The Deadly Mantis (1957)

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.

Director:

Nathan Juran

Writers:

Martin Berkeley (screenplay), William Alland (story)

Stars:

Craig Stevens, William Hopper, Alix Talton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Craig Stevens	...	Col. Joe Parkman
William Hopper	...	Dr. Nedrick (Ned) Jackson
Alix Talton	...	Marge Blaine
Donald Randolph	...	Maj. Gen. Mark Ford
Pat Conway	...	Sgt. Pete Allen
Florenz Ames	...	Prof. Anton Gunther
Paul Smith	...	Corporal
Phil Harvey	...	Lou
Floyd Simmons	...	Army Sergeant
Paul Campbell	...	Lt. Fred Pizar
Helen Jay	...	Mrs. Farley

Storyline

The calving of an Arctic iceberg releases a giant praying mantis, trapped in suspended animation since prehistoric times. It first attacks military outposts to eat their occupants, then makes its way to the warmer latitudes of Washington and New York. A paleontologist works together with military units to try to kill it.

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Plot Keywords:

military | arctic | praying mantis | dew line | paleontologist | 

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Taglines:

Out of a million years ago ... a thousand tons of horror!

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Genres:

Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Giant Mantis

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

The enlisted personnel in several scenes are clearly US Airmen, but are addressed as Army soldiers. i.e. Calling an Airman First Class a Corporal in the scene where Alix Talton is initially introduced to the men in the recreation hall.

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Quotes

Dr. Ned Jackson: In all the kingdom of the living, there is no more deadly or voracious creature than the Preying Mantis.

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Connections

Featured in Atop the Fourth Wall: Captain Tax Time #1 (2012)

User Reviews

my favourite giant killer bug movie

I'd gladly watch this one without the benefit of MST3K, as it wasn't half bad, considering the genre and era in which it was made. But then I'm a sucker for movies which open with giant maps, and story lines that offer military responses to life's problems.

To those of you who think this movie sucked, I suggest you view "Beginning of the End," another '50s era bug spectacular, this one featuring Peter Graves vs. a giant mutant grasshopper. I think after that you'd agree that the Mantis wasn't so bad.