The Swarm (1978)

Director:

Irwin Allen

Writers:

Stirling Silliphant (screenplay)
Arthur Herzog Jr. (novel)

Release Date:

14 July 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

It's more than a speculation - it's a prediction !

Plot:

A huge swarm of deadly African bees spreads terror over American cities by killing thousands of people.

Plot Keywords:

Swarm | Bee | Military | Killer Bee | Scientist

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Brad Crane
Katharine Ross	...	Helena
Richard Widmark	...	General Slater
Richard Chamberlain	...	Dr. Hubbard
Olivia de Havilland	...	Maureen
Ben Johnson	...	Felix
Lee Grant	...	Anne MacGregor
José Ferrer	...	Dr. Andrews (as Jose Ferrer)
Patty Duke	...	Rita (as Patty Duke Astin)
Slim Pickens	...	Jud Hawkins
Bradford Dillman	...	Major Baker
Fred MacMurray	...	Clarence
Henry Fonda	...	Dr. Krim
Cameron Mitchell	...	General Thompson
Christian Juttner	...	Paul Durant

Runtime:

116 min | USA:155 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

Netherlands:12 (orginal rating) | France:-12 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1978) | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Irwin Allen was so disheartened by the amount of money he lost on The Swarm (1978) that he forbade any of his employees to ever mention it again. He even cut short an interview when a question was asked about it.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Rita goes to the doctor for a prenatal visit, the chest X ray in the background is upside down.

Quotes:

Brad Crane: These bees, General, are of joint concern, and they are killing Americans, without reference as to whether or not they have a serial number and are expected to salute YOU! So there will be no air drops of any kind until I give the OK!
General Slater: Your OK, huh? Then just possible I can persuade you to attack this particular swarm, now that we know where it is! Attack and eliminate it!
Brad Crane: Possibly, if you can explain to me, how you air drop chemicals, without killing the native insect life! If your chemical will kill the African bee, it will also kill the American bee, right?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Inside 'The Swarm' (1978) (TV)

Best Killer Bee disaster film EVER!

All the people that knock this film forget the obvious - it wasn't meant to be seen on tv. I saw this film - repeatedly - on the big screen and at the drive-in. Of course it's silly; of course it's unbelievable - that's the point. But it works on the big screen, particularly at the drive-in, where the tinny sound coming over the speaker adds a haunting counterpoint to the professional gloss on the screen. Easy to laugh at on tv in the afternoon as an adult, but on the screen, in the dark, when you're only 10, this is creepy, not-to-be-taken-seriously, fun. Marvelously straight-faced, and all the more entertaining for it. Kids will love it.