Thoughts On The Sublime: John Carpenter's "The Thing"

 

Donald Moffat as Garry

John Carpenter's "The Thing" was released in 1982. There was also a novelization by Alan Dean Foster published the same year.

In the film, you will see T.K.Carter playing Nauls address Donald Moffat's character, Garry, as "Bwana".

In the book, it is the character Childs who does so.
(In the film, Keith David plays Childs.)

Now if you have seen the film, you know what a vast difference there is between the two scenes discussed here. Having Nauls say "Bwana" is a comic, yet restrained satire on black and white society in America of 1982.

Having Childs say it is more like the clenched fist salute at the Mexico City Olympics.

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