Search - The Swarm on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1978 DVD Release: 08/06/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 35 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 10 Genres: Action, Disaster Film, Natural Horror, Ensemble Film

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

Michael Caine - Brad Crane
Katharine Ross - Helena
Richard Widmark - Gen. Slater
Richard Chamberlain - Dr. Hubbard
Olivia de Havilland - Maureen Schuster

It's attack of the killer bees in the Irwin Allen-directed thriller The Swarm. Warner's work on this 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is very pleasing considering its age. Sporting bright colors and dark black levels, this is a very solid image with only the faintest hint of muted colors or edge enhancement. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital Surround Stereo in English and is often hollow and uniformly flat. While directional effects are missing, overall this mix is free of any distracting hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc is a French Dolby Mono soundtrack as well as French, English, Spanish, and Portuguese subtitles. The extra features included on this disc are minimal. Fans can only look forward to a short behind-the-scenes featurette that doesn't give a lot of insight into the making of the film and a theatrical trailer for The Swarm. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide