... was intended to be Palmer. At the time of filming David Clennon's silhouette was considered too distinct, a dead giveaway. Cinematographer Dean Cundey tried to soften the edges to diffuse the image, but in the end John used stunt coordinator Dick Warlock to throw everyone off the scent...
The scene as originally written ended with the shadow figure uttering a barely decipherable "Hello, Boy" and the door slamming shut from the inside. Additionally, this is the last piece of an originally much longer sequence that had the dog weaving its way through the radio room, storeroom, kitchen and hallway, methodically surveying the scene. Beautifully shot by John, as seen in one piece it had the effect of establishing the camp geography from a dogs eye point of view. Great stuff, but John felt it slowed the story up and cut it down, with only small pieces used ( The brush against Bennings underneath the rec room table, for instance )...
Haha knew it had to be Palmer. The dog walked into his dorm room which you see Palmer come out of in the wake up scene when Dogtown goes crazy.
ReplyDeleteLots of naysayers believed that was meant to be Norris.
Wow, the questions you could answer...
No its Norris. Because Palmer later shared a joint with Childs. It only takes one cell for Palmer to infect Childs. So it's Noris
DeleteNo, Palmer is turning around at the beginning of that shot (00:30:20). We do not see him come out of any door. Also, the door opposite the one Palmer is standing near is closed. But, we were shown earlier in the film that Palmer shares a room with Childs, and when we see Childs getting dressed in a hurry, and before Bennings comes into the shot from the hallway, you can see that the door on the other side of the hall is wide open. Therefore, the room the Palmer is standing near in the previous shot is not the room he sleeps in.
DeleteI knew it! So many said it was Norris.
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog Stuart!
-evilroboknee
The SHADOW looks like Norris. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI thought Palmer or Fuchs. No one with a big beard or double chins. Since it was Palmer, we now know that the Thing liked a big blunt every now and then. I don't know why, but that struck me that the Thing, hell bent on survival, would dull its senses. Maybe it had no receptors.... Thanks for this blog! I love the movie. It is a touchstone to my younger days and a fertile source for musing.
ReplyDeleteThought it was Norris.
ReplyDeleteI knew it was Palmer. But the question I have is what happened to the Thing that escaped through the ceiling of the dog kennel. Childs only torched the divided creature.
ReplyDeleteNo its Norris. Because Palmer later shared a joint with Childs. It only takes one cell for Palmer to infect Childs. So it's Noris
DeleteI have to voice my passion for your kindness giving support to those people that should have guidance on this important matter.
ReplyDelete________________________
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Another give away if someone has just been assimilated by the thing is that when ASKED a question, the person does NOT respond with words.
ReplyDeletePalmer...Dr Blair... all at a certain point act "dull"or "nodd"....
I think we might all be wrong. Believe me I thought the same thing when everyone is awakened by the fire alarm but they actually threw us off again. Watch the shadow scene once more and then the fire alarm dog kennel scene. A stack of boxes can be seen next to the room of the shadow victim. When we watch the fire alarm kennel scene they actually flip the hallway. The stacks of boxes can be seen stacked next to NORRIS' ROOM!
ReplyDelete.....That shadow looks nothing like Palmer, Palmer has little hair, that shadow has lots, go look. Looks so much like Norris!
ReplyDeleteOh shut up, I know most of you guys thought it was Norris and the moment you were proven wrong you immediately became all high and mighty saying “ I KNEW It was Palmer” look I still believe it’s Norris because he just said “it was the ORIGINAL INTENTION for it to be Palmer” and I feel that Carpenter noticed who the shadow looked like and STILL shot the scene as we see it today and if it’s Palmer where are the headphones and the joint? So if you believe Palmer is the shadow on the wall then Palmer was the one who had the heart attack and Norris was the one who mauled Windows
ReplyDeleteBut, we are shown that Palmer shares a room with Childs, and in that scene we can see Childs has a bunch of pictures and other things pinned to the wall above his bed, however, when the Norwegian Dog comes to the room with the lone man casting his shadow on the wall, the bed on the opposite side of the room, the one that should be Childs has nothing pinned to the wall above it. It is completely bare. Also, if Palmer was The Thing when He, MacReady, and Norris flew out to the crashed spaceship, then why didn’t he either, assimilate MacReady and Norris while they were climbing down into the crater, or even better, when they were climbing back up? They would have been easy pickings clinging to ropes dangling on a shear ice wall. Or, if not that, then way didn’t Palmer hijack the helicopter while Mac, and Norris were down there? It is established early in the film that Palmer has some piloting skills, he even offers to give Doc a ride to the Norwegian camp. He is turned down in favor of MacReady, but it seems a strange detail to include if it is not a clue.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Palmer SHARES A ROOM WITH CHILDS! If Palmer was The Thing, and he was alone with Childs, in a relatively small space, with the door CLOSED, and Childs was just lying there in bed in his jammies waiting for his doobie, then why wouldn’t The Thing just take him right then and there? It would have been the perfect opportunity!
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