B-movies that buzz
By Ken Cornwell
Them!
Directed by Gordon Douglas
1954
The Narrow Margin
Directed by Richard Fleischer
1952
I'm sure that the first thing that comes to mind when you hear "B-Movie" is a cheap, inferior product with poor production values and second (or tenth) tier talent. These days, the B-Movie is a straight to DVD affair that's not really worth the four-dollar rental. Well, once upon a time there were B-Movies of a higher caliber. They were made cheaply and often in disparaged genres, but they were great entertainments featuring interesting actors and sparkling writing. In fact, there are some that transcended their lowly origins and attained a classic status due to sheer quality. Two gems from the 50s, "Them!" (1954) and "The Narrow Margin" (1952) are disarmingly suspenseful: if you think a movie that's a half a century old can't keep you on the edge of your seat, think again.
Let's get something out in the open right away: Them! is a big bug picture (remember what I said about disparaged genres?). But that shouldn't deter you as it's a really enjoyable, suspenseful big bug picture that has the advantage of getting off to an eerie and mysterious start. The side affect of nuclear tests in the Nevada desert, ants have grown to gigantic size and are waging war against humankind. But the story starts off to a little more ambiguous start: a young girl wandering in the desert is found by a couple of intrepid police officers. She's been traumatized by the event that killed her FBI agent father and the rest of her family and is unable to vocalize what happened. Is there a killer on the loose? The officers investigate along with the aid of the FBI agent's colleague and a father daughter team of etymologists. One officer loses his life in a mysterious siege. Strange insect screeches ring out in the desert. In a chilling scene, the young girl is brought out of her catatonic state, screaming "THEM! THEM!" and you know we're in for something terrible.
Sure, once we actually see the bugs, it's a little disappointing that they look like big fake puppets. But somehow you're able to suspend your disbelief and get seriously creeped out when they squeeze people to death in their giant pincers. It helps that there are some compelling characters and performances including Stuart Whitman as the heroic cop and a blond James Arness (of "Gunsmoke" fame) as the forthright FBI man. Former Santa Claus (from "The Miracle on 34th Street"), Edmund Gwenn, lends some weight to the role of the brilliant scientist and makes a great team with Joan Weldon as his equally brilliant daughter. She happens to be a refreshingly strong and fun heroine, especially for the sci-fi drama, because she's never the shrieking damsel in distress.
The movie has an interesting take on the dangers of nuclear weapons and testing considering that it was made at the height of the cold war. At the end, after the ants have apparently been defeated, Gwenn gives a speech about the dangers of playing with such dangerous forces. His words seem prescient as we still live today with the fear of nuclear catastrophe.
The Narrow Margin is a much smaller scale film, but packs an equally memorable punch. A crime drama set on a train, Charles McGraw's cop is on the run with Marie Windsor's mob wife. She's supposed to testify against her husband at a trial in LA, so the mismatched pair board a train in Chicago with gangster goons hot on their trail. Playing cat and mouse with the gangsters, the couple's only hope is that the villains can't figure out where the girl is hidden. It's a tidy, economically told tale that packs a wallop especially when some unexpected twists throw you for a loop.
"The Narrow Margin" also has the benefit of top-notch performances. McGraw was primarily a TV actor, but he really shines as tortured cop Walter Brown. He sees his partner killed in the opening scenes and spends the rest of the film wracked with survivor's guilt, perfectly expressed through his raspy, tough guy voice. Marie Windsor is a knockout as the femme fatale, spoiled and petulant with a smoky, sexy voice and bedroom eyes. Windsor toiled in TV too and made a career out of these kinds of bad girl roles. When you see how fantastic she is in this movie, you'll wonder why she never made it to the "A" films.
Do they make to their destination? You'll have to watch to find out--but there are some surprises along the way. Every character is hiding something and no one is quite who they appear to be. Which makes it a fun ride even for the MTV generation (and the brisk running time of 71 minutes won't hurt either).
Check out these quality B's and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised. This exciting double bill shows that "B" doesn't necessarily stand for "bad."
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