The Thing from Another World (1951)

Kenneth Tobey: Captain Patrick Hendry

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Ned "Scotty" Scott : Think of what it means to the world!

  Hendry : I'm not working for the world. I'm working for the Air Force.

• Dr. Chapman : Find anything, Captain?

  Hendry : Not a sign. We poked into every snowbank within miles.

  Bob, Crew Chief : Barnes flushed a polar bear.

  Cpl. Barnes : Sure did.

  Dr. Chapman : Scare you?

  Cpl. Barnes : Not after I saw it was only a bear.

• Dr. Arthur Carrington : You're doing more than breaking army orders. You're robbing science of the greatest secrets that ever come to it.

  Hendry : You'd better go back, Doctor.

  Dr. Arthur Carrington : Knowledge is more important than life, Captain. We've only one excuse for existing - to think, to find out, to learn.

  Ned "Scotty" Scott : What can we learn from that thing except a quicker way to die?

  Dr. Arthur Carrington : It doesn't matter what happens to us. Nothing counts except for our thinking. We thought our way into nature. We split the atom.

  Eddie : Yes, and that sure made the world happy, didn't it?

• [after a quick encounter with the Thing] 

  Hendry : Did you get your picture?

  Ned "Scotty" Scott : No, you were in the way and the door wasn't open long enough.

  Hendry : You want us to open it again?

  Ned "Scotty" Scott : NO!

• Hendry : Do you really drink all those drinks?

  Nikki : Um -hum.

  Hendry : Every one of 'em? You didn't spill one?

  Nikki : Uh -uh.

  Hendry : Holy cats, I thought I was good.

• Hendry : I've given all the orders I want to give for the rest of my life.

  Nikki : If I thought that was true I'd ask you to marry me.

• Dr. Arthur Carrington : You're acting like frightened children.

  Hendry : You're right, Doctor... I am frightened.

• Nikki : Anybody around here want some coffee?

  Hendry : No, but you can come in.

  Nikki : That's the only reason I brought it. I was hoping you'd ask me.

• Hendry : [getting ready to go in after The Thing]  Ready, Bob?

  Bob, Crew Chief : No, but go ahead and open it.

• Dr. Arthur Carrington : [Addressing Captain Hendry, arguing against the plan to destroy the alien creature]  You're doing more than breaking Army orders, you're robbing science of the greatest secret that's ever come to it. Knowledge is more important than life, captain. We've only one excuse for existence: to think, to find out, to learn! It doesn't matter what happens to us. Nothing matters except our thinking. We've fought our way into Nature, we've split the atom... We owe it to the brain of our species to stay here and die, without destroying a source of wisdom. Civilization has given us orders!

  Hendry : [Annoyed]  Get him out of here!

• Hendry : Wait a minute, Scotty. You won't need any boots. When it comes you go back with the others. You don't belong out here.

  Ned "Scotty" Scott : I didn't belong at Alamein or Bougainville or Okinawa. I was just kibitzing. And I write a very good obit, a obituary to you.

• Ned "Scotty" Scott : What if we haven't enough voltage?

  Hendry : Just keep swinging at its arms.

• Bob, Crew Chief : [oft repeated exchange]  I think you're right, sir.

  Hendry : I think you are.

• Hendry : [This is the 'Japanese Torture' sequence in Nikki's room, with Hendry bound]  You can tie my hands!

  Nikki : Might not be such a bad idea! You suggested it!

  Hendry : I'll bring a rope!

• Dr. Arthur Carrington : Captain, when you find what you're looking for, remember it's a stranger in a strange land. The only crimes involved were those committed against it. It awoke from a block of ice, was attacked by dogs, shot by frightened man. All I want is a chance to communicate with it.

  Hendry : Doctor you can do anything you want with it provided it's locked up in a safe place.

  Ned "Scotty" Scott : Captain, we catch up with our pal give me a chance to get a picture before somebody makes a salad of 'em eh?

  Hendry : Sure scotty.

• Hendry : And don't tell me I'm right.

• Dr. Arthur Carrington : Well Captain, can we start now?

  Hendry : You mind telling me where we're going, Doctor?

  Dr. Arthur Carrington : Forty-eight miles due east from here.

  Hendry : Your message said an airplane had crashed. Is that what we're looking for?

  Dr. Arthur Carrington : I don't know, Captain.

  Hendry : I think you'd better explain, Doctor.

  Dr. Arthur Carrington : Oh, I'm sorry. Miss Nicholson, would you mind reading Captain Hendry my first notes?

  Nikki : Surely.

  Dr. Arthur Carrington : I was thinking only of the vagueness of my information. I dislike being vague.

• Lt. Ken McPherson : Hey Pat! The heat's off in the mess hall!

  Dr. Chapman : No more oil coming in.

  Ned "Scotty" Scott : Pat, it's off in there, too. Could the tank be empty?

  Dr. Chapman : Filled the day before yesterday.

  Ned "Scotty" Scott : The main line could be plugged. You better run outside and fix it.

  Hendry : And probably run smack into our visitor. He'll be waiting for you to do just that.

  Lt. Ken McPherson : We underestimate this guy.

• Hendry : Dr. Carrington, we just learned you found a dog in there bled white by our visitor. You didn't report it. Why?

  Dr. Arthur Carrington : I didn't consider it necessary.

  Hendry : But it was necessary to leave two of your friends in there to be killed.

  Dr. Arthur Carrington : I posted them as a guard. I was in there myself...

  Hendry : Dr. Stern was right. I looked through that door. They're hanging in there upside down like in a slaughterhouse. I wish you'd seen it.

  Dr. Stern : Isn't there something we can do about it?

  Hendry : They're dead now and it's our job to see that nobody else joins them.