A girl wanders through the New Mexico desert, stunned and speechless. She is spotted by a passing plane and the pilot informs the local police. Sgt Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) and his partner Edwards (Don Shelton) find her and begin to look for clues as to who her parents are. They come across a destroyed trailer, a strange footprint in the sand and a small pile of sugar. A strange sound echoes in the distance. Further down the road, a general store has been demolished and the owner brutally killed. More strange noises and broken bags of sugar leave the men baffled.

Thus begins the 1950’s classic Them!, one of the first in a string of movies which included not only giant insects or spiders, but also the concept of mutation through nuclear radiation. Directed by Gordon Douglas (The Black Arrow, In Like Flint) the story has several contributors; George Worthing Yates (The Lone Ranger, The Amazing Colossal Man), Ted Sherdeman (Retreat, Hell, Hell to Eternity ) and Russell S. Hughes.

Along with The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Them! served as a grim reminder that little was known about the lasting effects of nuclear radiation. Set some nine years after nuclear testing in the desert, the film pushes the idea that man might see his own extinction through the misuse or overuse of nuclear technology.

The script is well paced with almost documentary style credibility. Edmund Gwenn as the unflappable Dr. Harold Medford added his own touch of realism as the concerned and somewhat quirky entomologist. His daughter, Dr. Pat Medford played by Joan Weldon, is a refreshing departure from the previous Hays Code enforced roles for women. Smart, witty and a working girl, Pat is not to be trifled with and has no problem fighting giant ants alongside the FBI agents and Marines.

While the crew opted out of using stop motion animation for the giant ants, the art direction and camera shots are brilliant. Several scenes are shot in “underground” ant chambers and in city sewers making for some very claustrophobic moments reminiscent of the much later sci-fi film, Alien.

If you consider yourself a true fan of Science Fiction film, Them is not only a must see but a much needed addition to your DVD library.


Director: Gordon Douglas

Writers: George W. Yates
Ted Sherdeman
Russel Hughes

MPAA Rating: G with a few intense sc-fi moments for small children


Trivia: The film won a Golden Reel Award in 1955 for best sound editing in a feature film.
Two young actors who would later become household names make an appearance in Them! : a young Leonard Nimoy as an Army Sergeant and Fess Parker as Alan Crotty.