That was an interesting read. As noted earlier, I've never seen the 1982 movie, only the original. The two main things that strike me as different -- from what I remember of the 1951 version: * The 1982 version incorporates fully the idea of the Thing's ability to imitate other life forms. That completely changes the dynamics of the story in which paranoia is a central theme. * The 1982 version is a decidedly dark story with an heroic, yet fatal ending. That's probably a key factor in the film's under-performance at the box office (only $19M), yet may also be one of the reasons The Thing is rated #167 in the IMDB Top 250, a reflection of an enduring legacy of viewers who found the movie in post-theatrical release life. It's as much a psychological thriller as it is a horror film, gripping on many levels to watch individuals and community devolve. And oh yeah, the Thing kicks some ass, too. I'll have to work my way through the script a second time to assess its structure, but I must say the script does a great job of building up the suspense, building up the stakes, building and building to a truly cataclysmic ending... and then that dramatic denouement of MacReady and Childs, playing chess and drinking as they await their frozen deaths. It's a strong read and screenwriter Lancaster does an excellent job creating a visceral sense of reality, some terrific scene description. More later.

According to Wikipedia, they shot a happy ending scene as well, "in which MacReady has been rescued and administered a blood test, proving that he is still human." I'm glad they didn't use that ending, but like you said, that could have been one of the reasons it didn't do too well at the box office. It also opened on the same day as Blade Runner. How's that for a coincidence. I didn't know anything about Bill Lancaster so I looked him up. What a sad story. He died only 49 years old. He was Burt Lancaster's son and the only other credits he has is The Bad News Bears and the sequel and TV show. I totally agree with you on the building of stakes and suspense. It felt like it was just building and building. Very exciting.