The Thing From Another World

Starring: James Arness

Arctic researchers discover a huge, frozen spaceling inside a crash-landed UFO, then fight for their lives after the murderous being (a pre-Gunsmoke James Arness) emerges from icy captivity. Will other creatures soon follow? The famed final words of this film are both warning and answer: "Keep watching the skies!" A snappy ensemble. An eerie theremin-infused Dimitri Tiomkin score. Rising suspense. Crisp Christian Nyby direction. All merge in an edgy classic produced by Howard Hawks (Bringing Up Baby, Rio Bravo) and filled with Hawksian trademarks of rapid-fire dialogue and of people united by do-or-die stress. Keep watching the skies and the screen. Don't miss a moment of "one of the best sci-fi thrillers of the '50s" (John Stanley, Creature Features).

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 053939668629
• Release Date: September 2005
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Publisher: Studio Distribution Services
• Director: Christian Nyby
• Starring: James Arness
• Runtime: 1 hour, 27 minutes
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: closed-captioned
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.4" x 7.5" x 0.7"

Customer Reviews

James Arness veggies out.

It is easy to just say, "This is a classic”. What makes it a classic is the formula and the people (Directed by Howard Hawks). There is the standard 50s sci-fi prolog. You are set up as they go to investigate a crash in the snow. The investigators hold hands in the snow to figure out the size of the downed plane under the ice and find it has a peculiar shape. From there, you know it can only get better. The film is loosely based on the novella “Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell. But do not expect the book's story. Nevertheless, do expect blood, fire, and sinister doings. There are naïve scientists, dubious airmen, and a generator running out of fuel. To include the book's premise, Scotty at one point says, “What if he can read our minds?” While you are at it, just whose side is Dr. Arthur Carrington on? And does Nikki just scream a lot, or does she usually bring up the true nature of the threat? Anyway, you slice it or dice it, this movie holds its own up against the big bug pictures like “Them!”.