Them! (1954)

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Ted Sherdeman (screenplay)
Russell S. Hughes (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

19 June 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Tagline:

The Amazing New Warner Bros. Sensation!

Plot:

The earliest atomic tests in New Mexico cause common ants to mutate into giant man-eating monsters that threaten civilization.

Plot Keywords:

Ant | Desert | New Mexico | Police | Trailer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

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 (as Mary Ann Hokanson)
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 Lodge (uncredited)
John Beradino	...	Patrolman Ryan (uncredited)
Robert Berger	...	Patrolman Sutton (uncredited)
Oscar Blanke	...	Alcoholic Ward Patient (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)
Roydon Clark	...	Jeep Driver (uncredited)
John Close	...	Johnny, Police Aircraft Pilot (uncredited)
Booth Colman	...	Reporter (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Washington Official (uncredited)
Robert Scott Correll	...	Jerry Lodge (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 Johnson, Storekeeper (uncredited)
Charles Meredith	...	Washington Official (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Government Official (uncredited)
Leonard Nimoy	...	Air Force Sergeant (uncredited)
Jack Perrin	...	Army Officer (uncredited)
Charles Perry	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Grandon Rhodes	...	Alcoholic Ward Doctor (uncredited)
William Schallert	...	Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Fred Shellac	...	Attendant (uncredited)
Joel Smith	...	Smitty, Ben's Jeep Driver (uncredited)
K.L. Smith	...	Trooper (uncredited)
Janet Stewart	...	WAVE (uncredited)
Victor Sutherland	...	Senator at D.C. Meeting (uncredited)
Dub Taylor	...	Railroad Yard Watchman (uncredited)
Harry Tyler	...	Harry, Alcoholic Ward Patient (uncredited)
Dick Wessel	...	Railroad Detective (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	Alcoholic Ward Patient (uncredited)

Directed by
Gordon Douglas

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

Produced by
David Weisbart	....	producer

Original Music by
Bronislau Kaper

Cinematography by
Sidney Hickox		(as Sid Hickox)

Film Editing by
Thomas Reilly

Art Direction by
Stanley Fleischer

Set Decoration by
G.W. Berntsen

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Russell Saunders	....	assistant director (as Russ Saunders)

Sound Department
Francis J. Scheid	....	sound

Stunts
Roydon Clark	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Moss Mabry	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Robert Franklyn	....	orchestrator
Ray Heindorf	....	musical director

Other crew
Liz Patten	....	double: Sandy Descher (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1954) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Cinema Classics (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Them (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 (1954) | West Germany:16 (nf) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 (1969) | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #16752, General Audience)

Filming Locations:

Blaney Ranch - 160th & Q Streets, Palmdale, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The flamethrowers used in the movie were standard World War 2 weapons and were loaned by the US Army. The actors handling the weapons were WW2 combat veterans who had actually used them in battle.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While the Army is searching the storm drains of Los Angeles for the new nest of giant ants, they are seen to be using radios for communication. Radios do not work underground - especially in reinforced concrete tunnels.

Quotes:

The Ellinson Girl: [screaming hysterically] THEM! THEM! THEM!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Friends: The One Where Ross and Rachel... You Know (#2.15)" (1996)

Hey, this could really happen!

Of all the films of this genre (1950's cold war paranoia, aliens, monsters and atomic mutations) that I have seen, THEM! is by far the best. Yes, it certainly has the 'plot' of countless other films (Big _________s caused by radiation) and the square-jawed heroes, but THEM! goes beyond that.

Despite the fact that it was intended to be shot in color, this film seems more natural in b&w. The lighting holds THEM! together. Particularly in the desert 'tension' scenes and the finale in the flood drains of LA. The acting is fine, definetly not wooden-a trait which plagues this genre. Thankfully, other than the something-exposed-to-radiation-must-become-a-larger-something thing, the film doesn't get muddled in pseudo-science and gibberish thus killing any anxiety with un-intended laughs. Some people might even learn something about ants (and giant ants).