this was once again a great look into a classic. Thanks for your work!

[@GoodBadFlicks]

Thanks for watching!

[@djkangal]

Pretty much the definitive documentary on the original movie. Great work Cecil; keep it up with the classic movies!

[@evyled]

Great episode! Hope to see more Exploring episodes of films from that era. Fingers crossed for THEM getting the treatment.

[@Luxinda]

Yes!!!

[@chrisnurczyk8239]

Love this film, have watched it over & over again since the early 60's. It never gets old. Because the actors spent so much time together, they bonded and the film has a very real, authentic feel to it. It breathes. Listening to the the men talking in the film (especially in the scene flying out to the saucer) I can hear the same discussions & interplay (& BS) of my father & his Air Force fellows on the military side of O'Hare field back then. Kenneth Tobey, one of my favorites, was greatly underrated - always gave organic, believable performances.

[@BobSmith-gl3sn]

Classic Sci-Fi movie. One of the best out of that Era and all time. Like most classics, over looked by modern audiences.

[@roberthutchison8197]

I saw it when it first came out, I was 7 and spent most of the time too scared to watch a lot of it, the rest of the time I spent most of the movie with my head my mother's lap! And I lived 60 some miles from where some of it was filmed at an old air force base at Cut Bank. It is no longer there as it was torn down and you could never tell there was any such THING (pun intended) there. And it was the first movie I remember seeing...

[@gfdggdfgdgf]

John carpenter did a commentary track for this version of the thing (and one for his version of the thing together with Kurt Russell, which is a great commentary track)

[@dadahyena]

20:22 Great to see a mention of the Space Thing model; it was designed by horror artist Pete von Sholly, who was also a storyboard artist on huge number of films. Pete is still active with comics, most of which are homages/parodies of classic horror, so they're definitely of interest to anyone watching this video!

[@chrismartin1211]

now this is the way to wake up! thanks for all the work you do to make these videos, Chief glad you're doing better

[@mgass1354]

Damn I'm old. I watched the '51 Thing from another world before the Carpenter movie.

[@1kylecurry]

Hell yes & thank you Cecil! One of my favorite movies of all time! One of my favorite novellas of all time! Also with other movies from the "Atomic Age" 1950s like the fore mentioned "The Day The Earth Stood Still...","When Worlds Collide..." along with "War Of The Worlds" "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, "THEM" & many others gave me a profound love for horror sci fi genre. I have recently read "Frozen Hell" E-book & it is excellent! From the information I have heard, John Carpenter will be brought in some capacity...Probably continuity with his absolute gem masterpiece adaptation & music, can't wait!! I ask Blumhouse Films to please take your time with script, scope & "only" use practical FX, one of the reason that "The Thing" - 2011 underperformed, I thought it was a good movie, but the CGI failed miserably. Please continue to "explore" more 50's horror sci fi. Great backstory information...! "KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES...!!!".

[@mladenkulic446]

John Carpenter's The Thing is one of the greatest horror movies ever made. Because of this, the original The Thing from Another World is mostly brushed off, and often forgoten. Myself included which i need to change that, and check it out.

[@GoodBadFlicks]

I wouldn't say the original is forgotten, its pretty highly regarded with sci-fi and classic movie fans.

[@ThomasTiernan]

The film starts in Anchorage. They then fly 4 hours NE to the research base.

[@mazer375]

I still remember watching this for the first time with my grandfather. Great stuff.

[@stevekatz4372]

As a long time (78 Years) Sci-Fi Fan I just think this was one of the Greatest of them all and I am so glad that they finally Decided to go with a Frankenstein look, rather than a Creature with Tenticals and 3 eyes! These 1950's Horror Movies may not have had all the special effects but they had great writing, drama and just a very Interesting way of making it realistic! This was much better than all the re-makes such as movies like Halloween, the original Body Snatures and many others during that time period! Yes, the New Horror/Sci-Fi movies are entertaining but these just can't be beat! I can name all the great ones but if you are an Old Fan, you know them All! Great Video!

[@GoodBadFlicks]

Thank you so much!

[@jasonhunter2819]

I remember seeing just a few minutes of this on tv when I was a very young kid about to go trick or treating, it's cool to find out a lot more information about it all these years later. I don't know why I've never looked into the original since John Carpenter's version is also one of my favorite movies

[@The-Man-On-The-Mountain]

I used to watch this movie on repeat when I was around 8-10 years old (mid 80's). I loved it.

[@AnomalyINC]

Not overly stoked on the news about another remake. I applaud the desire to make something more closely following the book, but treading in the footsteps of two of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time seems to me like a fool's errand considering the state of current-day Hollywood.

[@KennethDPedersen]

One correction,Glacier National Park is in Montana. I love this movie, I love how matter of fact most of the characters are, their chemistry and how Nikki is never relegated to a screaming damsel in distress

[@wraithstrongopark]

i signed on to the channel for the laughs, but these deeps dives are just as entertaining.

[@MrNachoChannel]

Glad you reminded me of Frozen Hell, I forgot that came out and wanted to check it out. Years ago I read the short story version while on a trip to Jamaica and knowing how old it was I was blown away, especially knowing the existence of the original movie, how ahead of its time that short was when you see how close John Carpenter got to it. Great Video!

[@blueduck5589]

Dimitri Tiomkin's music adds to the suspense!

[@TheStrykerProject]

Ha ha ha! As soon as I heard "Cut Bank, MT" I started laughing. In some locations, there's a BIG difference between average snow "fall" and "accumulation". Cut Bank is up in the North Central part of Montana (but East of the Rockies) where the wind blows almost constantly, and it gets so cold that the snow is very light and powdery.

[@johnsanko4136]

It's still incredible that the John Carpenter version died so hard in theaters. In hindsight, it's a masterpiece, but it did terribly at the box office. The original was a great movie as well, but the remake is one of my all time favorite movies.

[@trustno173]

It's always baffled me just how badly JC's The Thing did when it came out, it was a critically panned flop that almost killed Carpenter's career and he only survived because of Christine. Fast forward a little less than 20 years and it's regarded as a masterpiece. It makes you wonder what hated movies we sneer and groan at now are going to get that treatment in the future.

[@wkanost]

I did my part and saw it in the theater opening weekend! I had to go to work that night as a night watchman. Alone most of the time walking around a dark factory with all these industrial shadows and noises.

[@MrMoorkey]

People wanted cute aliens, on the back of being horrified by Alien, and having seen cutesy aliens in Close Encounters and E.T... and Carpenter gave them the most realistically alien creature ever put to screen.

[@starmnsixty1209]

Carpenter changed the ending of both the original story and the Howard Hawks film. I don't think the effects of 1950 could have handled a complicated alien. Also Kenneth Arnold was also looking for a downed military plane when he had his sighting.

[@SmartCookie2022]

@@MrMoorkey That's the excuse that's been given, but it was really the movie critics that killed its success. They're simply trying to shift the blame onto the public who believed their lousy reviews.

[@jponeill2151]

Such a legendary movie. So glad it is getting some love.

[@euansmith3699]

The fire stunt has got to be one of the hardest core stunts on film. I really enjoy both "The Thing From Another World" and "The Thing". 1951, "An intellectual carrot; the mind boggles" 2016, "An anti-intellectual pumpkin; the mind boggles"

[@PeachBoi_Real]

Not even modern day stunts can compare to that scene!

[@ruffusgoodman4137]

Most interentingly, the Thing remake was very criticized and overlooked during his release, now a cult classic. The THING is... (sorry for the pun) it managed to remake it's original, use better tech at that time, be more faithful to the source material and on top of all that, subverted expectations RESPECTFULLY. The ending was open for interpretation, much of the movie digs on paranoia, the characters might not be the most interesting, but for an horror movie, it did a great job coining key scenes and leaving it's mark on cinema. The original did most of these accomplishments at that time, too, plus the praise. Go figure...

[@GhostofGomezDawkins]

This is one of the greatest sci-fi/horror movies of all time. It's a relic of the time period when also providing an amazing story. Ture, a good amount of scenes are dedicated to characters talking and adjusting to the base, which makes it feel like we're watching real people do real shit. Still in my top ten movies of all time.

[@logicreason2736]

One of all time favorite movies. Thanks for the backstory.

[@GoodBadFlicks]

Thanks for watching!

[@samowhat]

I love both movies. I'm absolutely happy that JC's movie is now getting the recognition it truly deserved. I hope they bury the prequel

[@classiccomedycinemaprogram1640]

I've never seen a better burn scene in any movie!

[@GoodBadFlicks]

Yeah, the full burn in this is incredible.

[@fredbergstrom4866]

Along with Them...this is one of the best of the 50s horror films.

[@toothlessrick3970]

I've seen many documentaries about this film on YT and I gotta say yours is the best I've seen. More in depth information on all the other actors, shooting locations and so much more. Liked and subbed.

[@GoodBadFlicks]

Thank you so much!

[@Lethgar_Smith]

When John Carpenter's The Thing came out my dad told me about seeing this version in the base theater when he was in the Navy. He said it was packed with sailors but you could have heard a pin drop. It was that scary a movie.

[@v.m.9198]

I bet toho would've been able to figure out how to make a horrible shape-shifting alien, but then it'd probably be a mile long

[@Larkinchance]

As a late teen, I read the original story and was impress. As a very little, young person, I saw the film and remember it as the beginning of the B+W, Sifi era of Saturday matinees... The first remake was the best. It was the beginning of the CGI era and it really tried to be faithful to the story.. The gold of CGI has turned to brass but Campbell was ahead of his time in exploring a biogenetic freeform... thank you for your piece...

[@GoodBadFlicks]

Thanks for watching!

[@GiantMovieNerdtm]

As a giant fan of this and the John Carpenter movie and as someone who is from North Dakota, I had no idea about that little fact. Usually shit like that is pretty well known by most people in the state. There's not a lot to do there so anytime someone gets famous or they use it for a movie or show, no one shuts up about it

[@johnwhite4810]

One of my favorite sci-fi films! Brilliant in all aspects.

[@kellyrogers4492]

This had always been my Dad’s favorite version of The Thing . Though I have always loved it, along with Them. The John Carpenter / Kurt Russell version is my favorite along with Phantasm. But any movie with Kenneth Toby is a winner along with Dick Miller. Besides, 1982 was a year of unappreciated gems! I plan on using a Blair quote on my tombstone come hell or high water. Thank you for study. Now there’s just Them, Phantasm, and Carpenter’s The Thing. But WHY would anyone tamper wit perfection. I showed this to my niece, who turned around and showed it to her torture porn addicted cousins. Let’s just say those young boys had several sleepless nights. Thank you,Cecil for all your hard work and dedication!

[@KingIggy]

Been waiting and ya did not disappoint. Love your work man!

[@dalecs47]

In 1959, when i was 5, the local TV station in LA ran the movie every week day afternoon for an entire week. They called the movie "The Carrot man."

[@Two_Ravens]

This is one of a handful of movies I keep on my phone to listen to while shopping or sleeping. It's a great film and a joy to listen to.

[@Ryoufriggingserious]

James Arness was the biggest and scariest vegetable ever lol. Such a classic! Also, Roger Ebert has never been more wrong concerning John Carpenter's remake. Thanks for the great video.

[@brandonpage7087]

Yes, he & all the other critics were horribly wrong. I still, till this day, do not understand all the hate Carpenter's brilliant film received.

[@rmhartman]

the thing (*ahem*) they didn't understand was that it wasn't a remake, it was in modern parlance, a reboot. referring not to the first movie, but actually going back to the original source material. as a remake of "the thing from another world" it was crap. as a reboot of "who goes there" it was fantastic.

[@demontekdigital]

Roger Ebert is an idiot, and always has been. He, and Siskel were the first critics that made me realize not to trust critics, and pretty much do exactly the opposite of what they recommended when it came to horror. If they love it, I won't watch it. If they hate it, it's usually a damn good movie. Their idea of "good horror" is something akin to a Goosebumps movie, lol.

[@Lazrael32]

allegedly ebert didn't even go to a lot of the movies he reviewed. he would have a random intern go and summarize the movie for him.

[@RSEFX]

@@brandonpage7087 The film may just have been too ahead of its time in intensity and pure imaginative strangeness.

[@DarraghC]

One of the best sci-fi movies ever made, a lot of movies since borrowed heavily from this.

[@Erikr-ex9dj]

The best scifi horror combo movie ever made.

[@flyingninja1234]

One of my favorite science fiction films. Thank you for this.

[@BottomBunkArt]

I have never been able to stand Roger Ebert. He had so many incorrect hot takes and they influenced the popularity of movies at their time of release.

[@CLANSPI3]

That's amazing you posted this video today, I just watched it for the first time on Friday! Definitely different from the short story and the John Carpenter movie, but in good ways.

[@mgass1354]

At the time, and with the budget, turning the thing into an alien always in human form was necessary.

[@toddjohnson271]

One of the few where I loved the original and remake. Both excellent.

[@otaking3582]

Yes, The Thing From Another World, not to be confused with Ben Grimm, the original American name for Mothra, nor the Addams Family's cousin / pet-disembodied-hand.

[@juliagoodwin9510]

The salt towards John Carpenter's The Thing astounds me. I'm not a horror fan and even I can't help but be impressed by what I've seen...

[@svenjansen2134]

That movie was always great.

[@Axolotl_Mischief]

I think it was a matter of hubris & ego.

[@clkou]

All I can figure is that John Carpenter's The Thing was just too ahead of its time. The gore and horror was just too much for some people and took them out of overall plot and suspense. All of it is brilliant though and by the 90s or sometime soon after most people realized what a classic The Thing is ...

[@theninjamaster67]

@@clkou I thought people would've understood that Carpenter's the Thing was great after seeing Halloween personally.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

John Carpenter's', "The Thing"??? Over, the original🤔??? No way, bub😏!!! Ain't NOTHING, gonna ever, come as close👍!!! Can't improve, on perfection. Grew up, with this sci-fi/horror gem☺️, and it's on my list, of top 5 (@#3).

[@alantasman8273]

What made this film fantastic was not only the writing but the delivery by the actors actually talking over each other as people do in real life. It truly was the Howard Hawk's style. Any sci-fi aficionado will recognize Kenneth Tobey's great and believable work as in many other such films. The thing I liked most about this ensemble of actors is that they portrayed genuine relationships and were believable as a group caught in such dire straits. That they even joked about their situation.... to cut the tenseness...is a joy to watch. Margaret Sheridan also gave for the time a rare performance as a brave independent women juggling a world full of men. Wow, she was a beauty. This has always been one of my favorites and has aged very well. It has a remarkable watch again factor.

[@kensellers4082]

I read a comment from one film critic who said that you actually like and care about Captain Hendry and his men, newspaperman Ned Scott and the sane and realistic scientists at that North Pole research site. In most other sci-fi films, the military and scientific characters are, at best, of secondary interest.

[@standepain]

Both great movies.

[@petecoogan]

Very good overview of the film. Wilford Brimley was Howard Hughes body guard in 1950-1951 and may have been on set

[@paulclarke7571]

Just hard to believe that Carpenter's The Thing was a box office flop. But it is true. Must have done well on video release though. One of my all time favorites and known universally.

[@blacksuede]

Incredible action scene with the fire and flare

[@jeffsmith2022]

I love the original film and have watched it many times, it is a gem with such a well written script. The acting is excellent IMO , even without any Hollywood heavyweights. Being filmed in B&W only adds to the films overall success ....Kenneth Tobey was really, very, good...

[@kensellers4082]

Mr. Tobey portrayed heroic US military officers battling an alien in the North Pole, a giant squid attacking the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and a prehistoric dinosaur causing havoc up and down Wall Street in lower Manhattan.

[@xray86delta]

The black and white version of "The Thing", by Howard Hawks, was hands down the best telling of this story. The dialogue was razor sharp. If you haven't seen it, watch it. If you haven't seen it in a while, watch it again! Great movie!

[@koppsr]

Happy Halloween 🎃 and thanks for this wonderful "treat" of cinematic history! 😎👍👍

[@mrselection7814]

8:30 top right corner. Regina Saskatchewan, the city that rhymes with FUN

[@gserhardt]

I remember going to see this in the theater when it came out, my dad took me under protest (I was a few years too young to get in on my own) and told me if I had any nightmares afterwards I better not come crying to him about it, LOL. I NEVER understood how it didn't do better in theaters. I've always considered this one of my top 10 movies and I'm glad it gets the love today it should have had when it released.

[@SirSmoldham]

SWEET! Born the year of Sputnik may explain my mindset as this video speaks to me. Not only do I consider John Carpenter's version of this his best film (I went to the Hollywood premiere hosted by Elvira), but, as the original film adaptation is credited to Hawks' editor, I still remember when Howard Hawks appeared on Charles Champlain's PBS show "Film Comment" and mentioned that he and Orson Welles discussed making a "monster movie" He produced the short story. When he took over directing from Christian Nyby Hawks handled the dialogue scenes while Orson Welles directed the action... including that darkened fight with the fuel and flare gun. Again... sweet video.

[@codyhilton1750]

Thank You for the great update of my favorite horror movie "The Thing" from 1951. I actually purchased the book "Who Goses There? I was disappointed to find out the 82 movie was like the book. It did scare the Hell out of me when I first saw the movie and the great music score didn't help either.