It is so awesome to see young people discover how good some of these older movies are, sci-fi or not. I grew up in the 60’s watching the 50’s monster movies and I love them all. Even that not so well done ones. But then some of them were very well written and directed and seeing others find them is great. I like the joy you showed as this one unfolded.
Let's cut Sammy some slack...King Kong was the first giant STOP MOTION (only parts were animatroic)...Them! is one of the first fully giant practical Atomic Bug movies. And Sammy is the first fully human giant atomic reactor to giant atomic ants I am aware of.
@@TheCaptainSlappy Well said! Not to mention how difficult it must be to come up with a unique title for every single video someone puts out on their channel. I really enjoy this channel. Glad it popped up in my recs.
"AHHH! THEM! THEM! THEM!" Fun Fact: The first giant ant appears 28 minutes into the movie. Movie Magic Fact: The viewer never sees more than three giant ants at any one time. That is all that were constructed. Safety Guarantee Fact: The flamethrowers used in the movie were standard World War II weapons and were loaned by the U.S. Army. The actors handling the weapons were World War II combat veterans, who had used them in battle. Casting Notes Fact: Leonard Nimoy (NOT his debut) has a bit part in the film as an Army Staff Sergeant who reads a news story off a teletype machine. The old man singing "Make Me A Sergeant" is Olin Howland, who later played the old man in The Blob (1958) who was absorbed by the title creature. Airplane Enthusiast Fact: The B-25H Mitchell bomber transporting the doctors Medford was actually the personal transport for a two-star general. This aircraft was registered as N1203, and was also a camera plane for Catch-22 (1970). The pilot seen taxiing this aircraft in the opening scene appeared to be Paul Mantz, the legendary Hollywood movie stunt pilot. He was killed filming the Phoenix P1 airplane seen in The Flight Of The Phoenix (1965). Location Location Fact: The subterranean chase scenes in He Walked By Night (1948) convinced a Warner Brothers executive to use the storm drain tunnels under Los Angeles, CA, for the climactic scenes in this film. The original story idea to have the giant ants invade New York City's subway system was scuttled partly due to budget constraints, but mainly because of the horrified reaction of New York City Transportation Secretary William J. Daley to such a suggestion.
Also FBI Agent Gramm @5:50 is James Arness. Who was in the western tv series Gunsmoke, but was also the titular The Thing, in the 1951 classic The The From Another World.
I grew up watching these old sci-fi movies, but it is so refreshing seeing them again through the eyes of reactors such as yourself. Your analysis of why certain scenes work is well thought out. For instance, I have never noticed the music cutting off when the pilot described his UFOs as ants. I just took everything I was s 30:12 eeing at face value. Thanks to reactors like you, I have a new appreciation for these movies of my childhood. If I may make a suggestion for a future reaction, might I recommend Village of the Damned, a British film from 1960, I think, based on a novel called The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham? It was even referenced in an episode of The Simpsons, as I recall, which just goes to show you that quality storytelling can still entertain decades later. Keep watching these movies from the Golden Age of Science Fiction. There are many more treasures to be found.
My favourite scene is the beginning with "something" out in the desert--the spooky sound and the police looking out into the distance--and the storm with the eerie wind sound. Spooky! Brrr! The child, too, yelling out "Them!" was frightening. And the parts in the storm drains with the flame throwers must have inspired Aliens (1986). Them! is fun science fiction; it's worth adding to any sci-fi film festival. :)
A couple of interesting “monster” movies from that time period are “Kronos” and “The Monolith Monsters both from 1957. They did some interesting stories back then.
Fyi...the original king kong was 1933 Enjoy your reactions....keep the old school sci fi coming.....beast from 20,000 fathoms ...earth versus flying saucers...20 million miles to earth....all Ray Harryhausen stop motion classics.
I had more fun watching your reaction than I did the only time I saw this, on TV at age 12, some 57 years ago. Today I appreciate the fine filmmaking aspects that you point out. I need to watch it again. I also enjoyed seeing the many familiar actors, especially William Shallert (the ambulance attendant). He was one of the most prolific character actors of TV and film in the 50s and 60s, most memorably as Patty Duke’s father on her popular show, and he also served as SAG president. When I saw “Starship Troopers” many years ago, it instantly reminded me of this film. Also, another notable film about ants, a kind of true horror-drama, is “The Naked Jungle,” with Charlton Heston, which also came out in 1954. That was based on a famous short story, “Leningen Versus the Ants.”
A giant bug movie that is elevated above most because they took it seriously. They adhered as much to real entomology as possible and the characters are fully realized and react genuinely. Of course the special effects are also outstanding.
Thanks for reacting to this movie, Sammy. You're probably the first to do it. Indeed, this is the first of the Big Bug movies of the 1950s, followed by such entries as "Tarantula" (1955), "The Deadly Mantis" (1957), "The Black Scorpion" (1957), and "Beginning of the End." (1957) Keep up the amazing content!
KING KONG CAME OUT IN 1933 - THE LOST WORLD (1932) - SON OF KONG (1933) - MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949) - BEAST FROM 20000 FATHOMS (1953). --- they feared other things before them
It is so awesome to see young people discover how good some of these older movies are, sci-fi or not. I grew up in the 60’s watching the 50’s monster movies and I love them all. Even that not so well done ones. But then some of them were very well written and directed and seeing others find them is great. I like the joy you showed as this one unfolded.
This movie was the first one my father saw as a kid at the drive-in. I love 50’s giant bug movies.
King Kong came many years before Them! 1933 to be exact.
However, THEM! was the first "Giant Bug" movie in a series of many.
Let's cut Sammy some slack...King Kong was the first giant STOP MOTION (only parts were animatroic)...Them! is one of the first fully giant practical Atomic Bug movies. And Sammy is the first fully human giant atomic reactor to giant atomic ants I am aware of.
@@TheCaptainSlappy Well said! Not to mention how difficult it must be to come up with a unique title for every single video someone puts out on their channel. I really enjoy this channel. Glad it popped up in my recs.
"AHHH! THEM! THEM! THEM!"
Fun Fact: The first giant ant appears 28 minutes into the movie.
Movie Magic Fact: The viewer never sees more than three giant ants at any one time. That is all that were constructed.
Safety Guarantee Fact: The flamethrowers used in the movie were standard World War II weapons and were loaned by the U.S. Army. The actors handling the weapons were World War II combat veterans, who had used them in battle.
Casting Notes Fact: Leonard Nimoy (NOT his debut) has a bit part in the film as an Army Staff Sergeant who reads a news story off a teletype machine. The old man singing "Make Me A Sergeant" is Olin Howland, who later played the old man in The Blob (1958) who was absorbed by the title creature.
Airplane Enthusiast Fact: The B-25H Mitchell bomber transporting the doctors Medford was actually the personal transport for a two-star general. This aircraft was registered as N1203, and was also a camera plane for Catch-22 (1970). The pilot seen taxiing this aircraft in the opening scene appeared to be Paul Mantz, the legendary Hollywood movie stunt pilot. He was killed filming the Phoenix P1 airplane seen in The Flight Of The Phoenix (1965).
Location Location Fact: The subterranean chase scenes in He Walked By Night (1948) convinced a Warner Brothers executive to use the storm drain tunnels under Los Angeles, CA, for the climactic scenes in this film. The original story idea to have the giant ants invade New York City's subway system was scuttled partly due to budget constraints, but mainly because of the horrified reaction of New York City Transportation Secretary William J. Daley to such a suggestion.
2:51 The ambulance guy there on the left I think was the dad on the Patty Duke Show.
Also FBI Agent Gramm @5:50 is James Arness. Who was in the western tv series Gunsmoke, but was also the titular The Thing, in the 1951 classic The The From Another World.
Yes William Schallert appeared in many b/w sci fi pictures.
Joan Weldon raved about Sandy Descher's performance. The kid didn't do much, but what she did was very convincing.
It appears that you need to watch the original King Kong and Godzilla films. THEM is a classic on its own.
I grew up watching these old sci-fi movies, but it is so refreshing seeing them again through the eyes of reactors such as yourself. Your analysis of why certain scenes work is well thought out. For instance, I have never noticed the music cutting off when the pilot described his UFOs as ants. I just took everything I was s 30:12 eeing at face value. Thanks to reactors like you, I have a new appreciation for these movies of my childhood.
If I may make a suggestion for a future reaction, might I recommend Village of the Damned, a British film from 1960, I think, based on a novel called The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham? It was even referenced in an episode of The Simpsons, as I recall, which just goes to show you that quality storytelling can still entertain decades later.
Keep watching these movies from the Golden Age of Science Fiction. There are many more treasures to be found.
My favourite scene is the beginning with "something" out in the desert--the spooky sound and the police looking out into the distance--and the storm with the eerie wind sound. Spooky! Brrr! The child, too, yelling out "Them!" was frightening. And the parts in the storm drains with the flame throwers must have inspired Aliens (1986). Them! is fun science fiction; it's worth adding to any sci-fi film festival. :)
A couple of interesting “monster” movies from that time period are “Kronos” and “The Monolith Monsters both from 1957. They did some interesting stories back then.
Fyi...the original king kong was 1933
Enjoy your reactions....keep the old school sci fi coming.....beast from 20,000 fathoms ...earth versus flying saucers...20 million miles to earth....all Ray Harryhausen stop motion classics.
I forgot ...It came from beneath the sea...and there are a few more!
Brooks before Shawshank.
Them!
Is indeed a great Giant Beast Movie.
I Recommend Tarantula 1955
From the same time frame.
I had more fun watching your reaction than I did the only time I saw this, on TV at age 12, some 57 years ago. Today I appreciate the fine filmmaking aspects that you point out. I need to watch it again. I also enjoyed seeing the many familiar actors, especially William Shallert (the ambulance attendant). He was one of the most prolific character actors of TV and film in the 50s and 60s, most memorably as Patty Duke’s father on her popular show, and he also served as SAG president.
When I saw “Starship Troopers” many years ago, it instantly reminded me of this film. Also, another notable film about ants, a kind of true horror-drama, is “The Naked Jungle,” with Charlton Heston, which also came out in 1954. That was based on a famous short story, “Leningen Versus the Ants.”
It was very forward-thinking of the filmmakers to be sure and get the ants' pronouns right.
No, they didn't. Even the lady scientist got it wrong, referring to the ants as "he." All worker ants are sterile females.
Did you catch Leonard Nimoy/ Mr Spock in an early role as an Army Staff sergeant?
Not until I read it in the comment section 😅
I believe the old professor is also Santa from Miracle on 34th st
Yes indeed he is. Good catch👍
Try the original "King Kong" (1933) & "Gojira" the original release off "Godzilla".
And The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, which inspired Godzilla.
I know that sound the ants made haunted my dreams for weeks after i saw this movie.
I'm so glad you appreciate these. I recommend THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1953).
Kris Kringle, Marshall Dillon and President Harry S. Truman Battle Giant Ants!
A giant bug movie that is elevated above most because they took it seriously. They adhered as much to real entomology as possible and the characters are fully realized and react genuinely.
Of course the special effects are also outstanding.
Yup! Great points, and a real fun film :)
"Beginning of the End" (1957).
Peter Graves, Peggie Castle...
And who could forget Frank?
This movie scared the hell out of me as a kid.
It's so well made, could only imagine seeing it as a young child, would be scared too :)
Thanks for reacting to this movie, Sammy. You're probably the first to do it. Indeed, this is the first of the Big Bug movies of the 1950s, followed by such entries as "Tarantula" (1955), "The Deadly Mantis" (1957), "The Black Scorpion" (1957), and "Beginning of the End." (1957)
Keep up the amazing content!
Thank you for tuning in, and for the recommendations :)
KING KONG CAME OUT IN 1933 - THE LOST WORLD (1932) - SON OF KONG (1933) - MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949) - BEAST FROM 20000 FATHOMS (1953). --- they feared other things before them
A total classic, Try, "Phase IV " 1974 for amazing ant work. What was envisioned as giant insect swarms watch, " Starship Troupers." 1997
Thanks for these suggestions :)
A masterpiece and iconic monster movie of the fifthies!!!
Ummm… Regarding the video title, King Kong predated Them! by a couple decades.