{"id":15900,"date":"2011-03-07T12:44:26","date_gmt":"2011-03-07T19:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=15900"},"modified":"2021-12-23T15:29:22","modified_gmt":"2021-12-23T22:29:22","slug":"them-1954","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=15900","title":{"rendered":"Them! (1954)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Here&#8217;s one for Sherlock Holmes: there was enough formic acid in him to kill twenty men.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Them-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Them-Poster-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-15902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Them-Poster-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Them-Poster-82x128.jpg 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/Them-Poster.jpg 466w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA policeman (James Whitmore), an FBI agent (James Arness), and a father-daughter scientist team (Edmund Gwenn and Joan Weldon) investigate the sudden appearance of atomically super-sized ants in the New Mexico desert.\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>Atomic Energy<\/li>\n<li>Deserts<\/li>\n<li>Edmund Gwenn Films<\/li>\n<li>Fess Parker Films<\/li>\n<li>Insects<\/li>\n<li>James Whitmore Films<\/li>\n<li>Mutant Monsters<\/li>\n<li>Science Fiction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary notes, this classic mutant monster B-flick &#8220;ranks with <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19485\"><em>The Thing<\/em><\/a> and <em>Invasion of the Body Snatchers<\/em> as the best of the countless fifties science fiction films&#8221;. Tautly directed by <a href=\"http:\/\/allmovie.com\/artist\/gordon-douglas-88129\">Gordon Douglas<\/a> (Peary calls it the &#8220;best&#8221; of his &#8220;many films&#8221;), the &#8220;intelligent, entertaining script&#8221; by Ted Sherdeman never drags. The narrative neatly shifts from mystery mode in its truly eerie opening sequence (of &#8220;a little girl in shock, wandering through the New Mexico desert&#8221;), to tense police procedural <em>a la<\/em> &#8220;the classic fifties TV&#8221; show &#8220;Dragnet&#8221; (as a series of &#8220;oddball witnesses&#8221; are questioned), to full-on war against the ants and then a &#8220;thrilling finale&#8221; in which &#8220;Whitmore and Arness search the sewer system for the ants and attempt to rescue two boys who are trapped inside&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Tunnel2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Tunnel2-1024x785.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"491\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Tunnel2-1024x785.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Tunnel2-300x230.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Tunnel2-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Tunnel2-768x589.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Tunnel2-352x270.png 352w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Tunnel2.png 1337w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While fans of &#8217;50s &#8220;creature feature&#8221; films are a ready-made audience for movies like this, all-purpose film fanatics will likely find much here to enjoy as well. As Peary notes, <em>Them!<\/em> (great title) possesses &#8220;believable characters and a particularly fine performance by Whitmore&#8221;:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Whitmore.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Whitmore-1024x773.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"483\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Whitmore-1024x773.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Whitmore-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Whitmore-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Whitmore-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Whitmore-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Whitmore.png 1373w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; who struggles throughout the film with guilt from &#8220;allowing&#8221; his partner to be killed in one of the opening sequences. The special effects are noticeably impressive, with the mutant ants &#8212; &#8220;products of nuclear bomb-testing&#8221; who &#8220;are ravaging the area&#8221; and may bring about the end of mankind on Earth if they&#8217;re not stopped in time &#8212; coming across as menacing rather than corny. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Ants.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Ants-1024x767.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Ants-1024x767.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Ants-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Ants-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Ants-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Ants-360x270.png 360w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Ants.png 1373w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, if you&#8217;re in the mood for laughs, there&#8217;s plenty of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0047573\/board\/nest\/83367516\">campy and\/or corny dialogue to enjoy<\/a> &#8212; though it&#8217;s just as easy to watch and listen with a straight face. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The incredibly disturbing opening sequence<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Opening.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Opening-1024x765.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Opening-1024x765.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Opening-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Opening-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Opening-768x574.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Opening-361x270.png 361w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Opening.png 1369w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Creepy special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Menacing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Menacing-1024x769.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Menacing-1024x769.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Menacing-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Menacing-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Menacing-768x577.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Menacing-359x270.png 359w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Menacing.png 1359w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine performances throughout<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Performances.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Performances-1024x737.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"461\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Performances-1024x737.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Performances-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Performances-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Performances-768x552.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Performances-375x270.png 375w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Them-Performances.png 1411w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a classic sci-fi thriller.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0047573\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1954\/06\/17\/archives\/warner-brothers-chiller-at-paramount.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s583them.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moria.co.nz\/sciencefiction\/them1954.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/16456\/them#articles-reviews?articleId=185216\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/classic-horror.com\/reviews\/them_1954\">Classic Horror Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/PTeoID3NkyY\">Tired Old Queen at the Movies Video Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Here&#8217;s one for Sherlock Holmes: there was enough formic acid in him to kill twenty men.&#8221; Synopsis: A policeman (James Whitmore), an FBI agent (James Arness), and a father-daughter scientist team (Edmund Gwenn and Joan Weldon) investigate the sudden appearance of atomically super-sized ants in the New Mexico desert. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Atomic Energy Deserts Edmund Gwenn Films Fess Parker Films Insects James Whitmore Films Mutant Monsters Science Fiction Response to Peary\u2019s Review: As Peary notes, this classic&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=15900\"> 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":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15900","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=15900"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79064,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15900\/revisions\/79064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}