Review - Them! (1954)

Encountering Fire Ants for the first time as a new homeowner in southern Florida, the prospect of giant mutated ants really freaks me out. Especially wondering where I could get enough Comet or coffee grounds (both non-toxic ant deterrents) to cover the giant mounds!

Them! was really well done. It was amazing to me that a giant bug movie from the 50's would hold up as well as it did, but I was pleasantly surprised. The acting was well done, the effects for the time period were really impressive, and above all, the story worked. What also worked were the sound effects for these giant creatures, everytime you hear that creepy noise, you know Them! are not far behind (kudos to the sound crew!) . And speaking of effects, you might think that giant ants would just cheese up the screen, but these bugs are really well done and you are just immediately captured by the story.

From the very beginning when you see the Ellinson girl (Sandy Descher) wandering the desert in her robe clutching her broken doll, you know that something is just not right. You immediately begin to feel for Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) as he scoops up the little girl and rushes her to safety. After the discovery of a strange print in the sand of the Ellinson trailer and the loss of his partner, Peterson is teamed up with an FBI agent by the name of Robert Graham (James Arness) to find out what has been killing in the desert, but are they ready for the answer?

In come Drs. Medford, (Edmund Gwenn and Joan Weldon) a father and daughter scientific team who think they know what the strange print signifies. After a bit of secrecy, they reveal their contention that these are giant ants we are dealing with here. And they all begin to fight for man's very survival. Because if Them! are allowed to breed and nest, it could be the very end of life as we know it.

Them! is one of the first movies to comment on the consequences of man's delving into the creation and testing of nuclear weapons. It certainly wasn't the last, but thus far it is certainly one of the very best. A must see for all giant bug movie enthusiasts. Even if you aren't a giant bug movie enthusiast, Them! is just a good flick worth seeing!

The DVD I have has a slew of special features including: Behind-the-scenes archive footage, montage on the design and operation of giant ants, interactive menus, cast film highlights, theatrical trailer, scene access and subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.

Directed by
Gordon Douglas

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Russell S. Hughes adaptation (as Russell Hughes)
Ted Sherdeman
George Worthing Yates story

Cast (in credits order) verified as complete
James Whitmore .... Police Sgt. Ben Peterson
Edmund Gwenn .... Dr. Harold Medford
Joan Weldon .... Dr. Patricia 'Pat' Medford
James Arness .... Robert Graham
Onslow Stevens .... Brig. Gen. Robert O'Brien
Sean McClory .... Maj. Kibbee
Chris Drake .... Trooper Ed Blackburn
Sandy Descher .... The Ellinson Girl
Mary Alan Hokanson .... Mrs. Lodge
Don Shelton .... Trooper Capt. Fred Edwards
Fess Parker .... Alan Crotty
Olin Howland .... Jensen (as Olin Howlin)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marshall Bradford .... Psychiatrist (scenes deleted)
Richard Bellis .... Mike (uncredited)
John Beradino .... Patrolman Ryan (uncredited)
Robert Berger .... Patrolman Sutton (uncredited)
Oscar Blanke .... Inmate (uncredited)
Willis Bouchey .... Official at D.C. Meeting (uncredited)
Richard Boyer .... Trooper #1 (uncredited)
Waldron Boyle .... Doctor (uncredited)
Alexander Campbell .... Official (uncredited)
James Cardwell .... Officer (uncredited)
Royden E. Clark .... Jeep Driver (uncredited)
John Close .... Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Booth Colman .... Reporter (uncredited)
James Conaty .... Washington Official (uncredited)
Robert Scott Correll .... Jerry (uncredited)
Walter Coy .... Reporter (uncredited)
Dean Cromer .... MP Sergeant (uncredited)
Richard Deacon .... Bald reporter, Los Angeles news conference (uncredited)
Eddie Dew .... Officer (uncredited)
Lawrence Dobkin .... Los Angeles City Engineer (uncredited)
Ann Doran .... Child Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Wally Duffy .... Airman (uncredited)
Cliff Ferre .... Cliff, Police Lab Man (uncredited)
Norman Field .... Gen. James (uncredited)
Joseph Forte .... Coroner Putnam (uncredited)
Dean Fredericks .... Det. Curtis (uncredited)
Russell Gaige .... Coroner (uncredited)
Otis Garth .... Admiral at Second Conference (uncredited)
Dorothy Green .... Matron (uncredited)
Mary Lou Holloway .... Blonde (uncredited)
Gayle Kellogg .... Gunner (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp .... Trooper #2 (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns .... Jeep Driver (uncredited)
Warren Mace .... Radio Operator (uncredited)
Chad Mallory .... Loader (uncredited)
John Maxwell .... Dr. Grant (uncredited)
Matthew McCue .... Gramps, Storekeeper (uncredited)
Charles Meredith .... Washington Official (uncredited)
Forbes Murray .... Government Official (uncredited)
Leonard Nimoy .... Staff Sergeant, Telex Operator (uncredited)
Jack Perrin .... Army Officer (uncredited)
Charles Perry .... Soldier (uncredited)
Grandon Rhodes .... Psychiatric Ward Doctor (uncredited)
Joe Sawyer .... Capt. O'Connell (uncredited)
William Schallert .... Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Fred Shellac .... Attendant (uncredited)
Joel Smith .... Ben's Driver (uncredited)
K.L. Smith .... Trooper (uncredited)
Douglas Spencer .... Reporter (uncredited)
Janet Stewart .... WAVE (uncredited)
Victor Sutherland .... Senator at D.C. Meeting (uncredited)
Dub Taylor .... Railroad Yard Watchman (uncredited)
Harry Tyler .... Inmate (uncredited)
Dick Wessel .... Railroad Detective (uncredited)
Harry Wilson .... Inmate (uncredited)