The Thing Movie Review 1951

One of the best of the Cold War allegories and a potent lesson to those who won't eat their vegetables. Sci fi classic about an alien craft and creature (Arness in monster drag), discovered by an Arctic research team. The critter is accidentally thawed and then wreaks havoc, sucking the blood from sled dog and scientist alike. It's a giant seed-dispersing vegetable run amuck, unaffected by missing body parts, bullets, or cold. In other words, Big Trouble. Excellent direction, assisted substantially by producer Hawks, and supported by strong performances. Available colorized; remade in 1982. Loosely based on "Who Goes There?" by John Campbell.

Distribution

Movies Unlimited, 3015 Darnell Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19154, Phone: (215)637-4444, Toll-free: 800-668-4344, Fax: (215)637-2350, Email: movies@moviesunlimited.com, URL: http://www.moviesunlimited.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 87 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Sci Fi, Alien Beings--Vicious, Cold Spots, War Between the Sexes, Aliens Are People, Too

Screenplay

Charles Lederer, Ben Hecht

Cast

James Arness, Kenneth Tobey, Margaret Sheridan, Dewey Martin, Robert Cornthwaite, Douglas Spencer, James L. Young, Robert Nichols, William (Bill) Self, Eduard Franz, Sally Creighton, John Dierkes, George Fenneman

Cinematography

Russell Harlan

Director

Christian Nyby, Howard Hawks

Music

Dimitri Tiomkin

Producer

Howard Hawks, RKO

Awards

Natl. Film Reg. 2001.