• Rating:
• Genre: Action
• Movie Type: Disaster Film, Ensemble Film
• Themes: Race Against Time, When Animals Attack
• Director: Irwin Allen
• Main Cast: Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia de Havilland
• Release Year: 1978
• Country: US
• Run Time: 116 minutes
• MPAA Rating: PG

Plot

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. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Cast

• 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; José Ferrer - Dr. Andrews; 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; Patty Duke - Rita Bard; Frank Blair - Himself; Arell Blanton - Sergeant; Doria Cook - Mrs. Durant; Pat Culliton - Sheriff Morrison; Howard Culver - Airman #2; Trent Dolan - Radio Sergeant; John Furlong - Cameraman; Chuck Hayward - Standby Engineer; Steven Marlo - 1st Pilot; Chris Petersen - Hal; Steve Powers - Radarmen; Elizabeth Rogers - Woman Scientist; Michael Sheehan - Airman #1; Arthur Space - Engineer; Ernie Orsatti - Duty Officer; Bill Snider - Radarman #2; Robert Varney - Mr. Durant; John Williams - Launching Officer; Marcia Nicholson - Captain; George Simmons - Nurse

Credit

L.B. Abbott - Special Effects; Irwin Allen - Director; Irwin Allen - Producer; Timothy Board - First Assistant Editor; Harold L. Fuhrman - Set Designer; Jerry Goldsmith - Composer (Music Score); Howard Jensen - Special Effects; Stan Jolley - Production Designer; Fred Koenekamp - Cinematographer; Harold Kress - Editor; Tony Lloyd - Makeup; Stuart A. Reiss - Set Designer; Stirling Silliphant - Screenwriter; Paul Stader - Stunts; Paul Stader - Stunts Coordinator; Paul Zastupnevich - Costume Designer; VanDer Veer Photo Effects - Special Effects; Michael Benson - Camera Operator; Julie Pitkanen - Script Supervisor; Donah Bassett - Negative Cutter; Jack Baur - Casting; Les Fresholtz - Sound/Sound Designer; Michael Minkler - Sound/Sound Designer; Arthur Piantadosi - Sound/Sound Designer; Herman Lewis - Sound/Sound Designer; Donald Harris - Music Editor; Arthur Herzog - Book Author; Ed Morey III - First Assistant Camera; Ruby Ford - Hair Styles; Norman A. Cook - Production Manager; Mike Salamunovich - First Assistant Director; Skip Surguine - Second Assistant Director; Ralph Aubert - Properties Master; Alfred M. Kemper - Set Designer; Allan R. Potter - Sound Editor; Tony Habib - Publicist; Fred Hesper - Animal Trainer/Wrangler; John Monte - Still Photographer; Sheridan Dar Reid - Location Manager; Gene Stout - Gaffer; George E. Swink - Post Production Supervisor; Art Volpert - Production Controller; Serge Poupis - First Assistant Camera; Hubie Kerns Jr. - Stunts

Similar Movies

Arachnophobia; The Birds; Frogs; Squirm; Tarantula; Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo; The Deadly Bees; Killer Bees; Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare; Creepy Crawlers; Infested; Killer Buzz; The Naked Jungle; Hell Swarm; Slugs; Bug; The Nest

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yellow swarm