THEM!1954 the atomic age unleashes natures hordes!! in '50s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

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THEM!1954 the atomic age unleashes natures hordes!!

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Unregistered(d)	Re: THEM! durned ants!	#21	[-]
May 5 05 12:03 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I love THEM!, and it was one of the films that scared the bejeezus out of my sister and I while growing up! It's also one of the ones that still works on modern days audiences, or so it seems. If they lose themselves just enough in it, they will find themselves falling into the fear. Heck, the little girl in the beginning is probably what helps draw them in. As for Forbidden Planet, I really like the movie quite a bit. It seems share alot with Day The Earth Stood Still, IMO. Both films really work to make a "smart" film, and both films should be held up as examples of what Science Fiction films are really about. I can see how some might find it plodding, as it is a movie you sure don't put on at midnight, but I find the acting, script, set design, and FX all to being top-notch.
MartinZ60	Re: THEM!	#22	[-]
Jul 18 05 2:27 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I finally got around to buying and watching this classic, and the dvd looks spectacular. I noticed something, as well. Near the end of the film, as the military is bearing down on the ant's nest, there is a shot behind the ants, looking out at the attacking men. On the right, an ant moves foward. In all previous viewings, as the ant moves, various wires and mechanisms could clearly be seen at the rear. On the dvd, this is now seen with a blackened area disguising those wires. It reminded me of that cobra's pesky reflection in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, now reflection free. All the Best - MZ
Bill Warren	Re: THEM!	#23	[-]
Jul 19 05 1:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That sight of the inner workings of the giant ant may have been a function of mis-matting on TV. You don't see that stuff on the big screen.
Dragula	Them!	#24	[-]
Jul 21 05 7:33 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I love the DVD version of this...very nice print IMO. This is one of those GREAT movies that forever changed my childhood. Channel 5 (Nashville, TN) would show "The Big Show" in the afternoons after school and they would have "monster" weeks... When I saw this for the first time (@ age 7) I believe my buddies and I fought giant ants for 3 months afterwards....
Rakshasa	Re: Them!	#25	[-]
Jul 21 05 8:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Me too Dragula! I used to run around my house with a toy Tommy Gun blasting-away at those giant ants! I even did the ant whistleing noises by rapidly whistleing before I opened fire! Edit: (Oops! I already posted this earlier in the thread. Sorry guys!)
coonsanders	Re: THEM! durned ants!	#26	[-]
Aug 5 05 1:20 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	hi them what a neat film!the ants were really cool looking.ive always liked jim arness-great actor.and james whitmore was good too.ed gwenn always kindly characters or scientists.i liked him to.yep a good fun film all around. coonsanders
Kadoban	giANTS	#27	[-]
Aug 29 05 11:47 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just discovered a short story inspired by Them!, called giANTS, by Edward Bryant, copyright 1979. Weaves the movie and 'real life' into a satisfying story, which I recommend for all lovers of the film. Don't know who originally published it, but it's in: The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF, an anthology published in 1904. __________ "Mrs. Tweedy! The chickens are revolting!" "Finally, something we agree on."
lsasser	Re: giANTS	#28	[-]
Aug 30 05 6:17 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	OK Kadoban, re-read your post and tell me how a story, written in 1979, could be published in an anthology dated 1904? Come on and give us the straight dope. Don't make me get rough.
TomWeaver999	Re: giANTS	#29	[-]
Aug 30 05 8:40 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Oh, please, Isasser, the answer is very simple, if you consider Prof. Ellender's theory of time displacement, as you should have learned in school. Or was that only in WORLD WITHOUT END? I get so confused sometimes.
Kadoban	Re: giANTS	#30	[-]
Aug 30 05 9:24 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* if you consider Prof. Ellender's theory of time displacement, as you should have learned in school. Exactly! But for those not familiar with higher mathematics, pretend it was 1994! (Damn keyboard). __________ "Mrs. Tweedy! The chickens are revolting!" "Finally, something we agree on."
Kadoban	I Was A Monster Movie Maker	#31	[-]
Sep 1 05 7:54 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Just got this and turned to the Joan Weldon interview first thing. The photos of her and Arness in 'seductive' poses were really amusing considering there was nothing like it in the movie. Joan doesn't have anything to say about James Whitmore at all. Well, she says he was 'nice, pleasant, professional.' So I have to ask - did she not like Whitmore? Always seemed to me that he was stealing every scene he was in...which might not have gone down well with the other actors. Also, checked out the IMDb and it turns out Onslow Stevens was murdered in a nursing home, and I can't find out the details. Anybody know? __________ "Mrs. Tweedy! The chickens are revolting!" "Finally, something we agree on."
TomWeaver999	Re: I Was A Monster Movie Maker	#32	[-]
Sep 1 05 8:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	<< turns out Onslow Stevens was murdered in a nursing home, and I can't find out the details. << I don't remember the details offhand but, yes, he did die under mysterious circumstances in a nursing home, and some feel he was killed. I don't think it was ever determined for sure.
lsasser	Re: giANTS	#33	[-]
Sep 3 05 2:29 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Oh, please, Isasser, the answer is very simple, if you consider Prof. Ellender's theory of time displacement, as you should have learned in school. Or was that only in WORLD WITHOUT END? I get so confused sometimes. I got stuck in a time loop just reading that reply. When he was seperated from the others, after the tunnel cave-in James Arness yells in fear/ panic as the ants are advancing on him. He, of course, then proceeds to empty his Thompson into the oncoming critters but his moment of terror shows some honest acting chops. Gotta go, the mu-tants are calling.
Ted Newsom	Re: giANTS	#34	[-]
Sep 3 05 8:36 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tom W will be getting the straight poop on Onslow Stevens directly from the family (thanks to a friend of his), but the upshot is this: Stevens suffered from depression all his life, coupled with self-medication with alcohol (which of course didn't help). A number of times from the late 40s on, he was given electro-shock treatments for depression. That did not make things much better. He did end up in a rest home, and he apparently was killed, but whether it was "murder" or euthinasia is debatable. Out here (SoCal), there've been a number of incidents through the years in which nurses or orderlies put patients to sleep out of empathy, hating to watch them wither and moan with no hope of ever recovering. Director Arthur Lubin (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, FRANCIS, MR. ED) was similarly done in by an orderly in a Pasadena rest home (the guy had apparently knocked off several dozen oldsters.)
Kadoban	Re: giANTS	#35	[-]
Sep 3 05 9:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* but whether it was "murder" or euthanasia is debatable. Thanks for the info. Don't know if we'll be allowed to discuss euthanasia here...but I think, properly applied, it has its place. __________ "Mrs. Tweedy! The chickens are revolting!" "Finally, something we agree on."
Ted Newsom	Re: giANTS	#36	[-]
Sep 4 05 6:35 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	When I was a kid I wondered what all the fuss was about. Why would anyone be against it? What did they have against all those Chinese kids? Youth in Asia, you see...
sketchyfrank	Re: giANTS	#37	[-]
Sep 13 05 1:16 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think it was David J. Schow who told me about being on the set of SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, and somebody asking James Whitmore what else he had been in, to which he replied, "Well, I saved the world from giant ants once..." Wherever it happened, it's pretty funny. Frank Dietz www.sketchythings.com
lsasser	Re: giANTS	#38	[-]
Sep 13 05 3:39 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* "Well, I saved the world from giant ants once..." I recently attended an "Evening with James Whitmore" at the SAG Foundation. I found him lively and entertaining, as he talked about his career and the business. He didn't mind talking about THEM at all. I commented to him that I thought he was the true and tragic lead in the film, since he was the first to encounter the ants handiwork and even saves the kids. He thought James Arness might disagree, but thanked me anyway. All in all, he said he was very satisfied with his career as a character actor and not a lead.
gfanikf	Re: giANTS	#39	[-]
Dec 25 05 2:57 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I did a search to see if there was a thread about this. If search missed it feel free to fold this into a prexisting one. Just finished watching THEM. My god this is sci-fi at its best. Its got a wonderful mix of story and effects (which I think we can all say is not always properly balanced see KONG 2005 IMHO). Them is still the first proto-giant animals via radiation film and still the best American one (Gojira takes the title for best of the world but I love both equally). One great thing about this pic is its human chracters. You remeber everyone becasue you actually care about them. There not just the usual desposible lot. James Whitmore and Arness are great and you have to love the "Doctors" Medford. An excellent addition of humor that doesnt seem out fo place to the film The action is also great the battle with the gaint ants are is a lot of fun to watch. Hoesntly its harder to write a review saying what is good about this flick because there is just so damn much to right about :) I have to say I love Warners presentation of the classic gem. Crisp and perfectly balanced BW presentation and according to a poster at Monster Zero was given an uncredited Lowry Restoration which rocks. The menus are also delightfully pulp. Shame there isnt a commentary attached but still its great to have the film in such great condition. Plus I counted at least two Wihlems :)
Count Gamula	Re: giANTS	#40	[-]
Dec 26 05 2:29 AM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	"THEM" does not show up using the search function unless it's spelled "THEM!", including the exclaimation point which was in the original title and is the way it was spelled in the original thread. Doesn't sem like it would matter but I guess it does. Thanks for reposting here. I rememoved the other thread.

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THEM!1954 the atomic age unleashes natures hordes!!