THE DEADLY MANTIS / Universal International Pictures - 1957

It's Monster Redo Monday with Tabonga, here at The Dungeon!.. In the fifties, Universal pretty much led the way into the atomic age with some of their big bug movies like this one and TARANTULA, both of which, again, I was lucky enough to see at the theater at the time!

Eegah!! sent over a musical soundclip from the flick, sooooo, you can push the big red 'GO' button there next to the atomic ant farm, NOW, Ralphie The Tarantula! Here's our audio offering for... THE DEADLY MANTIS!

Here's an interesting shot of the different radar networks in use at the time, to warn of a nuclear attack from Russia, for real. I vividly remember numerous squadron formations of low flying B-36's around 1952, patrolling up and down the west coast on their way to the arctic and back! Pretty amazing for a little kid to see.

Craig Stevens plays Colonel Parkman, he's found this odd looking thing at an outpost where there was total destruction. Now, the military has the fun job of identifying it... "Hmmm, looks like some kind of chocolate nuget.. Sanderson, get yer ass over here and taste this!"

If a real I-Phone person of today were to be sent back to this time, they would probably flip out and commit suicide!

Is this a freakin' teriffic shot or what?!..

This is the scene where the boys put a 45 on the phonograph and start swinging out to the tune, that is, until sultry Alix Talton enters the room. Then, Mr. Obnoxious (with pool cue) opens his big yap, as heard in the soundclip.

The Deadly Mantis gets a face full o' fire!

The Colonel goes on TV where he explains the scale of the monster to the public!

I lived in the town where this bus driver mysteriously disappears in the fog!

There are some really nice visuals in this movie.

A single fighter pilot finally brings down the mighty menace!

The Colonel shows up to take charge of the situation, the big bug's wounded and has taken refuge in the Manhattan Tunnel.

It wasn't his fault!..