We have a saying in western Canada
The B movie is thought of as interchangeable with the word bad; I say not so. To understand the B movie you first must understand what a bad movie is first for an accurate frame of reference. The bad movie is one that has some, if not, all of these items in common:
- A bad plot or perhaps no plot at all.
- A complex plot easily navigated by characters because of contrivance (stuff just happens because it needs to, not because it makes sense).
- No plot driven characters or characters that seem to be driven by cosmic forces when it is not a sci-fi story.
- Criminal like contempt for the laws of physics seen most often in action films (unlike the Matrix where bending the laws is part of the plot).
- And perhaps the most important factor in almost every bad movie, a budget that easily allows overcoming the items above.
So what does all that say about B movies? To me, it means when you take away all the money for production quality you are left with just the basics; story and acting are all you have left.
That’s what makes B movies great. Their creators can’t hide behind expensive special effects or other big budget distractions. Sometimes it’s just the actors and a few props doing what movies are all about; making magic. Sure, it might be an old tissue box wrapped in tin foil with some flashing LEDs on it, but good directing, acting, and camera work can momentarily suspend disbelief drawing you into the illusion. Suddenly it is the much sought after control module to a nuclear weapon the hero must remove. Suddenly it’s magic, and you can’t stop watching or wait to see what happens next. So lets illustrate what this Blog is all about and take a look at an awesome B movie.
The Thing from Another World (1951)
Director | |
The Main Players | |
As Nikki Nicholson | |
As Captain Patrick Hendry | |
As Dr. Arthur Carrington | |
Ned 'Scotty' Scott | |
The Thing |
Synopsis:
Arctic research station becomes the centre of mankind’s first real close encounter only to learn vegetables aren’t always good for you.
Review:
This is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made and it was a B movie. Produced by Howard Hawks (one of the greatest all time directors, writers, and producers) it was directed by Christian Nyby and then there are stories of Hawks himself stepping in to finish the job. There are a lot of historical arguments on just how much Hawks directed but Arness always claimed the finished product was pure Hawks and Nyby backed him up. That could be true, but then you have to remember, Hawks was a very big producer, and both actors and emerging directors need all the help they can get.
Our story starts out at an Alaskan Army Air Force base where our hero Capt Hendry, and the excitable newspaper reporter Scotty are hanging at the mess when Hendry is called out for a special mission. The scientific research station even farther north needs some assistance with checking out some strange disturbance. Scotty in need of a good story invites himself along, and of course there just happens to be the best looking girl in the far north, Nikki, waiting for the good captain. Dashing pilots always keep a girl in every research station just in case. Hendry takes a lot of flack from his buddies, but in no time they are off flying farther into the North.
They find their way to the station and Hendry has just enough time to spark things up a bit with Nikki before he has to meet his new nemesis. Dr. Carrington is the obligatory big thinking obnoxious know it all who, on one hand needs Hendry’s help, but he also thinks Hendry is as smart as the wooden crates he brings supplies in. This sets the tone for the end where the classic, being too smart for your own good, comes to fruition for the good Dr. Lets not spoil things yet. Carrington drags Hendry and the boys for a fact finding mission out to the barren ice flows and they hit the jackpot. Within the ice they find buried a craft of unknown origin, and quickly they realize it may not be of this world. What do our ingenious self-righteous explorers do when they are confronted with the new and unexplained? They get out the explosives, because everyone knows almost all human problems can be solved with the right amount of high explosives. But the key to that is the right amount, something Hendry’s men get wrong.
Not only do their explosives free the alien craft from its icy grave, but also blow it into very small pieces. Carrington isn’t happy, but not for long. Just moments later someone spots a new object beneath the surface of the ice shaped like a man of sorts. This time caution is exercised by chipping it out in a big block to bring whoever or whatever it is back for study. They think it’s safe. After all, it’s frozen in a giant block of ice, and nothing can survive being frozen like that. Failing to fully understand what alien means in relation to life forms, and the careless use of an electric blanket prove them wrong.
Once thawed out, the thing (Arness) wreaks havoc all over the station fracturing the establishment into two camps, the scientists versus the military. Initially Carrington is able to pull rank on Hendry due to his head scientist status at the research station. He works his colleagues hard to understand the alien and not without success. They quickly learn their visitor is closely related to life on earth. The problem is his relatives are plants. Even worse, they discover Plant Man’s version of Miracle Grow is blood, something the station members have lots of, but are not willing to part with. Like other plants, the alien isn’t bothered by bullets and aggressive pruning by axe or machete. Things come off of him but also grow back fast. As things get worse it seems a showdown is inevitable, and if they are to survive, another way to battle the alien must be found.
Lessons Learned:
- Aliens aren’t much different from us when it comes to long winded preachy speeches by professors.
- Electric blankets make some serious heat.
- Even likable newspaper reporters are obnoxious.
- Mom was both right and wrong. Vegetables are not always good for you and you better finish them off before they finish you.
Fun Facts:
- The Thing was one of the first films to use overlapping dialogue creating realistic sounding moments of panic in groups.
- They may not have had expensive special effects but they made wonder with what they had. The famous saucer under the ice scene was filmed at the RKO Ranch in the
- The scene where the Thing is doused in kerosene is said to be the first full body burn by a stuntman.
- James Arness was very embarrassed by his costume complaining it made him look like a giant carrot. It bothered him so much he refused to attend the premiere.
Coming Attractions:
Next week we will take a close look at another movie that was able to do so much with so little. We will take a time trip back to when the drive-inn was king of the summer nights and Night of The Lepus was a jewel in its crown. You’ll never look at the Easter Bunny the same way again.
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