Way back in 1954 monster movies were going through a renaissance. Over at Universal, they were preparing to unleash the "Creature From The Black Lagoon", the last of their great line of classic monsters, on the world, while over in Japan, Toho was finishing up on their own monster film, "Gojira" (Godzilla), which would launch a 50 year movie series.
Meanwhile, at Warner Bros, director Gordon Douglas and producer David Weisbart were working on their own monster film, "Them!", a movie about colonies of giant ants that were unleashed upon the world due to atomic testing in the New Mexico desert.
Unbenounced to Dougles and Weibart, the film that they were about to release would change the landscape of American monster movies for the next two decades. For you see, after the success of "Them!", film makers on this side of the Pacific would decide to leave the giant dinosaur movies to the Japanese, and instead, focus their attention on what would happen if the bugs decided to step on us humans for a change.
In the early developmental stages of the film, Warner Bros had big plans for "Them!", intending to shoot it in color, and in 3D, to compete with Universal's 3D "Creature" film.
Early 3D tests shots of the mechanical giant ants created for the film proved very promising, but when yet more tests were ordered by the Warner execs, the companies "All Media" 3-D camera rig broke down, causing both 3D and color to be scratched from the film entirely.
Opting to use three 'life-sized' mechanical ants, instead of either stop-motion animation, or men in suites, was a big risk for the production. To date, no other film had attempted something that ambitious. Though, costly, in the end the use of the remote controlled giant ants worked quite well, especially in scenes where they had to interact with their human costars.
Trying to inter cut stop-motion animated ants just wouldn't have worked out as cleanly, and as we have learned from such films as "Empire of the Ants", using real ants, blown up to gigantic size and inserted into scenes, was out of the question.
As a matter of luck, "Them!" would be blessed with a stellar cast, including, James Arness, who would spend the next two decades playing Marshal Matt Dillon on the hit television series, "Gunsmoke", along with James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn and Joan Weldon.
The film would also serve as vehicle to boost the careers of television actors, Fess Parker, who would go on to star in Disney's "Davy Crockett", though the studio originally wanted Arnes for the part, and Leonard Nimoy, who as everyone knows, would go on to play Spock on "Star Trek".
Actor, Booth Colman also had a small part in the film, and he would go on to play Dr. Zaius on the short-lived "Planet of the Apes" television series.
Plot:
The FBI sends in Ellinson's fellow agent Robert Graham (James Arness) to assist. A single strange track is found in the desert. When the FBI is unable to identify the track, they attract the attention of Doctors Harold (Edmund Gwenn) and Pat Medford (Joan Weldon), a father/daughter team of entomologists from the Department of Agriculture.
During the assault, Peterson finds the two missing boys, named Mike and Jerry, alive, trapped by the ants in a sewer tunnel, which is also the entrance to the nest. Peterson calls in for backup, but instead of waiting for it, he bravely goes in alone, heroically rescuing the two boys and killing numerous ants with his flamethrower. Peterson leads the two boys back to the pipe through which he came, intending for he and they to crawl back through it to safety. After hoisting up the first boy, Jerry, however, another ant appears from behind, and thinking quickly and selflessly, Peterson saves the second boy, Mike, but after lifting the boy into the pipe, Peterson is left without time to save himself. As he tries to climb up into the pipe at the last minute, the ant grabs Peterson in its mandibles and crushes him at the waist, the man crying out in agony all the while.
The film would end up being a huge success for Warner Bros, in fact it was their top grossing film for 1954.
Ultimately the success of the film would spawn two decades of imitators, including, Universal's "Tarantula" and "Deadly Mantis", American International's "Empire of the Ants", Transcentury Pictures "The Giant Spider Invasion", and even Warner's "The Black Scorpion."
Of all the 'giant bug' films produced throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, "Them!" truly stands out as the best ever produced. Many even regard the film as one of the best science fiction films of Hollywood's golden age.
Indeed, "Them!" is a very well executed monster film. The script, written by Ted Sherdeman, Russell Hughes and George Worthing Yates, is simple and effective. The effects are surprisingly realistic, especially for a film made in the 1950s. The acting is very believable and heartfelt, something not normally seen in many of the decades sci fi outings.
What truly stands out to me, is just how well the film stands up some 50+ years after it was produced, a true testament to the film making talents of Gordon Douglas, David Weisbart and their crew.
If you choose to see one giant monster film in your life...well watch "King Kong" or "Gojira", but if those get ya interested in more, watch "Them!" next.
Yeh, I was going to say, watch "Them!" first, but I couldn't honestly say that the film is better than "Kong" or "Godzilla".
Trust me, though, "Them!" is excellent, and a 'must see' for all sci fi and monster movie fans.
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