177. THEM!, 1954
- Jay Jacobson
- Jul 1
- 17 min read
The suspense-filled queen of all creature features
A dazed little girl in pajamas, clutches a doll and wanders aimlessly through the desert until she’s found by “Sergeant Ben Peterson” and his partner of the New Mexico State Police. A strangely torn apart trailer is spotted with nothing stolen inside except some sugar, and outside there’s an unrecognizable animal print in the sand. A chilling screech echoes through the air then vanishes. A general store is found ransacked and the owner’s body lies dead inside. The eerie screech returns, and a police officer disappears. And so begins “Them!”.
For those who prefer to watch a film completely free of spoilers, stop here because to discuss “Them!”, I have to reveal the source of its mysteries (which are uncovered within the first 30 minutes of the film). I won’t spoil much beyond that (except in the TO READ AFTER VIEWING section), but if you want to experience it fresh, stop reading now and return once you’ve seen the film.
It turns out the victims in the shredded trailer were vacationers, and one was an FBI agent. As a result, the FBI calls in Agent “Robert Graham” to assist “Ben” in unraveling the mystery, for as the police captain puts it, there's “lots of evidence, loaded with clues, but nothing adds up”.
The only people able to identify the peculiar animal print are “Dr. Harold Medford” of the US Department of Agriculture and his daughter “Dr. Pat Medford”, who works alongside him. They are myrmecologists (entomologists who specialize in the study of ants), and their worst fears are confirmed — the murder and havoc has been caused by giant ants.
It seems these ants are carnivorous, and because ants multiply by the hundreds and thousands, if they are not eradicated, man could be extinct within a year. Killing the ants is humankind’s only hope for survival, and you’ll have to watch the movie to see if and how that can be done.
Trailblazing and unforgettable, “Them!” is a masterclass in Golden Age science fiction — thrilling, atmospheric, and relentlessly suspenseful. It grips you from the first eerie scene and never lets go. With sharp direction, standout performances, chilling sound design, and Oscar-nominated effects that still pack a punch, it’s a timeless cinematic triumph that remains one of the best classic sci-fi films and creature features ever made.
In order to fully appreciate “Them!” in all its glory, the film needs to put into historical context, for it’s very much a metaphor for the atmosphere felt in the US at the time it was made. The first nuclear weapon had been detonated in 1945 in New Mexico, followed by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended World War II, which began the Atomic Age. This saw the development and use of nuclear technology along with a growing public interest in science. Another hot topic was space exploration and alien life, ignited by reports of a 1947 UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico.
Little was known at the time of the effects of nuclear energy, and as research began finding that exposure to atomic radiation fallout could cause birth defects and major health issues, fears escalated about this “invisible poison” whose consequences were still mostly a frightening blur. The fact that atomic energy and fallout couldn’t be seen, felt, or touched, fueled fears that nobody was safe.
Once the Soviet Union detonated their first nuclear device in 1949, fears soared about the possibility of nuclear war and/or nuclear annihilation (and so began the Cold War). These fears and paranoias were so tangibly felt that the US government issued information on how to prepare for nuclear attacks (including “duck and cover” school drills) and encouraged people to build fallout shelters for protection.
All these concerns found their way to the movies, primarily in 1950’s science fiction films. This fantasy-based genre could examine and even criticize science, government, and humanity in ways “realistic”, mainstream movies couldn't. The giant, man-eating ants in “Them!” were products of genetic mutations due to lingering atomic fallout from the first nuclear bomb, and as such, were analogies for the panic about the unknown effects of radiation and the ultimate fear that technology could cause the end of mankind.
1933’s “King Kong” may be cinema's most iconic giant monster, and 1953’s “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms” (about an oversized fearsome fictional dinosaur) the first giant monster movie of the 1950's to combine nuclear fears with horror, but “Them!” was the first to turn an everyday critter into a giant and deadly killer. “Them!” touched such a chord and was so successful, it birthed a brand new sub-genre of science fiction horror films known as “big bug” movies.
The 1950s alone saw the release of over 200 science fiction films — often (but not entirely) low-budget B-movies that used monsters, aliens, and space as veiled disguises for the emotional mayhem of the atomic age, the unknown, the Cold War, and McCarthyism (see my post on “High Noon” for more on that). The 1950s are regarded as the Golden Age of Science Fiction movies, and “Them!” remains one of the decade’s best.
After Warner Brothers' success with "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", they wanted to make another sci-fi film. So they bought the rights to an original story by George Worthing Yates about giant ants in New York City subways, which writer Ted Sherdeman adapted into a screenplay with help from Russell Hughes and director Gordon Douglas, that ended up as “Them!”. The sharp script somehow makes this whole scenario seem plausible.
Warners originally planned “Them!” as a big-budget, 3D, widescreen color film, but the 3D camera malfunctioned while filming the test footage and Warners decided to forgo the 3D, widescreen, and color, and reduce the budget. The only color remaining is the red and blue letters of the title in the film's opening credits.
For the special effects, two mechanical ants were constructed: one 12 feet long with motors, pulleys, cables, and levers operated by a team of technicians to make parts move; the other was only the front three quarters of an ant, which was mounted on a crane. Smaller models were also built for swarm scenes, whose heads moved with the use of wind machines.
According to reports, the ants were purplish, covered in slimy Vaseline, and even scarier looking in person. Though it’s obvious they are not real, they work so well they are creepily believable, and helped earn the film its only Academy Award nomination (for Special Effects).
A major reason“Them!” is believable — prop ants and all — is because of its masterful form and astute direction by Gordon Douglas. The film seamlessly flows with gorgeously composed visuals, characters beautifully framed, a stunning use of fore, middle and background, and an unyieldingly suspenseful pace, making for very exciting viewing. The opening sequence is a perfect example, with a stunning combination of shots of an airplane over the desert, two cops in a car, the pilot in the airplane, and the traumatized little girl wandering aimlessly. The way Douglas shot and pieced it together completely grabs your attention, expertly setting up an unfolding mystery in which you can’t wait to see what happens next.
Gordon Douglas was one of hundreds of unsung talents from Hollywood’s Studio Era who worked consistently and never gained notoriety. Born in New York City, he began as a child actor, making his film debut in a bit role in the 1930 Charley Chase comedy short "Fast Work". He appeared in 26 films through 1933, mostly Hal Roach comedies, including several Our Gang (Little Rascals) shorts. In 1934, Douglas became an assistant director, by 1935 he was directing films himself, and in 1936, was head director of the Our Gang shorts. His first directed feature was 1939's "Zenobia". He worked for various studios before signing with Warners in 1950, where he became one of its leading and most versatile directors during the 1950s and early 60s. Hollywood didn’t exist on A-list masterpieces alone, and many of his films, mostly B-movies, earned the studio steady money. In a career spanning 47 years, he directed over 90 films, including "The Detective", "Young at Heart", "In Like Flint", "Stagecoach" (1966), "They Call me Mister Tibbs!", and “Way... Way Out”. “Them!” is arguably his greatest film. He was married once. Gordon Douglas died in 1993 at the age of 85.
Helping bring Douglas’s vision to life was the extraordinary work of cinematographer Sidney Hickox, who was known for his gritty, moody style and ability to make low-budget films look like a million dollars. Both qualities are on full display in “Them!", lending atmosphere to every scene, whether under the glaring desert sun or deep within the darkness of ant tunnels. His framing of the giant ants keeps them unsettling, hinting at a menace even larger and more populated than what’s shown. Together with Douglas, his work elevates this B-movie into a truly memorable classic.
New York City–born Sidney Hickox began as an assistant cameraman in 1915 and quickly rose to full-fledged cinematographer with the 1916 Billie Burke film “Gloria's Romance”. After serving as a photographer for the U.S. Air Force during World War I, he joined First National Pictures, which was acquired by Warner Brothers in 1928, and Hickox remained with Warners for the rest of his film career, ultimately photographing over 140 films, including classics like “The Big Sleep”, “White Heat”, “To Have and Have Not”, “Gentleman Jim”, “Dames”, “A Bill of Divorcement”, “Blonde Crazy”, and his final, “Battle Cry”. “Them!” was his second-to-last feature before transitioning to television in 1955, where he continued his remarkable work on TV series like “I Love Lucy”, “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”, “The Andy Griffith Show”, and “Mayberry R.F.D.”. He was married once. Sidney Hickox died in 1982 at the age of 86.
Another key element in “Them!" is its sound design, particularly the unnerving call of the ants, formed by mixing various bird calls (such as the hooded warbler and red-bellied woodpecker) with the sounds of tree frogs. The film also features the iconic Wilhelm Scream. Originally recorded for the 1951 Warners film “Distant Drums”, the scream was kept in the studio’s stock sound library and later named after a character who emits it when shot by an arrow in 1953’s “The Charge at Feather River”. Since then, the Wilhelm Scream has been used in countless films, including “A Star is Born” (1954), “The Sea Chase”, "The Wild Bunch”, “Star Wars”, “Gremlins”, “Die Hard with a Vengeance”, "Lethal Weapon 4”, and all the “Indiana Jones” movies. I'll reveal where it's heard in “Them!” in the TO READ AFTER VIEWING section.
Even with masterful technical achievements, a film needs memorable performances to truly become timeless, and “Them!” delivers. The main cast work fantastically well as an ensemble, genuinely listening and reacting to one another. They reportedly all took the film seriously, which shows and helps make the film plausible.
That certainly includes the work of its star James Whitmore, as Sergeant “Ben Peterson”, the police officer struggling to make sense of the unfolding mystery. Whitmore brings “Ben” to life with a weary, rugged quality, blending toughness with a sensitivity that makes us deeply care for his character. He feels genuine concern for the little girl, his partner, and “Robert”, and in turn, we feel for him. Whitmore’s understated, calm presence and immense talent anchors the film's wild premise as something believable.
New York–born James Whitmore graduated from Yale University, served in the Marines during World War II, and then turned to acting. He made his Broadway debut in 1947’s “Command Decision”, earning a Tony Award and catching Hollywood’s attention. His film debut was in a prominent role in 1949's “The Undercover Man”, quickly followed by “Battleground” the same year, which earned him a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe win. That year also marked the beginning of his long television career. Whitmore built a distinguished and prolific career in over 160 films and TV shows, including the films “The Asphalt Jungle”, "Tora! Tora! Tora!”, “Black Like Me”, “Kiss Me Kate”, “Oklahoma!”, “Planet of the Apes”, “The Adventures of Mark Twain”, “Nuts”, "The Shawshank Redemption", and "Give 'em Hell, Harry!”, which earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination and two Grammy Awards.
Whitmore made memorable TV appearances on shows like “The Twilight Zone”, “The Big Valley”, and “Gunsmoke”, with an Emmy nomination for “Mister Sterling” and an Emmy win for a 1999 episode of “The Practice”. He also had a strong stage and radio career, and had he won an Oscar, would have achieved the rare EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). Whitmore was married four times, including to actresses Audra Lindley and Noreen Nash, and twice to Nancy Mygatt. He had three children (including actor and director James Whitmore Jr.). James Whitmore died in 2009 at the age of 87.
The second star of “Them!” is Edmund Gwenn, who plays ant expert “Dr. Harold Medford”, the man who pieces the mystery together. With his signature blend of kindness, humor, intelligence, and eccentricity, Gwenn brings a gentle authority that makes the film’s scientific facts and looming fears feel both urgent and real. Even his narration of a brief educational film about ants (which he shows to government officials) becomes riveting thanks to his impassioned delivery. When Gwenn declares, “Ants are the only creatures on earth other than man who make war. They campaign, they are chronic aggressors, and they make slave laborers of the captives they don’t kill", we believe it — instantly raising the stakes for the entire story (as a note, some primates were later found to wage war as well). That moment also highlights a fascinating fact — that audiences have often learned history, science, and other information (such as the life cycle of ants in this film) from movies — something that continues today.
A very popular character actor who became a beloved international star after winning an Oscar as “Kris Kringle” in 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street” (and a second Best Supporting Actor nomination for 1950’s “Mister 880”), Edmund Gwenn’s presence alone lent “Them!” extra credibility and gravitas. Gwenn was 76 when filming began, and after “Them!”, he appeared in just four more films (including a starring role in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble with Harry”), and over half a dozen television shows. If you’d like to learn more about the life and career of Edmund Gwenn, check out my posts on “Miracle on 34th Street” and “The Bigamist”. Click the film titles to open them.
The third star of “Them!” is Joan Weldon, as “Dr. Pat Medford”, “Harold’s” ant expert daughter. Although “Pat’s” introduction follows a typical 1950's trope (with her disembarking from a plane, catching her skirt on the stairs, and offering a glimpse of her legs), Weldon quickly makes it clear "Pat's" no damsel in distress, but instead, a smart and strong scientist, more than capable of standing up to men and giant ants.
When "Pat" proceeds to enter the ant tunnel and “Robert” warns "It's no place for you or any other woman”, she firmly reminds him that she’s the expert, saying, "Look, Bob, there's no time to give you a fast course on insect pathology. So let's stop all the talk and get on with it”. "Pat" eagerly goes wherever the danger is, and she and her knowledge are vital to humanity's survival. Weldon makes "Pat" beautiful, sympathetic, and genuinely unapologetic, gently pushing against the era’s gender stereotypes.
Joan Weldon was born to a prominent family in San Francisco and raised by her grandmother after her mother's death when she was six years old. She began studying voice at fifteen and by sixteen, became the youngest singer under contract to the San Francisco Opera Company. While performing with them in Los Angeles, she caught the eye of Hollywood and, drawn by the money and hope of appearing in musicals, signed a contract with Warners. However, her film debut was the female lead in the 1953 noir “The System”, followed by a non-singing role in the 1953 musical “So This Is Love”. She made a half-dozen films before "Them!", which remains her best remembered role. She was just twenty-three years old.
Weldon was then loaned to MGM for the musical “Deep in My Heart”, though her one musical number was ultimately cut from the film. In 1955, she turned to television, finally getting to showcase her vocal talents on her TV series “This Is Your Music”. After three more films and over a half-dozen TV appearances, Weldon left Hollywood to resume her singing career. She notably starred in the national touring companies of “The Music Man” and “Oklahoma!”, made her only Broadway appearance in the 1961 musical “Kean", and retired from the stage in 1980. Weldon appeared in eleven films, including “The Command”, “Day of the Badman", “Gaslight Ridge”, and her final, 1958’s “Home Before Dark”. She was married once, until her death. Joan Weldon died in 2021 at the age of 90
The fourth star of “Them!” is James Arness as FBI Agent “Robert Graham”, hired to help solve what’s happening. Tall, imposing, cooly charismatic, and strong as a rock, Arness’ stoic demeanor is perfect as an FBI man, yet he shows us signs of many different feelings under his shell, such as slight flirtatiousness with “Pat”, empathy for “Mrs. Lodge”, and his caring and wonderful camaraderie with “Ben”. Arness provides a beautifully well-rounded portrait, making making this character humanly real.
Minneapolis-born James Arness became a rifleman when drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, and was seriously wounded in his right leg and foot during the Battle of Anzio — injuries that caused him lifelong pain despite several surgeries. After his military service, he worked as a radio announcer before making his way to Hollywood to pursue acting. Spotted during a stage performance, Arness made his film debut in 1947’s “The Farmer’s Daughter”. By 1950, his film roles were steady, including appearances in many John Wayne Westerns (he and Wayne became close friends) and the title role in another sci-fi classic, 1951’s “The Thing from Another World”. “Them!” marked Arness’s 27th film in just seven years.
The following year, Wayne suggested Arness for the role of “Matt Dillon” in a new TV Western series called “Gunsmoke”. Arness got the part, and the show became a massive success, running for 20 seasons, becoming one of the longest-running TV shows in history. Arness became an internationally famous TV icon and earned three Emmy Award nominations, among other accolades. After "Gunsmoke", in 1976, Arness starred in another Western series, “How the West Was Won”, and the short-lived 1981 police drama “McClain’s Law”. His film career encompassed just under thirty-five movies, including “In a Lonely Place”, “Wagon Master”, “The Sea Chase”, “Battleground”, “Hondo”, and "Islands in the Sky”. In 2001, he published his autobiography, “James Arness: An Autobiography”. He was married twice and had two children, including his son Rolf Aurness, a former World Surfing Champion. His younger brother was actor Peter Graves (who you can read about in my post on "The Night of the Hunter"). James Arness passed away in 2011 at the age of 88.
Another actor in “Them!” who went on to become a major TV star was Fess Parker, who plays “Alan Crotty”, a ranch foreman who crashed his plane after seeing flying saucers shaped like ants. Because of his outrageous story, “Crotty” is being held in the psychopathic ward of a hospital, and Parker does a fine job giving this character a distinct life and personality with only one brief scene. It turned out to be the big break that led him directly to stardom.
Texas-born Fess Parker studied law and business before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting, studying at the University of Southern California. After landing a small part in a play, in 1950 he began getting bit parts in films, and in 1954 on television starting with an episode of “Dragnet”. Then came his one day's work on “Them!”, which changed his life. Walt Disney was interested in seeing “Them!" for its special effects and to consider casting Arness in an upcoming project. Taken by Parker, Disney cast him instead of Arness as the title character in "Davy Crockett”, a five-part series on ”The Magical World of Disney” weekly TV show. That show catapulted him to fame, earning him a Most Outstanding New Personality Emmy nomination. The series was edited into two feature films: “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier” (1955) and “Davy Crockett and the River Pirates” (1956). Parker became an international sensation, sparking a coonskin cap craze, earning a gold record for his recording of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett”, and appearing as “Crockett” at the 1955 opening of Disneyland.
While under contract to Disney, Parker starred in several frontier-themed films, including “Old Yeller”, “The Great Locomotive Chase”, and “The Light in the Forest”. Tired of being typecast, he left Disney and appeared in various films and TV shows (including starring in a short-lived TV series version of "Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington"), before hitting it big again in the title role of the TV series “Daniel Boone” (which he co-produced and directed several episodes). A massive hit, it solidified his status as a television icon. After appearing in nearly two dozen films, Parker retired from acting in 1974 at the age of 49, including “The Bounty Hunter”, “Battle Cry”, “The Hangman”, and “Man on a Tightrope”. In the 1970s, he focused on real estate in Santa Barbara, opening Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in 1985 and the award-winning Fess Parker Family Winery and Vineyards in Los Olivos in 1989. In 1991, the Walt Disney Company named him a Disney Legend. He was married once, for fifty years, until his death. Fess Parker died in 2010 at the age of 85.
Yet another soon-to-be TV icon appears in “Them!”, and that’s none other than Leonard Nimoy who has an uncredited part as an army man in the information room, receiving the message about “Crotty”. His short dialogue begins: “Those Texans. When bigger stories are told, those Texans will tell them...”. This was the 23 year old actor's ninth film, and it would be another twelve years before he'd play the role that made him immortal..
Boston-born Leonard Nimoy developed an early passion for acting and singing, performing in his synagogue choir and theater productions from age eight. After studying method acting in Los Angeles and serving in the U.S. Army Reserves, he juggled odd jobs while landing small roles in B-movies like "Francis Goes to West Point”, “Zombies of the Stratosphere”, and “The Brain Eaters”, and TV shows like “Dragnet", “The Twilight Zone”, and “Gunsmoke”. In 1964, Lucille Ball, head of Desilu Productions, greenlit a new science fiction series called “Star Trek”, with Nimoy as the half-human, half-Vulcan officer “Spock.” While the show initially performed well, it struggled with ratings, leading to cancellation after two seasons until a fan campaign saved it for a third, albeit with a lower budget and poor time slot. After its final cancellation, “Star Trek” gained a cult following in reruns, growing into one of the biggest franchises in entertainment history. Nimoy’s portrayal of "Spock" earned him three Emmy nominations and the character became one of the most beloved in all of science fiction.
Over his 60+ year career and 143 screen credits, Nimoy’s non-“Star Trek” films include “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”, “Deathwatch”, and “3 Men and a Baby”, and TV series like “Mission: Impossible” and “Fringe”. He received a fourth Emmy nomination for the 1981 miniseries “A Woman Called Golda”. He lent his voice to documentaries, animation, and video games, including “In Search Of…”, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”, “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”, “The Simpsons”, and the “Kingdom Hearts” franchise. He also directed 13 films and TV projects, including two “Star Trek” movies. He was married twice. Leonard Nimoy died in 2015 at the age of 83.
A fun tidbit is that still another TV icon appears in “Them!”, this time as an extra, and that’s Dick York of “Bewitched” fame. "Them!" was his first feature film appearance. He's quickly seen as one of two teenage boys talking to an officer at the police station when “Robert” first arrives with “Ben”. "Bewitched" aired ten years later, and York starred on it as "Darrin Stephens” from 1964 until 1969, when he became too ill to work.
“Them!” was a surprise hit and one of Warner Brothers' highest-grossing films of 1954. It inspired a wave of giant creature features such as “Tarantula”, “The Deadly Mantis”, “The Black Scorpion”, “Beginning of the End”, and “Earth vs. the Spider”. Its slow-burn monster reveal, themes of science gone wrong, environmental destruction, and societal fears, helped draft the blueprint for countless films that followed — an influence still felt in cinema today.
If you want to learn more about 1950s sci-fi movies, check out my previous posts on "The Day the Earth Stood Still", "Forbidden Planet", "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", "The Incredible Shrinking Man", "The Fly", and "Creature from the Black Lagoon".
This week’s treat is a very suspenseful and fun flick and one of the best from the Golden Age of Science Fiction. So sit back and enjoy “Them!”!
This blog is a (currently triweekly) series exploring classic films from the silent era through the 1970s. Each post recommends a film to watch, aiming to entertain, inform, and deepen your appreciation of cinema — its stars, directors, writers, the studio system, and more. Be sure to visit the HOME page to learn more, subscribe for email updates, and check out THE MOVIES page for a full list of films. Please comment, share with others, and subscribe so you never miss a post. Thanks for reading!
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TO READ AFTER VIEWING (contains spoilers):
For those interested, the Wilhelm Scream is heard three times in “Them!": when the sailor sending Morse code on the ship is attacked by an ant; when a beam falls on a solider in the Los Angeles storm drain; and when "Ben" is attacked by an ant.
Hi Jay, I enjoyed watching "Them". I was surprised at how good a movie it was considering when it was made. Like you said, a lot of good acting helped make the movie a success. Thanks again for the great post.
I am so happy you included this movie! I remember watching it when I was a kid!! I will have to rewatch it now.
Wow, a movie I never heard of. You make it sound so good!