The Deadly Mantis (1957)

Director:

Nathan Juran

Writers:

Martin Berkeley (screenplay)
William Alland (story)

Release Date:

May 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

This Was the Day That Engulfed the World in Terror!

Plot:

A giant prehistoric praying mantis, recently freed from the Arctic ice, voraciously preys on American military at the Dew Line and works its way south.

Plot Keywords:

Military | Praying Mantis | Arctic | Iceberg | Paleontologist

Cast

Craig Stevens	...	Col. Joe Parkman
William Hopper	...	Dr. Nedrick 'Ned' Jackson
Alix Talton	...	Marge Blaine
Donald Randolph	...	Gen. Mark Ford
Pat Conway	...	Sgt. Pete Allen
Florenz Ames	...	Prof. Anton Gunther
Paul Smith	...	Corporal, Parkman's Clerk
Phil Harvey	...	Lou, Radar Man
Floyd Simmons	...	Army Sergeant
Paul Campbell	...	Lt. Fred Pizar
Helen Jay	...	Mrs. Farley

Also Known As:

The Giant Mantis
The Incredible Praying Mantis

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The footage showing the Eskimos fleeing from the mantis is actually from S.O.S. Eisberg (1933).

Goofs:

Continuity: As the Mantis makes its way to the station, its claws alternate between up and down between shots.

Quotes:

[the officers are all staring at Marge]
Dr. Ned Jackson: It looks like you don't have too many women up here, Colonel.
Col. Joe Parkman: Well, we have a little joke up here. The boys say there's a girl behind every tree. Only try and find a tree.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Eureka: Alienated (#1.4)" (2006)

Pray Tell, Not Bad!

Although the intricacies of the plot are forever unbelievable, this film works very well both as a suspense film and also as a creditable "Giant Bug" film, so typical during the 50's Golden Age of Science Fiction. A giant Praying Mantis is preserved in the ice of the Artic Ocean, only to be dislodged by man's environmental meddling. The bug flies over various places in the Artic eating human beings as it makes its way toward the Equator. The task of destroying the giant insect befalls to three protagonists: Craig Stevens the military man(and romancer), William Hopper as the dedicated paleontologist, and Alix Talton as the hungry reporter/photographer/necessary female character so that main character can fall in love. The three manage to find the mantis and well....let's just say the poor creature didn't say his prayers TOO often. The film is tight, has lots of action, and is a great entertaining diversion.