ALL SCI-FI

The Spike · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:39 pm Post subject: Them! (1954)

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Often imitated, rarely bettered.

Weird deaths are occurring in the New Mexico desert, it is revealed to be the work of giant mutated ants born out of the A Bomb tests that took place there. Trouble escalates to the big city of Los Angeles when one of the giant queen ants escapes to L.A. and starts laying eggs that could lead to the end of mankind as we know it.

This is a cautionary tale about scientific tampering fused with a Cold War theme of destroying a threat to the country. Boasting some wonderful scenes such as the first desert encounter (cloaked in a sandstorm) and the final underground battle, Them! is a truly enjoyable viewing experience that oozes the right amount of paranoia that became ever more prominent as the nuclear age grew.

The puppetry and special effects on show is of a very high standard for the time (well done Academy Award Nominee Ralph Ayres), and the direction from Gordon Douglas is one of the better efforts in the genre.

The tight story vanquishes any gripes about the plausibility factor, while the acting is, perhaps given the type of piece it is, of a surprisingly good standard. With James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, and Joan Weldon giving it a bit of oopmh. Them! went on to become Warner Brothers highest grossing film in 1954, it's really not hard to see why. Because Them! firmly stands up as one of the best films of a sadly much maligned genre. 8/10
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The quality of mercy is not strnen.

Krel · Guest

Something else different from other 50s monster movies. As large as they were, bullets, even pistol rounds would kill...Them!

David.

Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 2:06 pm Post subject:

One of the main reasons why it worked so well is that the Bros, Warner had LOTS of experience making murder mysteries. By following that course THEM!* it was a smash hit.

* THEM! is the 'proper' title as WB wanted it to be " . . . larger, more terrifying . . . " than any other movie that year — they were competing against Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Because of technical problems with the squid the movie was delayed until December, instead of the Summer film Walt wanted it to be.
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Common Sense ISN'T Common

Pow · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 8:36 am Post subject:

Wow! Chris Kringle, Matt Dillon, Davey Crocket/Daniel Boone, & Mr. Spock all in the same film.

Danilo · Junior Crewman Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 8

Them! The next October in Blu-ray!

http://www.amazon.com/Them-Blu-ray/dp/B00ZJYJCPQ?SubscriptionId=AKIAIY4YSQJMFDJATNBA&tag=bluray-016-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00ZJYJCPQ&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Bud Brewster · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 7:35 pm Post subject:

Exciting news, Danilo! Thanks.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 2:22 pm Post subject:

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A very funny behind-the-scenes shot from Them! I think James Arness and Joan Weldon are practicing extremely safe sex.

Wouldn't it have been great if the FX guys had left the ants hairless, instead of making them look like woolly mammoths?

And here's the famous scene in which Leonard Nimoy makes his brief appearance.

Hey, wait a minute . . . something's funny here!

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Krel · Guest

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 8:52 pm Post subject:

Here's an interesting thing I just discovered while looking at jpgs from Them. One of the aspects of the giant ants I wish they'd done differently are the mandibles.

Here's what they look like in the movie.

I've never cared for the way they're flat on the top and bottom. Here's another view.

But these ants under construction have very differently shaped mandibles, and I like them much better.

These mandibles and the hairless look of these props makes them look much more like real ants.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 1:27 pm Post subject: Them! - locations founnd!

On the CHFB a member named DrYesdoctor made this amazing post!

This is one very cool guy. Wish we could get him to join All Sci-Fi!
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I think many of you will appreciate this.

I have lived within 15 minutes drive of this location for 25 years and only a few weeks ago decided to poke around and see if what I suspected was true; that these buttes might be the location of the 'ant mound' from THEM!

An easy walk up the hill and suddenly I found myself standing where the mound was piled up 60 years ago. I didn't have to do much more than stand in one spot and pan my camera around to grab most of the pics posted below.

It was kind of exhilarating.

By the way, I just watched IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE and it seems to have been shot in the same vicinity. I guess I'll be hunting down a meteor crater now.

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

That's really cool. I love discovered filming locations, or recognizing them on the screen after having been there previously.
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...or not...

WayneO
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bulldogtrekker · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 4:59 pm Post subject:

And I am simply amazed that you were able to match the photos. Surprised

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1865

Bud Brewster · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:26 pm Post subject:

Robert (Butch) Day · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 7:48 pm Post subject:

Bud, your posted picture of Joan Weldon in the gas mask hugging a co-star (also in gas mask) has the wrong "huggee". Jim Arness is waaay taller than Joan. Look at the hair styling on the man. That's Jim Whitmore.

Gordon Douglas, the director:

A very rare publicity photo when the gi-ants were mostly kept obscure:

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Common Sense ISN'T Common