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Margaret Sheridan, Kenneth Tobey, Robert Cornthwaite, Douglas Spencer, Dewey Martin ... see more see more... , James Arness , Robert Nichols , Bill Self , Eduard Franz , Sally Creighton , Robert Bray , Edmund Breon , Ted Cooper , Billy Curtis , John Dierkes , George Fenneman , Lee Tung Foo , Everett Glass , Milt Kibbee , Ray McDonald , David McMahon , William Neff , Norbert Schiller , Tom Steele , Paul H. Frees , Robert Stevenson , Allan Ray , Walter Ng , James Young

The scene is a distant Arctic research station, where a UFO has crashed. The investigating scientists discover that the circular craft has melted its way into the ice, which has frozen up again. While... read more read more... attempting to recover the ship, Captain Patrick Hendry (Kenneth Tobey) accidentally explodes the vessel, but the pilot -- at least, what seems to be the pilot -- remains frozen in a block of ice. The body is taken to base headquarters, where it is inadvertently thawed out by an electric blanket. The alien attacks the soldier guarding him and escapes into the snowy wastes. An attack dog rips off the alien's arm, whereupon Dr. Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite) discerns that "The Thing" (played by future Gunsmoke star James Arness!) is not animal but a member of the carrot family, subsisting on blood. While the misguided Carrington attempts to spawn baby "Things" with the severed arm, the parent creature wreaks murderous havoc all over the base. Female scientist Nikki (Margaret Sheridan) suggests that the best way to destroy a vegetable is to cook it. Over the protests of Carrington, who wants to reason with the "visitor" (a very foolhardy notion, as it turns out), the soldiers devise a devious method for stopping The Thing once and for all. This oversimplification of The Thing does not do full justice to the overall mood and tension of the piece, nor does it convey the lifelike "business as usual" approach taken by the residents of the military base in dealing with something beyond their understanding. A superior blend of science fiction, horror, naturalistic dialogue, and flesh-and-blood characterizations, The Thing is a model of its kind. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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71% liked it

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Critics

86% liked it

29 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Christian Nyby

Release Date: January 1, 1951

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DVD Release Date: August 5, 2003

Stats: 532 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (532)

  • bottcorecords1
    March 29, 2012
    bottcorecords1
    The legendary director Howard Hawks was both an uncredited co-writer and co-director for this above average B-movie (which has subsequently spawned two re-makes). At the frozen north pole, scientists and the US airforce have found a genuine flying saucer. When the alien is acci... read moredentally thawed out, it turns on the people of the camp. Isolated up at the tiny base, and against a creature that can't be harmed or die by traditional means, the humans must figure out a way to survive the invasion of a plant-based creature that requires their blood to reproduce. Really, it's all a metaphor for the "red scare" brewing at the dawn of the cold war. The scientists and the air force officers are seen as being at odds, while the soldiers want to destroy the harmful creature that might doom the entire human race, the "intellectuals" want to study it, preserve it, and even welcome it as a superior life form. Of course, when the menacing creature gets ahold of them, it recognizes neither friend nor foe, but lashes out with impunity. But metaphor or not, there is a creepy vibe that runs throughout the movie. Maybe it's that theremin-heavy soundtrack or maybe it's the feature-less creature itself (played by Gunsmoke's James Arness), an indistinct frankenstein's-monster-from-space that has razor blades for fingertips and grows back limbs as quick as you can lop them off. Or maybe it's the claustrophobic atmosphere that keeps you on your toes, where on a tiny base surrounded by miles of frozen wasteland where no human could survive for very long, the victims are given no chance of escape. From a personal standpoint, John Carpenter's re-make from 1982 is still tops for one of the most frightening movies I'd ever seen as a kid, but for classic 50s sci-fi, The Thing From Another World is a lot of fun. Now, who wants some coffee?
  • fb733768972
    October 15, 2011
    fb733768972
    As a group of scientists travel into the arctic regions on a normal investigation, which turns into one of the greatest discoveries in the history of mankind. They find that a UFO has crash landed on their planet and as they find another life form, they intend to bring it back fo... read morer testing, unaware of what this "thing" truly is. They are now on the run, trying to corner and kill this "thing" and the suspense, even for 1951, is phenomenal. It really makes you believe that they are being chased by something that has never been seen by the naked eye. It's performances are believable, it's score is threatening, it's story is new, and most importantly, "it" is terrifying. "The Thing From Another World" is an absolute triumph for classic horror cinema. Brilliant!
  • hunterjt13
    July 27, 2011
    hunterjt13
    An alien monster is thawed and attacks a group of military officers and scientists in the arctic.
    What I like about this classic horror film is the logical process through which the main character solves the problem. There are few "why is she going down the stairs" moments (alt... read morehough the lights are turned out for horrific effect every now and then and the thaw moment is somewhat predicable.
    I don't like the way science in portrayed. The scientist character actually says, "The best thing we can do is die and allow future generations to study this thing." Few well-adjusted scientists would actually make this argument, and with the exception of the "thing," the scientist is the villain. Balancing this character is a hawkish hero, which implies that the military response is the best - a highly disagreeable claim.
    Overall, The Thing from Another World is a good suspense film, not hokey or over-blown like many from its period.
  • mjgildea
    July 12, 2011
    mjgildea
    I wasn't as thrilled with The Thing From Another World the first time I saw it. I still like John Carpenter's version better but they're two completely different animals. The snappy banter and the chemistry between the cast keep things from getting too tense and the scene where t... read morehe alien gets torched was amazing. The Thing From Another World is one of the highlights of 50s sci-fi and despite its meager low budget sensibilities is incredibly influential.
  • ajv2688
    November 1, 2010
    ajv2688
    Maybe the "Thing" looks like a guy wearing a silly costume, maybe there aren't any stars in this movie, and maybe it's not about anything really, but I challenge you to look beyond your first impressions of this movie, and beyond the 80s remake, and see what this movie is really ... read moreabout by watching it. It's not as bad as some other 50s movies I could name, it's actually pretty good.
  • ythelastman89
    July 12, 2010
    ythelastman89
    A classic and a gem among 50s Sci-Fi. Howard Hawks took the idea of a creature feature and gave it a glamorous treatment. The script is brilliant, completely logical and serious as opposed to some other movies of the time. The acting is wonderful and best of all, the effects stil... read morel work because they weren't over-ambitious. Howard Hawks knows how to give you the best of everything, whether he makes a comedy, a western or an action movie. This has stood the test of time because it was made with care and respect.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 18, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    Camp at times, subtely politcal at others. A classic.
  • SirPant
    November 19, 2009
    SirPant
    An absolute classic and probably in my top 5 favourite sci-fi films of all time. I do prefer the remake but to be fair they're both very different films. One thing this version does have above Carpenter's though, is its fantastic script. A great film!
  • harrycaul
    November 1, 2009
    harrycaul
    Along with Don Siegel's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, this is probably my favourite of the 50s Sci-Fi horror movies I've seen to date. Watching it again, what impresses me most is the sheer volume of dialogue crammed into these 90 minutes. Produced by Howard Hawks, with ... read moreuncredited screenplay contributions from Ben Hecht, The Thing from Another World is like the His Girl Friday of the sci-fi era. Not only does the sophisticated, overlapping, bantering dialogue keep the movie fresh, it also ensures that there is insufficient time for us to snicker at the usual cod-scientific technobabble without being left behind. It is a measure of how well made the film is that it can dispense with the strongest idea in John W Campbell's original story, namely that The Thing is able to mimic other life forms, and still manage to be a masterpiece!
  • kiriyamakazou
    December 31, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    Unfortunately for this film the remake completely overshadows it in every imaginable way. Though the plot and events are rather similar John Carpenter's version is truly terrifying. He made the most of the isolated setting, here however it is never fully capitalized on. The monst... read moreer is also not very effective. In some shot it is laughable. The explanation of it being a vegetable is no better and we also have the most unrealistic and annoying scientist character I've ever seen. When the monster and scientist are not on screen there are great character moments thanks to the realistic and endearing dialogue. People talk as though they know each other and there is also an abundance of funny quips. For fans of 50's Sci-Fi, but if you want real terror, watch the remake.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
June 6, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

The resourcefulness shown in building the plot groundwork is lacking as the yarn gets into full swing. Cast members, headed by Margaret Sheridan and Kenneth Tobey, fail to communicate any real terror. Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 6, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The film has more frissons than most of today's mega-budget productions, simply because it has the grace to construct a meaningful situation and coherent characters. Full Review

Rob Humanick
October 14, 2011
Rob Humanick, Suite101.com

Perhaps the most famous shot of the movie is also one of head-slapping irrelevance. Full Review

Michael E. Grost
August 10, 2011
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television

Lively science fiction film, with dubious politics. Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz
March 13, 2011
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt

A solid, workmanlike film that holds up better than one would expect. Full Review

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
May 2, 2008
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

classic, though it didn't impress me really that much

Rob Gonsalves
April 9, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

A perfect popcorn movie. Full Review

Thomas Delapa
March 5, 2007
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly

Rather than Nyby, producer Howard Hawks is often credited for the direction of this sci-fi landmark, which features Hollywood's first space-age monster in a decade invaded by Cold War-era aliens. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 26, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Howard Hawks only produced this classic scary sci-fi feature, but it has his signature touches all over it: overlapping dialogue, smooth storytelling, compressed time and space. Full Review

Steve Crum
April 28, 2006
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

All-time classic sci-fi still packs creepy wallop.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Gen. Fogarty: Close the door!
    • Capt. Patrick Hendry: [after a quick encounter with the Thing] Did you get your picture?
    • Ned "Scotty" Scott: No, you were in the way and the door wasn't open long enough.
    • Capt. Patrick Hendry: You want us to open it again?
    • Ned "Scotty" Scott: NO!
    • Ned "Scotty" Scott: [referring to McPherson's gun] You sure you know how to use that thing?
    • Lt. MacPherson (Erickson): I saw Gary Cooper in 'Sergeant York.' [pretending to lick his thumb and rub it on the gunsight, like Cooper in 'Sergeant York']
    • Lt. MacPherson (Erickson): What if he can read our minds?
    • Lt. Eddie Dykes: He'll be real mad when he gets to me.
    • Ned "Scotty" Scott: An intellectual carrot. The mind boggles.
    • Nikki Nicholson: Anybody want some coffee?
    • Capt. Patrick Hendry: No, but you can come in.
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The Thing from Another World Trivia

  • In n"The Thing From Another World," (1951) what did the creature's metabolism most closely resemble?  Answer »
  • What Horror movie ended with the quote: "Keep looking to the sky"?  Answer »
  • Which 1951 Howard Hawks horror classic featured James Arness as a bloodthirsty alien who comes out of the North Pole ice?  Answer »
  • The Thing from Another World (1951) and John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) are both adaptations of Richard Matheson's I Am Legend. True or false?  Answer »
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