Double Feature #12: 'The Thing From Another World'/'Poltergeist'

 

The Thing From Another World (1951) and Poltergeist (1982) are classic crowd-pleasing horror films whose ability to entertain a general audience doesn't diminish their ability to frighten. Taking advantage of strong ensemble casts to inject personality and humor into their monster-on-the-rampage/haunted house plots, both movies are terrific examples of thrilling, edge-of-your-seat entertainment produced - and more? - by two of the greatest showmen in Hollywood history.

 

These films share many common traits, including controversy over who actually directed them. While Christian Nyby is listed as director on The Thing From Another World and Tobe Hooper is credited with Poltergeist, both films are dogged by gossip they were actually ghost-directed by their powerful producers, Howard Hawks and Steven Spielberg.

 

Christian Nyby served as Hawks' editor on To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep and Red River. Speculation is that Hawks either let Nyby take credit for the direction of The Thing in order to secure his DGA card or because Hawks was ashamed to put his name on a lowly sci-fi film (this second reason seems nonsensical when you see the size of Hawks' name on all The Thing's advertising materials). Regardless of who was behind the camera, the film unmistakably carries Hawks' stamp, and is widely considered more his work than Nyby's - a belief supported by the unremarkable nature of Nyby’s other directorial efforts.

 

Poltergeist has been subject to similar rumors that writer/producer Steven Spielberg took the reins from Tobe Hooper and called the shots himself. Some claim Hooper and Spielberg served as co-directors, while others claim Spielberg seized complete control, reducing Hooper to the role of spectator. Whichever is true, it seems Spielberg did exert more influence than his writing and producing credits would indicate, as the film shares the same tone, look and concerns as his other suburban-based hits from this time period (E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws). Unlike Nyby, however, Hooper is a director with an impressive track record of undisputed classics (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre), first-rate fright films (The Funhouse, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2) and cult favorites (Lifeforce, Salem's Lot). Whatever happened on the set of Poltergeist, Hooper deserves better than the dismissive gossip that’s downplayed his contributions for years. Regardless, neither he nor Nyby ever received full credit for their films' artistic or financial success, forever muddying the waters concerning the true nature of their authorship.

 

A great strength of these films is their unique, well-defined characters. The Thing From Another World takes place at an Arctic research base, where Air Force Captain Patrick Hendry (Kenneth Tobey) and his men are sent to verify reports that scientists have discovered a strange aircraft buried beneath the ice. Assisting the scientists, Hendry and his men realize the strange craft is, in fact, a flying saucer - which they manage to accidentally destroy with thermite bombs. But all is not lost as they locate a being trapped in the ice nearby. Presumed to be the ship’s pilot, they excavate the body, leaving it frozen in a block of ice and returning with it to the research station... where they promptly manage to unthaw it (so okay - mistakes are made). The creature escapes and goes on a murderous rampage, slaughtering a number of scientists and consuming their blood. Trapped and unable to summon help due to a huge storm, it’s up to Hendry and his men to overcome both the Thing and the scientists who want to keep the monster alive in order to study it.

 

Poltergeist tells the story of the Freelings, a typical middle-class family whose American dream becomes a nightmare. Real estate agent Steve Freeling (Craig T. Nelson) lives and works in Cuesta Verde, California, with his wife Diane (JoBeth Williams) and children Dana (Dominique Dunne), Robbie (Oliver Robins) and Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke). Their typical suburban life is interrupted by the arrival of what Carol Anne calls “the TV people” - spirits whose presence is initially viewed as an entertaining curiosity. Their evil nature is revealed when they kidnap Carol Anne, whose presence can only be detected through the white noise between television stations. The Freelings call in a team of paranormal investigators, who in turn call in spiritual medium Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubenstein) in an attempt to rescue Carol Anne and clear the home of malevolent spirits.

 

Both films are ensemble pieces, featuring fully dimensional and realistic characters who unexpectedly find themselves at the center of fantastic events. In Captain Hendry and Steve Freeling we have recognizable males at the heart of each story - highly competent, naturally easygoing men thrown for a loop by the sudden inexplicable threats lobbed their way. Each is motivated by their duty to save those they feel responsible for. Freeling is driven to save his family while Hendry strives to save the men under his command - his professional family.