THEM! (1954) – Episode 194 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

“Pfah! What kind of sense does that make? Is sugar a rare cargo? Is there a black market for it? Did you ever hear of a fence for hot sugar? If I was gonna make a deal with crooks to steal somethin’, it wouldn’t be for forty tons of sugar.” If you were a giant ant you would. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr, along with guest Gregory Crosby – as they take a deep crawl into THEM! (1954), one of the all-time great big-bug movies!

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 194 – THEM! (1954)

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ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Synopsis: The earliest atomic tests in New Mexico cause common ants to mutate into giant man-eating monsters that threaten civilization.

• Director: Gordon Douglas
• Writing Credits: Ted Sherdeman (screenplay); Russell S. Hughes (adaptation) (as Russell Hughes); George Worthing Yates (story)
• Special Effects by: Ralph Ayres (special effects); Ardell Lytle (pyroeffects supervisor) (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • James Whitmore as Sgt. Ben Peterson
  • Edmund Gwenn as Dr. Harold Medford
  • Joan Weldon as Dr. Patricia Medford
  • James Arness as Robert Graham
  • Onslow Stevens as Brig. Gen. Robert O’Brien
  • Sean McClory as Maj. Kibbee
  • Christian Drake as Trooper Ed Blackburn (as Chris Drake)
  • Sandy Descher as The Ellinson Girl
  • Mary Alan Hokanson as Mrs. Lodge (as Mary Ann Hokanson)
  • Don Shelton as Trooper Capt. Fred Edwards
  • Fess Parker as Alan Crotty
  • Olin Howland as Jensen (as Olin Howlin)
  • Richard Bellis as Mike Lodge (uncredited)
  • John Beradino as Patrolman Ryan (uncredited)
  • Robert Berger as Patrolman Sutton (uncredited)
  • Oscar Blank as Alcoholic Ward Patient (uncredited)
  • Willis Bouchey as Official at D.C. Meeting (uncredited)
  • Richard Deacon as Bald Reporter (uncredited)
  • Ann Doran as Child Psychiatrist (uncredited)
  • Leonard Nimoy as Army Sergeant in Information Center (uncredited)
  • William Schallert as Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
  • Douglas Spencer as Bit Part (uncredited)
  • Dub Taylor as Railroad Yard Watchman (uncredited)
  • Dick York as Teenager in Police Station (uncredited)

THEM! is generally considered the first giant bug movie, and according to the Grue Crew, who are joined by Gregory Crosby, it’s the best of the lot! A top-notch script delivered by a great cast and helmed by an experienced, successful director makes for an excellent film. Combine some pretty-damn-fine giant ants with expert cinematography, just the right editing, and some very disturbing ant-chirping, and the ants are truly terrifying. Edmund Gwenn (who is not in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms), Joan Weldon, James Whitmore, and James Arness lead the way with an incredibly long list of familiar character actors. Even Dick York (Samantha’s first husband on Bewitched, not her second) makes an uncredited appearance.

The Grue Crew again go for a record-length talkabout but there really is so much to discuss with THEM! and we had so much fun doing it! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it.

At the time of this writing, THEM! (1954) is available to stream by subscription from IndieFlix and PPV from multiple sources. The film is available on physical media as a Blu-ray disc from Warner Home Video. 

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Chad – is Caltiki, the Immortal Monster (1959). Was it directed by Riccardo Freda, Robert Hamton, Mario Bava, or all of the above? Bill Mulligan (known as “Bava Bill”) will be joining us to help us untangle the entanglement, and to help us find the source of that awful smell. 

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at [email protected]
To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for watching and listening!”