On this day in movie history - The Thing (1982)

The Thing

directed by John Carpenter,

written by Bill Lancaster,

based on the novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell,

was released in the United States on June 25, 1982.

Music by Ennio Morricone.

Cast:

Kurt Russell, A. Wilford Brimley, T. K. Carter, David Clennon, Keith David, Richard Dysart, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Richard Masur, Donald Moffat, Joel Polis, Thomas Waites.

Recommended reading:

Frozen Hell

by John W. Campbell Jr.

 

Published 2019.
Published by Wildside Press.
Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1479442828
ISBN-13: 978-1479442829
 
Description:
 

In 1938, acclaimed science fiction author John W. Campbell published the novella Who Goes There?, about a team of scientists in Antarctica who discover and are terrorized by a monstrous, shape-shifting alien entity. The story would later be adapted into John Carpenter's iconic movie The Thing (following an earlier film adaptation in 1951). The published novella was actually an abridged version of Campbell's original story, called Frozen Hell, which had to be shortened for publication.

 

The Frozen Hell manuscript remained unknown and unpublished for decades, and it was only recently rediscovered. Frozen Hell expands The Thing story dramatically, giving vital backstory and context to an already incredible tale. We are pleased and honored to offer Frozen Hell to you now, as Campbell intended it. You will be among the first people to ever read this completed version of the story.

On this day in movie and book history - Dark Star (1974)

Dark Star

directed by John Carpenter,

written by John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon,

was released in the United States on March 30, 1974.

Music by John Carpenter.

Title song Benson, Arizona performed by John Yager.

Lyrics by Bill Taylor.

Cast:

Brian Narelle, Dan O'Bannon, Cal Kuniholm, Andreijah "Dre" Pahich, John Carpenter, Joe Saunders, Barbara "Cookie" Knapp, Miles Watkins, Nick Castle.

Recommended reading: 

Dark Star

by Alan Dean Foster.

Published by Del Rey.

First published 1974.

ISBN-10: 0708880487

ISBN-13: 9780708880487

Description:

Bombed out in space -- with a spaced-out bomb!

ALL SYSTEMS -- SNAFU!

If anything could possibly go wrong aboard the scout ship Dark Star, sooner or later it would. Now, in the twentieth year of their mission -- destroying unstable planets -- the ship and its crew were slowly and steadily falling apart.

After 20 years in space, isolation and loneliness had left their mark. The four surviving crew members were bored beyond relief. Only an occasional bomb run or another of the inevitable malfunctions aboard ship upset the monotony.

Then, one day, Bomb #20 was primed, armed, and set to detonate ... and suddenly life on the Dark Star became frantic ...

On this day in movie history - Black Moon Rising (1986)

Black Moon Rising

directed by Harley Cokliss,

written by John Carpenter, William Gray and Desmond Nakano,

based on a story by John Carpenter,

was released in the United States on January 10, 1986.

Music by Lalo Schifrin.

Cast:

Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Hamilton, Robert Vaughn, Richard Jaeckel, Lee Ving, Bubba Smith, Dan Shor, William Sanderson, Keenan Wynn, Nick Cassavetes, Richard Angarola, Don Keith Opper, William Marquez, David Pressman, Stanley DeSantis, Edward Parone, Al White, Bill Moody, Townsend Coleman, Dalton Cathey, Frank Dent, Steve Fifield, Dave Adams, Lana Lancaster, Enrique Castillo, Peterson Banks, Rudy Daniels, Carl Ciarfalio, Don Pulford, Vincent Pandoliano, Lisa London, Doug MacHugh, Eric Trules.