The Thing from Another World

1951. USA. Directed by Chris Nyby. Screenplay by Charles Lederer. With Margaret Sheridan, Kenneth Tobey. With fast-paced dialogue (doctored by the great, but uncredited, Ben Hecht), macho exploits, and a pin-up girl cracking wise from the sidelines, the film boasts all the emblems of a Howard Hawks production. Credited as "producer" but acknowledged by all concerned to be the film's de facto director, Hawks gathered his signature talents for this snappy take on Man vs. Extraterrestrial Enemy. Preserved by Warner Bros. 87 min.