Hey guys, I would like your input on this one. This video by far has the worst like/dislike ratio out of anything I've ever posted. It's sitting at only a 70%. What do you guys not like about it? Do people take issue that I colorized something that is black and white? And if so, is it because the colorization isn't the best? Does my commentary suck? Did I say anything offensive? Let me know! No hard feelings will be had, just would like to understand what the issue is.
The colorizing was a big negative for me. This is one of my favorite movies, and it has been since I was a kid. But I HATE the colorization of black & white movies. There was an actual colorized version that would air on TV at times and I couldn't stand it. It's been done with a lot of old movies, and I'm a firm opponent of it in nearly all cases. They even did it to Casablanca, which is just blasphemous.
I'm glad you enjoyed the movie, but you need the black-and-white version to get the full effect. The movie just seems so...warm in color. You don't get the truly chilling (in every sense of the word) feeling when it's in black and white.
Thanks for the comments guys, I get what yall are saying. Well, at least when I watched it, it was the original black & white. The colorization came about in the editing process
@@mikewatchesstuff Another black and white film you ought to check out is the original version (1956) of “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers”. Also, the original version of “War Of The Worlds” (1953), which is in color btw.
As MsAppassionata already added, it would be interesting for you to see “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" but the original version from 1956 and see how powerful b/w can be in a film. This film also wins through b/w and the resulting sharpness Contrasts. One of the films that only has this tremendous power in black and white is "Psycho", the original by Hitchcock. I'm 62 years old, grew up with b/w and have no problems with it. Last but not least, the point that some of these films reveal their message in a hidden way. Part of the reason was Sen. McCarthy's terrible time. Open criticism of him could destroy his career. . Criticism can also be a trigger, you never stop learning.
Thanks so much for watching this, Mike. I've requested it from at least half the reactors who've done "The Thing" and you're the only one who listened. I read the story this is based on a million years ago and I think the 1982 version is more faithful to that. In 1951, they didn't have the technology to make it a shape shifter, as I believe it was in the story. I thought it was interesting that when the scientist ran up and tried to talk to it, it did listen for a minute (although not speaking English) before cuffing him out of the way. Both versions have one thing in common - an alien who is intelligent, but with whom we can never really communicate because it's going on its instincts and just doesn't care what we have to say. One experiment I've always thought would be interesting is to take the thing from the 1982 version and trap it in a chamber in a lab and then refuse to supply it with anything it wants until it speaks to us as it's real self. Since you actually ask for other movies: "Contact," "Deja Vu," "Forbidden Planet," "Frequency," "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," "The Green Mile," "North by Northwest," "Psycho," "Rear Window," "The Time Machine (1960 version)," "Zero Dark Thirty"
The creature was played by James Arness who started out in sci-fi films but then landed the role of Marshal Matt Dillon on the long running western tv series called Gunsmoke in the late '50's. It became one of the longest running live action tv westerns.😊
James Arness stated in an interview that he got the role, partly because of his height (6'6"). They wanted a really tall, menacing figure for the role, and he fit the bill. He acknowledged that it was tough to get parts in the business because of that height. Most major stars (particulary in westerns and sci-fi) played the "good guys", and it was considered improper to have the "bad guy" taller and more good looking than the "good guy". That limited his roles until Gunsmoke came along. Of course, it didn't hurt that he got a recommendation for the part from the guy they originally picked to play Marshall Matt Dillon; John Wayne.
If you're into these kinds of movies here's another. It came from Beyond Space. (1958) Give it a look great old movie. I was born in 1954 and both these movies scared the shit out of me as a young boy. And remember we only had 3 TV stations back then. Had to watch on the late-night movies. And at the end we got the sign off of the station and then a test pattern.
This was always one of my favorite science fiction movies when I was a kid. And I never realized until today, that only two people were killed in it, and that you never actually saw them being killed.
At 8:30 into your reaction, you asked about the thing you saw at the far end of the crash site. In fact, it was the vehicle being used by the film crew who were clearing the snow to create the elongated shape intended for the overhead shot. The film was behind schedule and already going over budget, so they left this goof in, as well as several others that actually endear this film to many of us ! See if you can spot the other famous bloopers…
In defense of the actors saying their lines “quickly”; remember that the characters supposedly all knew each and would have been casual and comfortable in back-and-forth banter. This was more than acting, though…. The cast were stuck together for weeks due to lack of snowy weather needed for filming, and ended up hanging around talking and playing cards ( much like in the opening scenes) and as a result the comraderie made the flow of the script much more natural. Personally, I like that the dialogue is pertinent and its rapid-fire delivery requires paying attention and not depending on FX or CGI to tell the story…
@frankenstein3526 How funny that you mentioned the vehicle left in shot issue. I've seen this movie many times over the decades, and only first noticed this blooper as I watched this review. And no, I've never heard of other bloopers in this movie to watch for. Is it possible for you to reveal them? Thanks!
@ Two come to mind - also at the spaceship crash site; when the thermite explodes, the camera pans up and you can see the horizontal line where the painted backdrop ends and the background sky shows…and also the crew all react to the “explosion” but the sled dogs remain calmly curled up on the snow without reacting ( and you know how freaked out dogs get when there is a sudden loud noise! ) There are some continuity mistakes in the scenes when the creature is electrocuted… see if you can spot them !
The dialogue was done like that on purpose. The director said that people talk over each other and have side comments when there's a group of people together. So he wanted to represent that in the movie. I enjoyed dialogue and it does feel more organic.
Great reaction. Other commenters have already mentioned that John Carpenter’s version was more true to the original story and that James Arness - Marshall Dillon of TV fame - played the monster. About the dialogue, there’s a story to that. The movie was directed by Christian Nyby, who was a close friend to legendary director Howard Hawks, who also produced the film. Hawks was known for his rapid fire and overlapping dialogue, often featured in screwball comedies and hard-boiled detective films. Nyby adopted that style to the point where many experts believed that Hawks himself directed the film. I like the dialogue, but I can see your objections.
I always thought the rapid dialogue with several actors speaking at once, sometimes with conversations going on in the background of the main conversation in the foreground, gave the film the feel that the viewer was actually eavesdropping on a real scene. That, at least, was the impression conveyed decades ago, when so many other movies had dialogues written to be performed much like a stage play. Plus, the rapid fire dialogue in "The Thing" also made the movie feel more exciting; without today's special effects, science fiction back then had to rely on descriptions and surprise to create the feeling of excitement, fear, and horror--much like a book does. Remember, 1951 was only about twenty years after the silent film era ended--a span of time only as distant from 1951 as the year 2000 is from us now, so this type of dialogue was innovative.
Amazing that you’re reacting to this classic! And let black and white be its awesome self. Thanks!! One of the great things in this movie is the casual, off-the-cuff sounding dialogue - a technique used in movies like Alien.
Hey Kay! Thanks for more suggestions. I have seen The Deer Hunter, that one is a classic! Primal Fear doesn't ring a bell though, I will add it to the list. Also, working on editing your first request, hopefully will be ready on the weekend!
The original story was very much like the 1988 version but the special effects required were far beyond was was possible at that time also, people would have freaked out too much over the concept of an alien organism ‘assimilating’ and imitating a human and the transforming from one form to another would have been a little too much and the movie censors of the time would have quashed it.
@@MsAppassionata Not to the extent described in the story also, The Thing From Another World was a few years earlier and executives would be more hesitant, ‘Thing’ broke new ground and allowed more graphic storytelling.
James Arness Tv's western hero sheriff Marshal Dillion/ Gun Smoke tv series. It ran for like twenty years on CBS TV. He was like 6-7' tall he also is in the SF classic THEM! from 1954. He plays a FBI agent.
I am not sure if I mentioned this in the video, but it is colorized with the use of editing technology, so when I watched this, it was in the original black and white.
There is a low budget 1972 B-Rated movie that transforms from being a murder mystery / who done it? to a sci-fi movie by the end. It's also about a creature that was found in the ice - "Horror Express." No fancy special effects but it's OK.
A first-class film. Of course the class of special effects, but that's not necessary. I like that it's more about the creature itself. This also reveals how this creature was able to survive in the ice for 100,000 years. The scene with the young plants was a gruesome affair. I like the film. It can certainly compete with the 1982 remake
Check out The Day the Earth Stood Still and When Worlds Collide. Both also from (1951), The War of the Worlds (1953) THEM! (1954) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Superman the Movie (1978).
I didn't see this movie when it came out in 1951 because I was 4 years old but I first saw it when I was 12 or 13 around 1960. My friends and I loved this movie. It was, by far, the best sci-fi movie of the time. Any time it was on TV, we were watching. I always thought the reason it was so good was that the idea made sense. Most of the sci-fi of the time was ludicrous.
I love this movie and for me the original 1951 is the best. It is quintessential 1950s sci-fi. One thing I wish they'd do is give it a proper colorization. Carpenter reason for a remake is because he loved the 1951version so much.
Hey my Friends, react to "Christine" (1983) by Stephen king & John Carpenter. Great movie with insane story. One of the best movies by Stephen king. I think it's very interesting for you & your loyal subscribers. Thanks
Hi Joaquim, thanks for your comment. I think I saw part of this movie when I was a kid. Does it involve a car? If so, that's about the extent of what I know of this film. I'll add it to the list for you.
I liked your review of this 1950s classic film. One of my all-time faves. Saw it again just over a week ago. Never seen the 1982 version, mainly because I heard it was very different from this one. No interest in seeing it even though I've always liked Kurt Russell. I read through all of the comments and other 1950s sci-fi classics/excellent movies have been suggested to you. Simply the 3 from 1951 are a good place to start. This one, When Worlds Collide, and TDTESS. Thanks!
Actually, James Arness did not play the Frankenstein monster. You are probably thinking of Glenn Strange who took over the Frankenstein monster role from Boris Karloff. Glenn Strange did co-star with James Arness in Gunsmoke for 12 years. He played Sam the Bartender.
Actually, I like these older movies and so I clicked on specifically to see someone else's reaction to it. The C-47 when in civilian use is known as a DC-3, I'm sure you've heard of it in that configuration. I can remember when weathermen used WWII surplus radar on local news back in the mid 1970's, particularly during the april 1974 super outbreak. Didn't give ya much warning back then. Trace radioactivity? Hell, back then they had clock radios where the hands glowed in the dark and to this day they'll still make a geiger counter tick. Such a small amount though, no one worries about it. As many xrays as I've had in my life I wouldn't, lol. "He's having kittens"="He's freaking out". Kenneth Tobey (Captain Hendry) did a lot of these types of movies back then. Another good one he stars in is "It Came From Beneath The Sea". The creature in the film was played by James Arness, a big man in his day who went on to star for many years as US Marshall Matt Dillon on tv's Gunsmoke. Having grown up on a farm I know what electricity can do to plants as we had an electric fence for our cattle that pulsed on and off to burn through weeds that came into contact with the wire, that way they didn't all eventually just overwhelm it and short it out. Movies like these, while entertaining were basically made on a shoestring budget with few takes and if you talk faster you use less film :) Back then companies like Winchester films, Monogram Pictures, Producers Releasing Corporation, etc were collectively known as "poverty row pictures" for how cheaply they were made. Then again, even larger studios like Columbia Pictures and Universal Pictures never invested a lot into their horror or sci-fi movies as their target audience was usually children and teens going to afternoon movies like the Saturday Matinee. A very few at the time had much larger budgets and benefitted greatly from it. Films like "Forbidden Planet" and "War of The Worlds" or even "Mystery of The Wax Museum" were even filmed in color which was very expensive back then.
The hazards associated with radioactive materials just weren't treatedt as careful as today. You could have a watch of clock with radium painted dials for clear glow in the dark visibility. For real 50s kid fun, your parents might even get you the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory. Yes, a kids' toy with real radioactive minerals and chemicals for your budding genius to play with. Good times the 50s. I have to agree with your assessment that Carpenter's film is the superior story. It captures a fantastic sense of paranoia because no one knows who the Thing is until it's too late. The 50s film is a straight up monster films playing more on fear of communist invasion than actual alien menace. All the same it has a terrific sense of energy thanks to the dialogue and directing that most sci-fi films of the era lack. Yes, at times the dialogue is unrealistically fast in scenes like the mess hall where everyone is greeting each other but in the action scenes the pacing of the dialogue sounds like people in a no time to think situation. I do prefer the BW to the colorized print. The BW feels more like the arctic than the colorized one, the grey scale of BW heightens the sense of cold which the colorization loses. Thanks for the great reaction and comments on the movie!
Well, Thermite isn't an explosive, it just burns very hot. Also, even if it was, you rightly pointed out it was a bonehead move to blow it up (that's what "pulled a boner" meant). The guy saying the story should be referred to the Chief of the Air Force, how about the bloody President! This is an alien! The doctor saying he wants to examine it is ridiculous, it could be dangerous or carry diseases etc. It should be transferred to a secure facility where it can be defrosted in a controlled environment. "having kittens" means getting worked up, excited etc.
My problem with this film is that it’s the same theme of aliens from another world depicted as humanoids - two arms , two legs , and a head with eyes . The Carpenter film was a disappointment TOTALLY for me - people slowly turning into monsters after exposure to material or getting infected was too easy and stupid . The 2011 film came the closest to the narrative that I wanted to see - violent and bloody attacks , disturbing transformations , and a sense that the people messed with something that was WAY out of their league .
I believe the plane was a McDonald Douglas DC-3. Oh btw I think your wrong about the dialog, it is the way people communicate. I mean conversations usually involved people talking on top of each other not waiting for one person to finish before they say their line. This type of dialog is typical of Howard Hawks films. This film is considered a classic just like "The Day The Earth Stood Still" both released in 1951.
Hey guys, I would like your input on this one. This video by far has the worst like/dislike ratio out of anything I've ever posted. It's sitting at only a 70%. What do you guys not like about it? Do people take issue that I colorized something that is black and white? And if so, is it because the colorization isn't the best? Does my commentary suck? Did I say anything offensive? Let me know! No hard feelings will be had, just would like to understand what the issue is.
The colorizing was a big negative for me. This is one of my favorite movies, and it has been since I was a kid. But I HATE the colorization of black & white movies. There was an actual colorized version that would air on TV at times and I couldn't stand it. It's been done with a lot of old movies, and I'm a firm opponent of it in nearly all cases. They even did it to Casablanca, which is just blasphemous.
I'm glad you enjoyed the movie, but you need the black-and-white version to get the full effect. The movie just seems so...warm in color. You don't get the truly chilling (in every sense of the word) feeling when it's in black and white.
Thanks for the comments guys, I get what yall are saying. Well, at least when I watched it, it was the original black & white. The colorization came about in the editing process
@@mikewatchesstuff Another black and white film you ought to check out is the original version (1956) of “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers”. Also, the original version of “War Of The Worlds” (1953), which is in color btw.
As MsAppassionata already added, it would be interesting for you to see “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" but the original version from 1956 and see how powerful b/w can be in a film. This film also wins through b/w and the resulting sharpness Contrasts. One of the films that only has this tremendous power in black and white is "Psycho", the original by Hitchcock. I'm 62 years old, grew up with b/w and have no problems with it. Last but not least, the point that some of these films reveal their message in a hidden way. Part of the reason was Sen. McCarthy's terrible time. Open criticism of him could destroy his career. . Criticism can also be a trigger, you never stop learning.
Thanks so much for watching this, Mike. I've requested it from at least half the reactors who've done "The Thing" and you're the only one who listened.
I read the story this is based on a million years ago and I think the 1982 version is more faithful to that. In 1951, they didn't have the technology to make it a shape shifter, as I believe it was in the story.
I thought it was interesting that when the scientist ran up and tried to talk to it, it did listen for a minute (although not speaking English) before cuffing him out of the way. Both versions have one thing in common - an alien who is intelligent, but with whom we can never really communicate because it's going on its instincts and just doesn't care what we have to say.
One experiment I've always thought would be interesting is to take the thing from the 1982 version and trap it in a chamber in a lab and then refuse to supply it with anything it wants until it speaks to us as it's real self.
Since you actually ask for other movies:
"Contact,"
"Deja Vu,"
"Forbidden Planet,"
"Frequency,"
"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,"
"The Green Mile,"
"North by Northwest,"
"Psycho,"
"Rear Window,"
"The Time Machine (1960 version),"
"Zero Dark Thirty"
The creature was played by James Arness who started out in sci-fi films but then landed the role of Marshal Matt Dillon on the long running western tv series called Gunsmoke in the late '50's. It became one of the longest running live action tv westerns.😊
he was also in the movie called THEM! about those giant ants in new mexico
James Arness stated in an interview that he got the role, partly because of his height (6'6"). They wanted a really tall, menacing figure for the role, and he fit the bill. He acknowledged that it was tough to get parts in the business because of that height. Most major stars (particulary in westerns and sci-fi) played the "good guys", and it was considered improper to have the "bad guy" taller and more good looking than the "good guy". That limited his roles until Gunsmoke came along. Of course, it didn't hurt that he got a recommendation for the part from the guy they originally picked to play Marshall Matt Dillon; John Wayne.
it was "Them" that lead to his winning the role of Matt Dillon.
James Arness's brother is Peter Graves who played Jim Phelps in the original Mission Impossible TV series/
If you're into these kinds of movies here's another. It came from Beyond Space. (1958) Give it a look great old movie. I was born in 1954 and both these movies scared the shit out of me as a young boy. And remember we only had 3 TV stations back then. Had to watch on the late-night movies. And at the end we got the sign off of the station and then a test pattern.
This was always one of my favorite science fiction movies when I was a kid. And I never realized until today, that only two people were killed in it, and that you never actually saw them being killed.
This is a real science fiction classic!!
I saw it as a kid, and it's been one of my favorites ever since.
Great job .
Thanks 👍
This was the first movie to completely light a scene by setting a man on fire!😮😊
At 8:30 into your reaction, you asked about the thing you saw at the far end of the crash site. In fact, it was the vehicle being used by the film crew who were clearing the snow to create the elongated shape intended for the overhead shot. The film was behind schedule and already going over budget, so they left this goof in, as well as several others that actually endear this film to many of us ! See if you can spot the other famous bloopers…
In defense of the actors saying their lines “quickly”; remember that the characters supposedly all knew each and would have been casual and comfortable in back-and-forth banter. This was more than acting, though…. The cast were stuck together for weeks due to lack of snowy weather needed for filming, and ended up hanging around talking and playing cards ( much like in the opening scenes) and as a result the comraderie made the flow of the script much more natural. Personally, I like that the dialogue is pertinent and its rapid-fire delivery requires paying attention and not depending on FX or CGI to tell the story…
@@frankenstein3526 the overlapping dialog is one of this films most endearing aspects !
@frankenstein3526 How funny that you mentioned the vehicle left in shot issue. I've seen this movie many times over the decades, and only first noticed this blooper as I watched this review. And no, I've never heard of other bloopers in this movie to watch for. Is it possible for you to reveal them? Thanks!
@ Two come to mind - also at the spaceship crash site; when the thermite explodes, the camera pans up and you can see the horizontal line where the painted backdrop ends and the background sky shows…and also the crew all react to the “explosion” but the sled dogs remain calmly curled up on the snow without reacting ( and you know how freaked out dogs get when there is a sudden loud noise! ) There are some continuity mistakes in the scenes when the creature is electrocuted… see if you can spot them !
The dialogue was done like that on purpose. The director said that people talk over each other and have side comments when there's a group of people together. So he wanted to represent that in the movie. I enjoyed dialogue and it does feel more organic.
Great reaction. Other commenters have already mentioned that John Carpenter’s version was more true to the original story and that James Arness - Marshall Dillon of TV fame - played the monster. About the dialogue, there’s a story to that. The movie was directed by Christian Nyby, who was a close friend to legendary director Howard Hawks, who also produced the film. Hawks was known for his rapid fire and overlapping dialogue, often featured in screwball comedies and hard-boiled detective films. Nyby adopted that style to the point where many experts believed that Hawks himself directed the film. I like the dialogue, but I can see your objections.
I always thought the rapid dialogue with several actors speaking at once, sometimes with conversations going on in the background of the main conversation in the foreground, gave the film the feel that the viewer was actually eavesdropping on a real scene. That, at least, was the impression conveyed decades ago, when so many other movies had dialogues written to be performed much like a stage play. Plus, the rapid fire dialogue in "The Thing" also made the movie feel more exciting; without today's special effects, science fiction back then had to rely on descriptions and surprise to create the feeling of excitement, fear, and horror--much like a book does.
Remember, 1951 was only about twenty years after the silent film era ended--a span of time only as distant from 1951 as the year 2000 is from us now, so this type of dialogue was innovative.
Amazing that you’re reacting to this classic! And let black and white be its awesome self. Thanks!! One of the great things in this movie is the casual, off-the-cuff sounding dialogue - a technique used in movies like Alien.
The Mist has a great black and white version. Actually makes it scarier. I am so happy you are reacting to older movies
Hey my man, just circling back on this. Are you talking about the Stephen King The Mist?
Mike: I know you like horror movies. To me, the most terrifying movies are those that did/could really happen...
The Deer Hunter
Primal Fear
Hey Kay! Thanks for more suggestions. I have seen The Deer Hunter, that one is a classic! Primal Fear doesn't ring a bell though, I will add it to the list. Also, working on editing your first request, hopefully will be ready on the weekend!
@@mikewatchesstuff You are the best! 💜
The original story was very much like the 1988 version but the special effects required were far beyond was was possible at that time also, people would have freaked out too much over the concept of an alien organism ‘assimilating’ and imitating a human and the transforming from one form to another would have been a little too much and the movie censors of the time would have quashed it.
But, they did that for the original “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers”.
@@MsAppassionata Not to the extent described in the story also, The Thing From Another World was a few years earlier and executives would be more hesitant, ‘Thing’ broke new ground and allowed more graphic storytelling.
Good, thoughtful reaction to a real classic. Thank you.
Thanks for watching and for your kind words
That was a good Movie for it's time
James Arness Tv's western hero sheriff Marshal Dillion/ Gun Smoke tv series. It ran for like twenty years on CBS TV. He was like 6-7' tall he also is in the SF classic THEM! from 1954. He plays a FBI agent.
I am not sure if I mentioned this in the video, but it is colorized with the use of editing technology, so when I watched this, it was in the original black and white.
There is a low budget 1972 B-Rated movie that transforms from being a murder mystery / who done it? to a sci-fi movie by the end. It's also about a creature that was found in the ice - "Horror Express." No fancy special effects but it's OK.
A first-class film. Of course the class of special effects, but that's not necessary. I like that it's more about the creature itself. This also reveals how this creature was able to survive in the ice for 100,000 years. The scene with the young plants was a gruesome affair. I like the film. It can certainly compete with the 1982 remake
Check out The Day the Earth Stood Still and When Worlds Collide. Both also from (1951), The War of the Worlds (1953) THEM! (1954) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Superman the Movie (1978).
I didn't see this movie when it came out in 1951 because I was 4 years old but I first saw it when I was 12 or 13 around 1960. My friends and I loved this movie. It was, by far, the best sci-fi movie of the time. Any time it was on TV, we were watching. I always thought the reason it was so good was that the idea made sense. Most of the sci-fi of the time was ludicrous.
I love this movie and for me the original 1951 is the best. It is quintessential 1950s sci-fi. One thing I wish they'd do is give it a proper colorization. Carpenter reason for a remake is because he loved the 1951version so much.
Hey my Friends, react to "Christine" (1983) by Stephen king & John Carpenter. Great movie with insane story. One of the best movies by Stephen king. I think it's very interesting for you & your loyal subscribers. Thanks
Hi Joaquim, thanks for your comment. I think I saw part of this movie when I was a kid. Does it involve a car? If so, that's about the extent of what I know of this film. I'll add it to the list for you.
The 80's Thing isn't really a remake of this film. Just the title was taken from this "The Thing From Another World"
I liked your review of this 1950s classic film. One of my all-time faves. Saw it again just over a week ago. Never seen the 1982 version, mainly because I heard it was very different from this one. No interest in seeing it even though I've always liked Kurt Russell. I read through all of the comments and other 1950s sci-fi classics/excellent movies have been suggested to you. Simply the 3 from 1951 are a good place to start. This one, When Worlds Collide, and TDTESS. Thanks!
Interesting trivia
The actor playing “the thing” actually did play Frankenstein’s monster
Actually, James Arness did not play the Frankenstein monster. You are probably thinking of Glenn Strange who took over the Frankenstein monster role from Boris Karloff. Glenn Strange did co-star with James Arness in Gunsmoke for 12 years. He played Sam the Bartender.
@@bruceburns321 you’re right. I fucked that up
Also look at the expanded version of the story from 1938 "Who Goes There" called "Frozen Hell" going deeper into the 1938 story.
I LOVE THIS FILM.
The score is amazing in this film
By Dmitri Tiompkin
Actually, I like these older movies and so I clicked on specifically to see someone else's reaction to it. The C-47 when in civilian use is known as a DC-3, I'm sure you've heard of it in that configuration. I can remember when weathermen used WWII surplus radar on local news back in the mid 1970's, particularly during the april 1974 super outbreak. Didn't give ya much warning back then. Trace radioactivity? Hell, back then they had clock radios where the hands glowed in the dark and to this day they'll still make a geiger counter tick. Such a small amount though, no one worries about it. As many xrays as I've had in my life I wouldn't, lol. "He's having kittens"="He's freaking out".
Kenneth Tobey (Captain Hendry) did a lot of these types of movies back then. Another good one he stars in is "It Came From Beneath The Sea". The creature in the film was played by James Arness, a big man in his day who went on to star for many years as US Marshall Matt Dillon on tv's Gunsmoke.
Having grown up on a farm I know what electricity can do to plants as we had an electric fence for our cattle that pulsed on and off to burn through weeds that came into contact with the wire, that way they didn't all eventually just overwhelm it and short it out.
Movies like these, while entertaining were basically made on a shoestring budget with few takes and if you talk faster you use less film :) Back then companies like Winchester films, Monogram Pictures, Producers Releasing Corporation, etc were collectively known as "poverty row pictures" for how cheaply they were made. Then again, even larger studios like Columbia Pictures and Universal Pictures never invested a lot into their horror or sci-fi movies as their target audience was usually children and teens going to afternoon movies like the Saturday Matinee. A very few at the time had much larger budgets and benefitted greatly from it. Films like "Forbidden Planet" and "War of The Worlds" or even "Mystery of The Wax Museum" were even filmed in color which was very expensive back then.
Why did the thermite blow up a ship designed to go through the atmosphere?
The hazards associated with radioactive materials just weren't treatedt as careful as today. You could have a watch of clock with radium painted dials for clear glow in the dark visibility. For real 50s kid fun, your parents might even get you the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Laboratory. Yes, a kids' toy with real radioactive minerals and chemicals for your budding genius to play with. Good times the 50s.
I have to agree with your assessment that Carpenter's film is the superior story. It captures a fantastic sense of paranoia because no one knows who the Thing is until it's too late. The 50s film is a straight up monster films playing more on fear of communist invasion than actual alien menace. All the same it has a terrific sense of energy thanks to the dialogue and directing that most sci-fi films of the era lack. Yes, at times the dialogue is unrealistically fast in scenes like the mess hall where everyone is greeting each other but in the action scenes the pacing of the dialogue sounds like people in a no time to think situation.
I do prefer the BW to the colorized print. The BW feels more like the arctic than the colorized one, the grey scale of BW heightens the sense of cold which the colorization loses.
Thanks for the great reaction and comments on the movie!
Kerrington loves the monster.
Filmed some second unit stuff in Montana. But mostly filmed in Hollywood.
That was the snow clearing machine that they just left on the far end of the “saucer” trail.
Fast dialog was Howard Hawks style. So, since Hawks produced the film and his editor Nyby did direct it the dialog had Hawksian style.
Well, Thermite isn't an explosive, it just burns very hot. Also, even if it was, you rightly pointed out it was a bonehead move to blow it up (that's what "pulled a boner" meant). The guy saying the story should be referred to the Chief of the Air Force, how about the bloody President! This is an alien! The doctor saying he wants to examine it is ridiculous, it could be dangerous or carry diseases etc. It should be transferred to a secure facility where it can be defrosted in a controlled environment.
"having kittens" means getting worked up, excited etc.
Better than the remake ....
My problem with this film is that it’s the same theme of aliens from another world depicted as humanoids - two arms , two legs , and a head with eyes . The Carpenter film was a disappointment TOTALLY for me - people slowly turning into monsters after exposure to material or getting infected was too easy and stupid . The 2011 film came the closest to the narrative that I wanted to see - violent and bloody attacks , disturbing transformations , and a sense that the people messed with something that was WAY out of their league .
I prefer black and white. Don't like colorized old movies
I believe the plane was a McDonald Douglas DC-3. Oh btw I think your wrong about the dialog, it is the way people communicate. I mean conversations usually involved people talking on top of each other not waiting for one person to finish before they say their line. This type of dialog is typical of Howard Hawks films. This film is considered a classic just like "The Day The Earth Stood Still" both released in 1951.