Them! (1954) - Behind The Scenes Archive Footage

A look at operating those giant ants.

[@danieldickson8591]

The detail work on those ants is very impressive. Makes you appreciate how grotesquely alien insects look if blown up to our size.

[@fw1421]

One of my absolute favorite SciFi movies from the 50’s!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jenniferjames5535]

I am a Them! Nerd. I did some exhaustive research (I can do that as I have no life 😄😄) anyhow the ant hole - this scene was filmed out in the middle of NOWHERE in Lake Los Angeles. It is on private property. Anyhow they have had Them nerds visit in the past. I could barely contain my excitement- I was going to see the ant hole. We walk over to this small indentation maybe 8'x8'. I was crushed and the owner said yeah I know, but understand you have over 60 years of desert elements-- and unbelievable wind. And while a little disappointment it was still pretty cool.

[@antonpercival1807]

Just finished watching this online. First saw this movie, on television, some 17 years after it came out. Was a little kid. Has always been a favorite. Thank-you for posting this. It is fun to watch. :)

[@refealibazeta7886]

One of my top 10 sci-Fi Movies. The Thing,The Earth Stood Still,Invasion of the Body Snatchers,War of the Worlds,Earth VS The Flying Saucers,Forbidden Planet.I have most of them. Lol!

[@valentinrobert1192]

Invaders from Mars 1953 earth vs spider 1958 The Last man on earth Vincent price 1964 Do you have those

[@irwinklinger1296]

The only addition to your fantastic choices would be "This Planet Earth".

[@myrnajay2785]

@@irwinklinger1296 Think you mean "This Island Earth". I'd add that too. I believe it was the most expensive made sci-fi at that time. Good cast!

[@irwinklinger1296]

@@myrnajay2785 I only included my top three and "Them" starring Stuart Whitmore, Edmund Gwen and James Arness was one of my favorites. I've watched "This Island Earth" many times, the creation of the planet Metaluna is brilliant.

[@DaveLucas427]

The 1950s were considered the "Golden Age" of sci-fi cinema, reflecting the paranoia of the era. What makes this film better than most is that everyone takes what's going on so seriously. Another plus is good acting (including the late Joan Weldon), Oscar-nominated SFX, and solid pacing.

[@buddyboy1953]

One of the best sifi's of the 50's

[@jamesclappsy849]

Hands down the best bug movie. It has one of the best cast of all time. With James arness,James Whitmore, edmond gwen, Joan Weldon, with a supporting cast of fess parker, Leonard Nimoy and 1 of my favorite character actor tub tayler. Also Olin the blob Howland. Make me a sergeant give me the booze!. It was Warner brothers highest grossing movie of 1954. It is a true masterpiece!

[@axecalibore]

The first, best, and only giant insect movie that is actually a good film.

[@josepha5885]

An excellent film.

[@riofanl3638]

Its insane there's literally behind the scenes footages of this classic film

[@PocketMarmo04]

The little girl who was found wandering in the desert alone in the beginning of Them! is still alive. She is in her mid 70s.

[@1xoACEox1]

I love the effort put into the sound. Reminds me of the ringwraiths or chewbacca. It would have been easy to use a generic stock monster growl and call it a day but they tried to make a unique sound.

[@agb1953]

I hope they never do a CGI remake of this movie and spoil all of the fun.

[@cpresuttis]

god damn some vintage here

[@steveoh9285]

One of the very best of the entire genre, I’ve seen Them! a dozen times!

[@RobertJones-ux6nc]

The first time I watched this movie was at my Grandparents house in 1961 and I was only 4 then. It scared the crap out of me. I have now had a copy on DVD for about 25 years and my greatnephew at 5 years likes watching it.

[@myrnajay2785]

Yes, same age. We got to grow up with these as they still played into the 60's.. and on TV!! I have the DVD too ; )

[@robertphillips5459]

Love this movie! Classic monster movies, I can't imagine if this would actually happen, wow!!!! Terrifying!

[@leon61427]

Love this movie

[@cretinousjester3475]

Thank you for posting this.

[@jamesbaumann420]

One of the great Big big Movies

[@johnbockelie3899]

,"Shoot the.Antenna!!!" Never forget this line.

[@johnbockelie3899]

And because of this movie Fess Parker became a.Star. Davy Crockett came soon after.

[@johnbockelie3899]

First time I ever seen out takes from this film. Did it come.with the out take mutual laughter?.

[@denmerc3505]

Not shore about the ants , but that scream would make me run......

[@paulwojnar2291]

The British film " X The Unknown" was pretty good also. Also " 20 Million Miles From Earth"

[@jessesands4099]

Looking for the world's largest picnic basket!😆🤣🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜

[@jessesands4099]

Ordering this movie on Blu Ray!😲😱🐜🐜🐜🐜💥🏜️

[@freddygee49]

make me a sergeant, give me the booze!

[@jimmyarmijo792]

I don't know if you'll ever read this, the old man in the loony bin, he was the same old man who broke open the meteorite in the original The Blob with Steve McQueen.

[@j.vi-geant6784]

It was the best prop they could come up with back then. Radioactive sugar.

[@darrylthompsonii3301]

This video drives birds crazy 🤣

[@allgood6760]

Awesome!.. I love this movie... having to put up with ants in the house glad they are not like these over sized mutated critters... thanks from NZ 👍🇳🇿

[@antont2811]

Shoot the antennae!

[@Ease54]

Amazing!

[@Blackosaurus1965]

its dangerous that if someone makes that monster im gonna be super scared for this mutated parasite ant

[@StoryMemories86]

While I will always associate the sound effects with Them! … it was the same sound effects loop that played in the jungle Cruise. So walking backstage Adventureland I always felt like a giant herd of ants was about to attack! LOL

[@_Refurbished_]

Somehow as a child this was part of VHS rotation of movies. My first true scary movie. The sound still haunts me to this day. While cruising on the Jungle Cruise, I literally almost jumped out the boat. Thought they added an ant addition lol.

[@StoryMemories86]

@@_Refurbished_ HHahahahahah Omg-osh! Lol

[@_Refurbished_]

@@StoryMemories86 Shoutout to a fellow cast member! When we would use that part of backstage for guest control, we could have really gotten them moving if we turned the ant sounds up hah. I never heard it back there, but I was rarely back there.

[@sammontanez6908]

I always knew the giant ants were animatronics because of their slow yet almost robotic movements

[@dylangeltzeiler946]

So they decided to try animatronics on THEM! instead of Stop Motion Animation. The Black Scorpion on the other hand had both.

[@mikeornelas5243]

Classic!

[@adamc1966]

No CGI needed 👍

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

The Jupiter 2 taking off? Maureen must have been doing some experiments better left to someone else, LOL.

[@robertsamson4610]

I believe the sound of the ants was made by those fake birds on the end of a string that was attached to a stick that you could buy at the LA County Fair. Twirling the stick in a circular motion would cause the tail to spin and make the noise that we here. Of course in the movie they amplified and slowed the sound down. What do you think?

[@solowcello]

From Wikipedia: The sounds the giant ants emit in the film were the calls of bird-voiced tree frogs mixed in with the calls of a wood thrush, hooded warbler, and red-bellied woodpecker. It was recorded at Indian Island, Georgia, on April 11, 1947 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.[7]

[@leasebergfladstad167]

Movie makers were good with animatronic even in 1950s.

[@Aluapay]

What sound effects did they use to make the ant sounds?

[@famliy2020]

how did they make the ants

[@charliemangone5505]

It turned out to be a great movie. But originally it was going to be in 3D, color, and set in the New York subway.

[@irmaletson2054]

Good movie seems real

[@ackman3981]

Why are you using the music from Fantastic Voyage as the people and the ship are being miniaturized at the beginning?

[@exnbcnco]

Marshall Dillion is that you? If so, where is Festus?

[@gmanley1]

1:42 It’s going crazy, quick trap it in an insurance commercial!

[@robertsamson4610]

lol

[@gustavoperez9568]

Esta película se llama el mundo en peligro sino preguntenme a mi que la vi en el cine parriocal el buen pastor año cincuenta y siete hoy llamado san marcos MACUL con Rodrigo de Araya

[@sonrouge]

How the hell could they do better effects with less money back then?

[@jessesands4099]

Ants In Your Pants!😲🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🏜️

[@22bmain]

Imagine what they could do today using CGI... someone ought to do a Re-make~ (Modern Day B Movie)

[@MrTonyVision]

Lake Los Angeles ca, THEM, Atomic Giant ('53) ants nest film location FOUND and visited ! video LINK:kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYDKnY2rap6KadU