Them! (Warner Brothers 1954)
Gordon Douglas’s Them! reached American cinemas on the 19th of June, 1954 – and seventy-two years on, no giant-monster picture of the atomic age has aged better. The first and finest of the “big bug” films, it sent a colony of irradiated science fiction ants boiling out of the New Mexico desert and into the storm drains of Los Angeles, setting the pattern that every creature feature of the decade would follow.
The colour, 3-D epic that never was
Tautly directed by Gordon Douglas from a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman and Russell Hughes, Them! was originally intended to be a showcase production – shot in WarnerColor and the new craze of 3-D. The camera equipment proved so troublesome, however, that the colour was abandoned, the desired widescreen format had to be dropped because of the preparatory work for that troublesome third dimension, and the film was shot in stark black and white. In the final prints, the only colour to survive is the vivid red and blue of the opening titles.
The young Ellinson girl (Sandy Descher) is found wandering the desert in a state of shock by Sgt Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) in Them! (Warner Brothers 1954)
The monster you only hear
It is a measure of the film’s confidence that it is a well-paced, suspenseful thriller which only reveals its villainous ants around a third of the way in; up until then, they are merely heard – an eerie, alien screech that has unsettled audiences for seventy years. The ants themselves were specially constructed full-size puppets, operated by offscreen technicians under the supervision of Ralph Ayers. In the original prints, an ant was even seen minus its side panel, blatantly showing off its mechanical guts; this was quietly “corrected” in subsequent VHS and DVD releases.
Get the Ultimate Guide in the shop →
A cast that sells the impossible
What makes Them! so satisfying is its sheer style which, even by today’s standards, shows it to be a well-thought-out, high-budget epic. Sid Hickox’s cinematography, slick powerhouse editing by Thomas Reilly and crafted art direction by Stanley Fleischer all come to life on lavish sets, and yet never once does style outdo substance. There are beautiful performances from James Whitmore, Joan Weldon, James Arness and Onslow Stevens, but the star turn surely belongs to the delightful, London-born Edmund Gwenn, who even manages to sell apocalyptic lines like “When Man entered the atomic age, he opened a door into a new world. What we’ll eventually find in that new world, nobody can predict.” From a lesser artist, they would be cheese; from Gwenn, they are chilling.
The giant ants make their nest in the storm drains of Los Angeles in Them! (Warner Brothers 1954)
Why Them! still stands tall
By turns atmospheric and brooding while remaining fast-paced and deliberate, Them! realises its outlandish concept perfectly. It earned $2 million at the US and Canadian box office in its first year alone, and was described by Variety as a “top-notch science fiction shocker… expertly directed and acted in a matter-of-fact style to rate a chiller payoff and thoroughly satisfy the fans of hackle-raising melodrama.” More than seven decades on, it remains the benchmark against which every other giant-insect film is measured – and essential viewing for anyone exploring the science fiction cinema of the 1950s.
Original theatrical release poster for Them! (Warner Brothers 1954)
Our Them! 1954 Ultimate Guide Magazine tells the full story of the film across 36 luxurious full-colour pages – production history, cast and crew biographies, and a wealth of beautifully restored stills. Get your copy in the shop →
the film is a classic and i love it to bits,perhaps they could do a remake that would be so cool
thanks
One of my all-time favourite 50’s Sci-Fi films! All round top-notch story, script, acting, direction, with all the elements you want in a action sci-fi movie.
One of my all time favorites, regardless of genre. This is one I would not want to be remade. Part of its impact was the “clumsy” movement of the ants. They have limited screen time, which makes their impact greater. Having this changed to CGI monsters tearing victims apart graphically will bring the story down. Avoid another embarassment like 1998’s Godzilla disaster.
Outstanding Movie every time it’s on I watch it, even have the dvd.
My Aunt took me to that movie when I was 10 years old. I was never so scared in all my life. The horror of it stayed with me for decades.
The ants’ sounds still scare me. Whenever i hear facsimiles, i expect to see at least one 9-feet-long creature nearby.
at least i think they’re facsimiles.
A remake would be too…i dunno, too something; too realistic perhaps. The original has a charm that would be lost in a CG-driven remake.
In response to Archie 1954, ¿the horror stayed with you? ¿stayed, past-tense? 🙂
“THEM.”This is one of my All time favorite SciFi films.
What an interesting story to start with. Add to that wonderful acting, top notch cinematopraphy,
very scary soundtrack make it a winner.
There is a very good blend of drama with just the right amount of humor at just the right time.
“If she’s the kind of doctor that takes care of sick people, I think I’m gonna get a fever.”
“Spits about all that holding me together.”
“you have to say Over. It’s a rule.”
This is Classic SciFi at it’s Beast. It is a Must See.
I’m anxious to receive my copy of Classic Monsters new issue of “THEM.”
I Have A Hugh Question!!
WHY YA’LL WON’T LET PEOPLES SEE THESE CREATURE MOVIES “FREE” INSTEAD OF ALWAYS WANTING “MONEY” JUST TO SEE IT
I really Love This Movie Them..
I’ve seen THEM! many, many times and I’ve never gotten bored with it or tired of any part of the movie. A great 1950’s epic sci fi movie!