About the Movie "Them"

Them! is a 1954 black and white science fiction film about man's encounter with a nest of radiation-giganticized ants. It is based on an original story treatment by George Worthing Yates, was developed into a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman and Russell Hughes for Warner Bros. Pictures Inc., which was produced by David Weisbart and directed by Gordon Douglas for the company. It starred James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon and James Arness.
One of the first of the "nuclear monster" movies, and the first "big bug" film, Them! was the biggest moneymaker for Warner's in the year of its release.

The film begins with New Mexico State Police Officer Peterson (Whitmore) investigating the disappearance of a vacationing FBI agent and his wife, the Ellisons, after discovery of their little girl wandering the desert, mute and in a state of shock. The FBI sends in Ellison's fellow agent Graham (Arness) to assist. The Ellison trailer is found pulled asunder by some great force, with strange, unfamiliar tracks all around the wreckage. The tracks bring the case to the attention of Harold and Pat Medford (Gwenn and Weldon), a father/daughter team of entomologists. The elder Professor Medford arrives on the scene with a theory, but will not disclose it until he tries an experiment on the Ellison girl, having her smell the contents of a vial of formic acid, which frees her from her state of near-catatonic withdrawal, screaming "Them! Them!" Returning to the desert with Peterson, Graham and his daughter, Medford has his theory dramatically given its final proof when the group encounters a patrol of foraging ants, mutated by atomic radiation to the size of automobiles.
A company of the US Army is brought in, led by General O'Brien (Stevens), which locates the ants' nest and exterminates the inhabitents with poison gas, but not before two young queens hatch and fly away to establish new nests. One ends up on board an ocean-going freighter, which is overrun by the ants, then sunk by the military. The other sets up her nest in the Los Angeles sewer system, forcing the Army to declare martial law and launch a major assault. Peterson rescues two young boys trapped by the ants in a sewer tunnel, at the cost of his own life. The nest's queen and egg chamber are destroyed with flamethrowers, but the senior Dr. Medford issues a grim warning that the atomic genie has been let out of the bottle, and further horrors may await mankind.

Cast
Actor Role
James Whitmore Sgt. Ben Peterson
Edmund Gwenn Dr. Harold Medford
Joan Weldon Dr. Pat Medford
James Arness FBI Agent Robert Graham
Onslow Stevens Gen. O'Brien
Sean McClory Maj. Kibbee
Chris Draker Ed Blackburn
Sandy Descher Ellinson girl
Mary Ann Hokanson Mrs. Lodge
Don Shelton Trooper Captain Fred Edwards
Fess Parker Alan Crotty
Olin Howlin Jensen, the drunk
Leonard Nimoy Army Sergeant at command headquarters (one short scene)
Other actors who appear in small parts include John Beradino, Willis Bouchey, Booth Colman, Richard Deacon, Lawrence Dobkin, Ann Doran, Douglas Spencer, Dub Taylor, and Harry Wilson.


Production

When Them began production in early 1954, it was originally conceived to be in 3-D and WarnerColor. During pre-production, tests were to be shot in color and 3-D. A color tests were shot, but when it was time to shoot the other test, WB's "All Media" 3-D camera rig malfunctioned and no tests were shot. The next day, a memo was sent out that the color and 3-D aspects of the film were to be scrapped, and that black and white and widescreen would be the preferred format. Because of the preparation of certain shots, however, many of the camera set-ups for 3-D still remain, such as the opening titles and flame-throwers that are shot at the camera.
Although WB was dissatisfied with the color results, the opening titles, however, were printed in color against a black and white background to give the opening of the film a "punch." This effect was achieved by an Eastman Color section spliced into each print.