The Swarm

Overview

Killer bees migrate to the United States from Africa via South America in this disaster film produced and directed by the genre's chief architect, Irwin Allen, and written by Stirling Silliphant, scribe of The Poseidon Adventure. Haughty entomologist Brad Crane (Michael Caine) shows up at a secret military base full of dead soldiers, shocking the attendant General Slater (Richard Widmark). Crane announces that the soldiers are the victims of killer bees with amazingly potent venom; he's been tracking huge swarms of the things and fears they'll kill millions before they're through. Eventually, the president asks Crane to lead the battle against the killer insects and he assembles a team of crack scientists. Meanwhile, the bees overpower a family picnic in nearby Marysville; only the son, Paul (Christian Juttner), escapes with his life. Crane and military physician Helena Anderson (Katherine Ross) head to Marysville to warn the populace about the impending danger. Among the citizens in the direct path of the bees are schoolmarm Maureen Schuster (Olivia de Havilland) and her competing suitors, Felix (Ben Johnson) and Clarence (Fred MacMurray). Eventually, the bees stage a massacre in Marysville and then set their sights on Houston. Neither pesticides, firebombing, nor the heroic sacrifice of scientist Dr. Krim (Henry Fonda) seems to offer a solution for the impending disaster. Universally reviled by critics, The Swarm failed to continue Allen's winning streak at the box office. Caine would re-team with his director the following year for Beyond the Poseidon Adventure.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/02/2014
UPC:	0888574092191
Original Release:	1978
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	2:35:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Michael Caine	Brad Crane
Katharine Ross	Helena
Richard Widmark	Gen. Slater
Richard Chamberlain	Dr. Hubbard
Olivia de Havilland	Maureen Schuster
Ben Johnson	Felix
Lee Grant	Anne MacGregor
Jose Ferrer	Dr. Andrews
Patty Duke Astin	Rita Bard
Slim Pickens	Jud Hawkins
Bradford Dillman	Maj. Baker
Fred MacMurray	Clarence
Henry Fonda	Dr. Krim
Cameron Mitchell	Gen. Thompson
Christian Juttner	Paul Durant
Morgan Paull	Dr. Newman
Alejandro Rey	Dr. Martinez
Don 'Red' Barry	Pete Harris
Doria Cook	Mrs. Durant,Secretary
Robert Varney	Mr. Durant
Pat Culliton	Sheriff Morrison,Sheriff Morrison
Chris Petersen	Hal
Arthur Space	Engineer
John Williams	Launching Officer
Steven Marlo	Pilot #1
Ernie Orsatti	Duty Officer
John Furlong	Cameraman
Jerry Toomey	Eddie
Joey Eisnach	Bee Boy
Chris Capen	Lieutenant
Tony Haig	Officer #2
Arell Blanton	Sergeant
George Simmons	Nurse
Trent Dolan	Radio Sergeant
Philip Montgomery	Mechanic
Marcia Nicholson	Captain
Art Ballinger	Radio Announcer
Frank Blair	Himself
Chuck Hayward	Standby Engineer
Glenn Charles Lewis	Chemical Warfare Guard
Jim Mills	Actor
Ernie F. Orsatti	Duty Officer
Steve Powers	Radarmen
Elizabeth Rogers	Woman Scientist
Bill Snider	Radarman #2
Michael Sheehan	Airman #1
Howard Culver	Airman #2
Jerry Goldsmith	Composer

Technical Credits

Stirling Silliphant

L.B. Abbott	Special Effects
Irwin Allen	Producer,Director
Al Gail	Executive Producer
Howard Jensen	Special Effects
Sidney Marshall	Executive Producer
Paul Stader	Stunts
Stirling Silliphant	Screenwriter
Hubie Kerns Jr.	Stunts
Jack Baur	Casting
Les Fresholtz	Sound/Sound Designer
Herman Lewis	Sound/Sound Designer
Michael Minkler	Sound/Sound Designer
Allan R. Potter	Sound Editor
Arthur Piantadosi	Sound/Sound Designer