The Thing from Another World (1951), directed by Christian Nyby and Howard Hawks.
Who actually directed this is a subject of some confusion, even to the people who were there. In later years Nyby gave great deference to Hawks as his mentor.
It has many of the good features of a Hawks production: a great ensemble, although without big stars this time. Even minor characters seem to have background stories that we don't know.
Great overlapping wisecracks and even romantic flirting during the action scenes.
Notes:
Note the thin single doors in the general's office at the beginning. You'd think he'd want more insulation in sub-zero weather.
Mostly shot on soundstages, but we do have outdoor snow scenes and real cargo planes with skis.
They're not supposed to have regular day/night cycles at the North Pole.
We have brains vs military and we're on the side of the flyboys. They're not stupid, just practical, and really very efficient men of action. The service comedy is a bit forced in spots.
Note the fur hat on Dr Carrington; like a Russian. Another scientist has a school sweater, as if he is a permanent adolescent.
Still, the scientists are of different minds on how to handle the Thing. Many think Carrington is being irresponsible.
Some Things can't be reasoned with. That makes other things simpler.
Great sequences: the crowd reaction to something out of view, which is the severed arm starting to move. Nikki's expression when told the alien seedlings sound like crying babies. The burning man stunt.
Odd courtship: the Captain acts like he wants to hit Nikki and she ties him up while they are drinking. It's all for laughs.
In this sort of film: trust the dogs. In the remake -- The Thing (1982) -- don't.
The term "flying saucer" had become popular just four years earlier.
Dimitri Tiomkin score, with theremin. Photographed by Russell Harlan.
Available on DVD.