The film “Them “was released in 1954. This cult classic terror science fiction flick is shot in black and white. The film is based on a story written by George Worthing Yates, developed into a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman and Russell Hughes, produced by David Weisbart and directed by Gordon Douglas, starring James Whitmore, playing Sergeant Ben Peterson, Edmund Gwenn, playing Doctor Harold Medford, Joan Weldon, playing Doctor Pat Medford, James Arness, playing FBI Agent Robert Graham, and Fess Parker, playing Alan Crotty. This film was nominated for an Academy Award for Special Effects.
This is a landmark nuclear blast creature feature about gigantic, nine feet long, radioactive mutated ants. In 1945, the U.S. military tested an atomic bomb in New Mexico. Unknown to the government, when the bomb mushroomed and released radiation, it changed the genetic composition of living ants. Now there are hordes of horrific gigantic size ants in mile deep catacombs. These remarkable ants are larger than automobiles. The ants are guided by their antennas as they claw towards the earth’s surface to encounter and conquer mankind.
The film begins with New Mexico State’s finest, Police Sergeant Ben Peterson, investigating the discovery of a little girl wandering around in the hot arid desert near Alamogordo, New Mexico. Sergeant Peterson ascertains the girls’ inability to communicate, she is mute. Peterson commences an investigation. Peterson becomes privy to more mysterious deaths and disappearances in the area. The detective discovers trailer wreckage, damaged by some unknown powerful force, and an unidentifiable twelve inch claw print in the desert sand.
The investigation expands to include a FBI Special Agent, Doctors Harold Medford and Pat Medford, a father/daughter team of entomologists from the Department of Agriculture. The scientific team is more secretive than the detectives comfort. Doctor Harold Medford uses a vial of formic acid to release the little girl from her near catatonic state. The little girl comes to grips with the world of consciousness, and screams “Them! Them!”
Upon encountering ants, law officers try revolvers, but opt for sub-machine guns after finding they have no affect on these monster ants. The US Air Force joins the mission, led by General O'Brien, to locate the nest and exterminates the ants with poison gas. Covertly, the government monitors and investigates any reports of unusual activities, such as "flying saucers," disappearance of a load of sugar in an ocean-going freighter, and ranting of an alcoholic in a psych-ward. One of the queens is tracked to the Los Angeles storm sewer system, forcing the Army to openly declare martial law and launch a major assault.
Notes of Interest: When Walt Disney was casting for the Davy Crockett television show, Disney viewed “Them,” and was so impressed by a brief but brilliant scene by Fess Parker, who plays the ranting alcoholic in the mental ward, he cast Fess Parker as Davy Crockett. Another Note: The entrance to the ants' final nest was along the concrete spillways of the Los Angeles River between the First and Seventh Street Bridges, east of downtown.
Work Cited:
Warner Bros. Inter-office memo from Steve Trilling, dated September 24, 1953.
"Them." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 20 Nov. 2009, 8:29. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 30 Nov. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plagiarism&oldid=5139350.
“Them.” Internet Movie Database. 30 Nov. 2009, 4:25 PM
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