ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour (461)

Thank you for joining us today

Before our feature presentation, ACME would like to start the evening with another Porky Pig Looney Tunes cartoon, the 1938 Porky the Fireman , directed by Frank Tashlin.



When the firetruck slides off its frame, on the sign on the wall the words "Looney Tunes" is shown.


Long time viewers of The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour know that we enjoy a good episode from the folks at Letters Live. And what makes it even more appealing - the letter read by Nathan Lane:



You know you woke up this morning, wanting to hear about masturbation from Nathan Lane.


We’ve selected another entry from the excellent reference book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, edited by Steven Jay Schneider. Today’s film is perfectly timed for Halloween  - the 1982 sci-fi classic The Thing, directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell. Upon its release, The Thing received largely negative reviews. Critics praised its groundbreaking special effects but criticized their graphic nature, while others found the characters underdeveloped. Despite its poor reception, the film gained a strong cult following through home video and television, and it has since been reappraised as one of the greatest science fiction and horror films ever made.

According to John Carpenter, he takes all his failed films hard, but The Thing’s initial reception disappointed him the most. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it “too phony-looking to be disgusting. It qualifies only as instant junk.” Roger Ebert criticized the “superficial characterizations and implausible behavior,” dismissing the movie as merely an Alien knockoff. Carpenter was especially upset when Christian Nyby, director of the original The Thing from Another World, publicly denounced his version, saying, “If you want blood, go to the slaughterhouse. All in all, it’s a terrific commercial for J&B Scotch.”

Following the film’s commercial failure, the studio canceled its multi-picture deal with Carpenter, who later remarked that his career would have been very different had The Thing been a success. Fortunately, he found redemption in the film’s enduring cult status and its critical reevaluation over time. So please, find a comfy chair and join us here at The ACME Eagle Hand Soap Radio Hour as we watch this still-terrifying masterpiece - The Thing.



The opening title attempts to replicate the appearance of the original film. To create the effect of the title, an animation cell with "The Thing" written on it was placed behind a smoke-filled fish tank which was covered with a plastic garbage bag. The bag was ignited, creating the effect of the title burning onto the screen.



Demand the program!