(aka "The Thing")

directed by Christian Nyby and Howard Hawks
USA 1951

"As a youth I grew up watching a show on television called "Magic Shadows" hosted by a fellow named Elwy Yost. It aired each weeknight at 7:30pm and Elwy would introduce a film. Throughout the week he would show consecutive 20-25 minute segments of the film in his 1/2 hour program. "The Thing From Another World" was a favorite. It was a marvelous way to watch such a pulpy 1950's sci-fi film with snippits of information from Elwy and ending with cliff-hanging conclusions each evening until Friday. 

 

I would rate this movie along with "This Island Earth" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still" as probably the most quintessential of the 50's genre sci-fi films. It spawned the later John Carpenter directed film "The Thing" with Kurt Russell loosely following with a similar storyline. As a personal preference this film transports me back to my childhood in such a nostalgic fashion that I can't help but become engrossed. I highly recommend it to those you can push aside their objectivity and float back to a simpler time with uncluttered films unburdened with artificial special effects and CGI. I'll take this over The Matrix any day of the week." out of

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: March, 1951

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DVD Comparison:

 Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Universal (2-disc) - Region 2- PAL (black and white and colorized)

(Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC LEFT vs. Universal (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)
DVD Box Cover

Distribution Warner Home Video  Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:26:36   1:23:06 (4% PAL Speedup) and 1:26:36 for editions on Disc 1
Video 1.33 original aspect ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.55 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s		 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.92 + 5.73 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
Bitrate:  Warner

 
Bitrate: Universal (PAL) Disc 2

 
Bitrate: Universal (PAL) Disc 1

 
Audio English (Dolby Digital 1.0) English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Subtitles English, Spanish, French, None English, None NOTE: English subs available on commentary track as well
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Black & White, Closed-captioned
• Theatrical trailer

DVD Release Date: August 5, 2003
Snapper Case
Chapters: 25

Release Information:
Studio: Universal (UK)

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

 

Edition Details:
• 2 Black & White, English subbed versions

• Colorized version (interlaced)
• Commentary by director John Carpenter

DVD Release Date: March 19th, 2007
Standard Double Keep Case
Chapters: 20

 

Comments:
ADDITION: Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL March 07': What the heck is going on here?

We have a new 2 disc DVD of Howard Hawks classic 'The Thing From Another World' - Disc one has two terrible interlaced transfer from the incorrect standard with a very good commentary by director John Carpenter. Disc 2 has a strong transfer (superior even to the NTSC from 2003) with no extras on a single layer.

BOTTOM LINE: This PAL package is worth it for the commentary (also subtitled) and the superior transfer BUT it is missing some information from the two edges. I suspect there is some legal reason that they had to put Carpenter's commentary on the dual edition disc 1 which would otherwise be suitable as a coaster.

The Universal 2nd disc has better detail and some, most likely, selectively boosted black levels to achieve a better contrast. It looks great and the commentary is definitely worth a listen to. 

          Gary W. Tooze




 

DVD Menus

(Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC LEFT vs. Universal (2disc) - Region 2- PAL RIGHT)

 

 

Menu Universal (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL - Disc 2

 

 

Subtitle Sample

 

(Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 2 2nd vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 1 3rd vs. Universal (2disc) - Region 2- PAL COLORIZED  BOTTOM)

 

Sample of Carpenter Commentary subtitles on Universal (2 - disc) - Region 2 - PAL

 

Screen Captures

 

(Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 2 2nd vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 1 3rd vs. Universal (2disc) - Region 2- PAL COLORIZED  BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 2 2nd vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 1 3rd vs. Universal (2disc) - Region 2- PAL COLORIZED  BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 2 2nd vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 1 3rd vs. Universal (2disc) - Region 2- PAL COLORIZED  BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 2 2nd vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 1 3rd vs. Universal (2disc) - Region 2- PAL COLORIZED  BOTTOM)

 

 

(Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 2 2nd vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL original Disc 1 3rd vs. Universal (2 disc) - Region 2- PAL COLORIZED  BOTTOM)
 

 

DVD Box Cover

Distribution Warner Home Video  Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL




 

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Gary Tooze

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Mississauga, Ontario,

L4W 4V3    CANADA