{"id":11121,"date":"2010-06-18T13:47:08","date_gmt":"2010-06-18T20:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11121"},"modified":"2024-06-30T12:30:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-30T19:30:33","slug":"swarm-the-1978","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11121","title":{"rendered":"Swarm, The (1978)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Oh, my God &#8212; bees, bees, millions of bees!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Poster-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-62476\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Poster-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Poster-177x270.jpg 177w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Poster.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA renowned entomologist (Michael Caine) clashes with a military general (Richard Widmark) over how to deal with an attack by killer bees.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ben Johnson Films<\/li>\n<li>Cameron Mitchell Films<\/li>\n<li>Disaster Flicks<\/li>\n<li>Fred MacMurray Films<\/li>\n<li>Henry Fonda Films<\/li>\n<li>Jose Ferrer Films<\/li>\n<li>Katharine Ross Films<\/li>\n<li>Killer Animals<\/li>\n<li>Lee Grant Films<\/li>\n<li>Michael Caine Films<\/li>\n<li>Olivia de Havilland Films<\/li>\n<li>Richard Chamberlain Films<\/li>\n<li>Richard Widmark Films<\/li>\n<li>Scientists<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nHelmed by famed &#8220;Master of Disaster&#8221; Irwin Allen (producer of <em>The Poseiden Adventure<\/em> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19538\"><em>The Towering Inferno<\/em><\/a>), <em>The Swarm<\/em> is an astonishingly boring mess of trite dialogue, ridiculous scenarios, and embarrassing performances by a host of big-name, Oscar-winning actors who should have known better than to attach themselves to this project. Those who argue that Michael Caine is incapable of giving a bad performance, for instance, need look no further than his role here as the film&#8217;s Hero, Dr. Crane. Meanwhile, he&#8217;s matched by Katherine Ross&#8217;s outrageously wooden performance as the requisite Beautiful Female Doctor who conveniently serves as Crane&#8217;s Love Interest; she possesses not a shred of conviction in this role. Aging screen legends Olivia De Havilland, Fred McMurray, and Ben Johnson try gamely, but ultimately embarrass themselves in an utterly gratuitous &#8220;romantic triangle&#8221; subplot.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland-1024x499.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"312\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland-1024x499.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland-300x146.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland-128x62.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland-768x375.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland-1536x749.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland-554x270.png 554w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-MacMurray-De-Havilland.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Faring only marginally better are Richard Widmark as the Crusty General (Caine&#8217;s central nemesis):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark-1024x485.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"303\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark-1024x485.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark-300x142.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark-128x61.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark-768x364.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark-1536x728.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark-570x270.png 570w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Widmark.png 1817w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and Henry Fonda as a Renowned Scientist who may or may not be able to develop an antidote to the killer bees&#8217; venom. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2-1024x480.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2-1024x480.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2-128x60.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2-768x360.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2-1536x720.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2-576x270.png 576w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Swarm-Fonda2.png 1823w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Other big names (Lee Grant as The Newscaster, Patty Duke as The Pregnant Woman in Distress, etc.) have such inconsequential roles that they&#8217;re barely worth mentioning. <\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, <em>The Swarm<\/em> is <em>just<\/em> bad enough to provide some unintentional chuckles throughout its otherwise unendurable running time. Allen&#8217;s use of slow-motion at critical attack times &#8212; the initial Idyllic Picnic Scene, for instance, or the Schoolyard Deluge &#8212; is good for a few laughs, as is Widmark&#8217;s consistent labeling of the bees as &#8220;Africans&#8221;, which provides a jaw-droppingly offensive commentary throughout the film: &#8220;By tomorrow there will be no more Africans &#8212; at least not in the Houston sector.&#8221; Much less amusing is Allen&#8217;s deathly slow pacing, which effectively nullifies any potential for terror the film may have possessed. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unintentionally campy performances and dialogue<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/swarm-ross.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/swarm-ross.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11235\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/swarm-caine.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/swarm-caine.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11236\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/swarm-melodrama.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/swarm-melodrama.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11237\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A few mildly freaky scenes of &#8220;killer bees&#8221; (though they&#8217;re too little, too late)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/swarm-bees-lollipop.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/swarm-bees-lollipop.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"377\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11238\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, unless you&#8217;re curious. Listed as a Camp Classic in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0078350\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1978\/07\/15\/archives\/the-swarm-by-allen-flies-onto-screens.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/sciencefiction\/swarm-1978.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-swarm\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Oh, my God &#8212; bees, bees, millions of bees!&#8221; Synopsis: A renowned entomologist (Michael Caine) clashes with a military general (Richard Widmark) over how to deal with an attack by killer bees. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Ben Johnson Films Cameron Mitchell Films Disaster Flicks Fred MacMurray Films Henry Fonda Films Jose Ferrer Films Katharine Ross Films Killer Animals Lee Grant Films Michael Caine Films Olivia de Havilland Films Richard Chamberlain Films Richard Widmark Films Scientists Review: Helmed by famed&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=11121\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11121"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98182,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11121\/revisions\/98182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}