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The Deadly Mantis (The Giant Mantis)(The Incredible Praying Mantis) (1957)

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Average Rating: 4.2/10
Reviews Counted: 8
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 6

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Release Date: May 1, 1957 Wide

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Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 696

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Movie Info

This is the one in which the "villain" is a huge, carnivorous praying mantis. After the titular insect has attacked several people in a remote Arctic region, Col. Joe Parkham (Craig Stevens) swings into action. Parkham and his associates, Dr. Ned Jackson (William Hopper) and Ned's assistant Margie Blake (Alix Talton), track the predatory mantis as it heads southward to Washington DC (how did it get past customs?) The green monstrosity meets its Waterloo in "Manhattan Tunnel", where it is

Unrated, 1 hr. 19 min.

Horror, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Nathan Juran

In Theaters: May 1, 1957 Wide

On DVD: May 13, 2008

Universal Pictures

The Deadly Mantis (The Giant Mantis)(The Incredible Praying Mantis) Trailer & Photos

Cast

Craig Stevens
Col. Joe Parkman
William Hopper
Dr. Ned Jackson
Alix Talton
Marge Blaine
Don Randolph
Gen. Mark Ford
Patrick Conway
Sgt. Pete Allen
Florenz Ames
Prof. Anton Gunther
Paul L. Smith
Corporal
Phil Harvey
Lou
Floyd Simmons
Army Sergeant
Paul Campbell (IV)
Lt. Fred Pizar
William Anders
Sergeant
William A. Forester
Announcer
Tom Greenway
Second Reporter
Jess Kirkpatrick
Father
James Lanphier
Col. Hervey
George Lynn
Bus Driver
David McMahon
Capt. Frank Carver
Skipper McNally
Policeman
Dick Paxton
Plotter
Bing Russell
Trouper
Harry Tyler
Spectator
Sumner Williams
Pilot
John Close
Engineer
Helen Jay
Mr. Farley
Ernesto Morelli
Italian Fisherman
Jack Mather
Officer

Critic Reviews for The Deadly Mantis (The Giant Mantis)(The Incredible Praying Mantis)

All Critics (9) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (6) | DVD (3)

Very '50s sci-fi with giant insect on the climb, and typically fun overall.

January 1, 2008 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Fun entry into the giant bug movies of the 1950s

March 19, 2004 Comment

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

An affront to the grace and dignity of giant bug movies.

December 4, 2002 Comment

Rob Vaux

Flipside Movie Emporium

One of Universal-International cheapie '50s bug movies. Bring on the DDT.

September 8, 2002 Comment

Bob Bloom

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

The military use smoke and chemical bombs (maybe they contained Raid) to kill it, as the film mercifully ends.

August 31, 2001 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for The Deadly Mantis (The Giant Mantis)(The Incredible Praying Mantis)

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If you don't believe the Incredible Truth movie when they say the ice caps are melting, maybe this movie will make you think twice? Who wants a giant praying Mantis running around? This movie is silly, but it's got cool special effects and the story's not bad.

September 5, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

Seismic activity in the southern hemisphere triggers vibrations at the arctic icecap, releasing a gigantic mantis religiosa that was frozen in the ice some 15 million years earlier. Pissed off and hungry, the enormous insect migrates south, taking out arctic radar stations, airplanes and even Eskimos along the way.

January 21, 2009