The Deadly Mantis (1952) starring Craig Stevens, Alix Talton, William Hopper
Synopsis of The Deadly Mantis
Review of The Deadly Mantis
It’s not a bad film at all, but it’s also not a classic like either of those. The pace is slower, and the movie is presented almost in a documentary style. The acting is fine, including William Hopper–best known for his role of Paul Drake on TV’s Perry Mason–but there’s little for them to work with.
Editorial review of The Deadly Mantis (1957), courtesy of Amazon.com
Movie quotes from The Deadly Mantis
[a volcano near Antarctic erupts, causing an ice flow in the Arctic, which releases the Deadly Mantis]
Opening Narration: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Col. Joe Parkman: Maybe there’s an ordinary explanation to what happened, but I wouldn’t take any bets.
Dr. Ned Jackson: In all the kingdom of the living, there is no more deadly or voracious creature than the Preying Mantis.
Dr. Ned Jackson: I’m convinced that we’re dealing with a Mantis in whose geological world the smallest insects were as large as man, and now failing to find those insects as food, well … it’s doing the best that it can.
[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.
bus passenger: [Exiting bus in fog] You know, it’s good to get home safely with all the strange things going around here.
bus driver: Oh, there’s nothing to worry about, ma’am. You just be careful out there in that fog!
bus passenger: [Uncertainly] Thank you.