A research team stationed far north in an arctic environment notices a crash landing of something unknown roughly fifty miles away, prompting an investigation alongside military personnel. They retrieve a frozen entity from the wreckage and quickly regret that decision. “The Thing From Another World” (1951) represents the initial cinematic adaptation of John W. Campbell’s novella *Who Goes There?* Its production in 1950 results in a certain charm when contrasted with later versions like the 1982 film starring Kurt Russell or the 2011 prequel. This particular telling doesn't possess the same sense of dread as those subsequent adaptations, and the alien—portrayed by James Arness—feels underwhelming. It’s true that films from the nineteen-fifties like “War of the Worlds” and “The Blob” demonstrated how to create frightening aliens, but I wouldn’t describe this black and white film as truly scary, though there is a degree of unease at the isolated outpost. What works well is the development of the concept involving an alien lifeform rooted in plant matter; that's quite interesting. The conflict between Capt. Hendry (Kenneth Tobey), who prioritizes preserving human lives, and Dr. Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite), who values scientific advancement above all else, also stands out. This notion of a potential worldwide danger posed by the alien is revisited later in “Species.” I’d recommend watching the 2011 and 1982 movies first, then if you're still interested, give this classic a look for a different interpretation of Campbell’s story, provided you are okay with older filmmaking techniques and black-and-white visuals. The film has a runtime of one hour and twenty-seven minutes and was filmed in Los Angeles—including at the Ice & Cold Storage Company to simulate breath condensation—with additional footage shot at Glacier National Park in Montana. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB