The Deadly Mantis (The Giant Mantis)(The Incredible Praying Mantis) (1957)
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38% of critics liked it
(8 reviews) -
31% of users liked it
(738 ratings)
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… More 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 bombarded with poison gas (a little Raid or Black Flag might have come in handy). Some of the Arctic scenes in The Deadly Mantis were clumsily culled from the 1933 drama SOS Iceberg and a handful of Air Force training films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Nathan Juran
- Genres
- Horror, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- In Theaters
- May 1, 1957 Wide
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Very '50s sci-fi with giant insect on the climb, and typically fun overall.
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Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Fun entry into the giant bug movies of the 1950s
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Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
An affront to the grace and dignity of giant bug movies.
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Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
One of Universal-International cheapie '50s bug movies. Bring on the DDT.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Having already been through ants, grasshoppers and spiders, the giant bug movie was clearly running the risk of making the entire sci-fi subgenre unbelievable.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Craig Stevens
as Col. Joe Parkman
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William Hopper
as Dr. Ned Jackson
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Alix Talton
as Marge Blaine
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Don Randolph
as Gen. Mark Ford
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Patrick Conway
as Sgt. Pete Allen
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Florenz Ames
as Prof. Anton Gunther
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Paul L. Smith
as Corporal
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Phil Harvey
as Lou
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Floyd Simmons
as Army Sergeant
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Paul Campbell (IV)
as Lt. Fred Pizar
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William Anders
as Sergeant
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William A. Forester
as Announcer
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Tom Greenway
as Second Reporter
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Jess Kirkpatrick
as Father
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James Lanphier
as Col. Hervey
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George Lynn
as Bus Driver
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David McMahon
as Capt. Frank Carver
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Skipper McNally
as Policeman
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Dick Paxton
as Plotter
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Bing Russell
as Trouper
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Harry Tyler
as Spectator
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Sumner Williams
as Pilot
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John Close
as Engineer
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Helen Jay
as Mr. Farley
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Ernesto Morelli
as Italian Fisherman
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Jack Mather
as Officer
