The Deadly Mantis is awesome. The story and dialogue are quite good—more sophisticated than many monster films, in my opinion—and our good fellow isn't cheated on screen time in the slightest (unless you count the surplus stock footage, which, admittedly hogged more of the film than necessary). Two of my favourite scenes are A) the one with Dr. Ned Jackson (Hopper) trying to convince a fellow scientist and his lovely photographer pal Marge (Alix Talton) that the destruction and disappearances are being caused by a gargantuan, ice-age insect; and B) Ned, Marge, and Joe in Ned's office in the arctic, about to be set upon by the mantis. Incidentally, Joe—Col. Joe Parkman—is played by Craig Stevens, who reminds me quite forcefully of Raymond Burr in appearance and demeanour, and, was best known for playing Peter Gunn in the 1958-1961 television series.



CAPTURES TO COME