The Thing from Another World (1951)
82%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: NA
As flying saucer movies go, The Thing From Another World is better than most, thanks to well-drawn characters and concise, tense plotting
The Thing is a classic sci-fi film that will have you on the edge of your seat. Critics have raved about the scientific jargon and eerie atmosphere, but let’s be real, we’re all here for the thrills and chills. The plot may be far-fetched, but the direction, production, writing, and acting are top-notch. Plus, who doesn’t love a good vampire-esque storyline? So grab some popcorn, turn off the lights, and get ready for a wild ride. Just don’t blame us if you have trouble sleeping afterwards.
Production Company(ies)
Das Films, David Sonenberg Production Polygram Filmed Entertainment,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Approved
Year of Release
1951
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Aug 5, 2003
Genre(s)
Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Robert Cornthwaite, Kenneth Tobey, James Arness, Margaret Sheridan, Douglas Spencer, Dewey Martin, directed by Christian Nyby, written by Charles Lederer, sci-fi, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Mildred Martin, Helen Bower, Mae Tinee, Wanda Hale, Myles Standish, Philip K Scheuer, Alan Ng, Jane Corby, Phyllis Wilson, Frank Morriss, M Oakley Christoph, producer Howard Hawks, MPAA rating, frozen creature, North Pole research base, Air Force, UFO, wrecked spaceship, humanoid creature, well-drawn characters, concise, tense plotting, Jules Verne type of thrill fiction
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kenneth Tobey – Captain Patrick Hendry
James Arness – Lt. Eddie Dykes
Robert Cornthwaite – Dr. Arthur Carrington
Douglas Spencer – Scotty
Dewey Martin – Crew Chief Bob
Director(s)
Christian Nyby
Writer(s)
Charles Lederer
Producer(s)
Howard Hawks
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (9)
Scenarist Charles Lederer has maintained an amazingly even keel, loading the dialogue with scientific jargon which sounded all right to these unscientific ears keeping it surprisingly natural under highly unnatural circumstances.
September 21, 2021
Mildred Martin
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
On the whole the movie is far and away the most original and ingenious in this new category of pseudo-scientific entertainment.
September 21, 2021
Helen Bower
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Most of the principal roles are well handled, and the script is brightened by occasional bits of rather humorous banter. If you have a taste for this sort of pseudo-scientific stuff, this film is a fair sample.
September 21, 2021
Mae Tinee
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
You had better see it soon, right away, before you hear too much about it from those who have had the pleasure. And the thrills and chills.
September 21, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Wanda Hale
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
It should scare the shirt off anybody who gets caught in its spell, and delight connoisseurs of the Jules Verne type of thrill fiction.
September 21, 2021
Myles Standish
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
While the Thing is encased In ice, the picture has a disturbing quality that is heightened by the objective, documentary treatment of the camera — a real, ominous “What is it?” feeling.
September 21, 2021
Philip K. Scheuer
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
If anything, Nyby and Hawks’ film will appeal to cinephiles or at least make for a few good mocking laughs.
November 30, 2021 | Rating: 6/10
Alan Ng
Film Threat
This reviewer actually jumped twice while watching The Thing. That’s how tense and tingling and unexpected Howard Hawks has made this fascinating picture.
September 21, 2021
Jane Corby
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
For a quick cool-off on a hot afternoon there’s nothing like a few chills up and down the spine — all supplied In this latest piece of science fiction.
September 21, 2021
Phyllis Wilson
Ottawa Citizen
The grim winter background of the story serves to emphasize the stark character of the plot and the number of scenes which have the authentic away-from-the-studio touch also highlight the eerie nature of the whole film.
September 21, 2021
Frank Morriss
Winnipeg Free Press
Spoil the story for those who pay their money? Nope. It is a virile story with action and suspense. Conflict and argument. The suspense angle is, of course, what keeps it going.
September 21, 2021
M. Oakley Christoph
Hartford Courant
Far-fetched in theme, it is nevertheless so well directed, produced, written and acted, one becomes completely lost in the vampirish goings-on.
September 21, 2021 | Rating: 2/3
Sara Hamilton
Photoplay…
Plot
Scientists at an Arctic research station discover a spacecraft buried in the ice. Upon closer examination, they discover the frozen pilot. All hell breaks loose when they take him back to their station and he is accidentally thawed out!
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about The Thing, but they do mention the well-handled principal roles and brightened script with occasional humorous banter.
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