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Post by petrolino on Jun 17, 2017 21:53:24 GMT
'The Deadly Mantis' brings together some of the United States of America's greatest brains when a giant prehistoric mantis is reanimated by a volcanic eruption melting polar ice caps. Colonel Joe Parkman (Craig Stevens) works alongside General Mark Ford (Donald Randolph), Sergeant Pete Allen (Pat Conway), Doctor Nedrick Jackson (William Hopper) and Professor Anton Gunther (Florenz Ames) to bring down the marauding megabug. Assisiting Joe is photojournalist Marge Blaine (Alix Talton), editor for the official magazine of the Museum of Natural History. "Hey, well, we have a little joke up here, the boys say there's a girl behind every tree. Only try and find a tree."
Malaysian Orchid Mantis
Thai Orchid Mantis
'The Deadly Mantis' is scripted by Martin Berkeley who'd become known as the House of Un-American Activities Committee's number one friendly witness when testifying earlier in the decade (some commentators estimate he gave up as many as 155 names of alleged communists, even trying to turn in Dorothy Parker). The story tackles the red scare through sonic innovation and radar capability, the U S army coming into conflict with a hostile alien presence. Sometimes, the female mantis eats the male during intercourse, making her one of nature's deadliest femme fatales. In addition to sexual cannibalism, mantis' are famous for their extraordinary hunting abilities and aggressive mimicry. In this terrifying creature feature from director Nathan Juran, the mantis is hellbent on destruction. Indonesian Orchid Mantis
Chinese Mantis
"Death by cannibalism might seem like a high price to pay for a fleeting moment of passion, but male praying mantises are doing it for the kids, new research suggests. Scientists have discovered that female praying mantises who eat their mates after sex produce a greater number of eggs than those who do not, with the bodies of the ill-fated males used to aid their production. If the species of praying mantises known to exhibit sexual cannibalism it is estimated up to 28% of males are eaten by their partner."
- Nicola Davis, The Guardian
“There is an obvious cost – you are dead, you have lost all future mating possibilities. We measure costs and benefit in terms of offspring production. The male praying mantis of this species (Tenodera sinensis) is probably the largest potential prey item out there for the female. So the female is seeing the male as a source of nutrition.”
- William Brown (of the State University of New York at Fredonia)
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Post by teleadm on Jun 17, 2017 22:36:17 GMT
I haven't seen this movie so I won't judge it.
I remember it as there was something called 8mm projectors back then, in the late 1960's early 1970's the closest thing that I can think of that is like Youtube today, highlights from movies with no sound. One of my school buddies had this on a 8 mm home movie (he never passed the age of 50), and those 9 to 11 minutes we were in movie magic.
The story you tell remind me of Harryhausen's The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms 1953 and Them 1954.
Craig Stevens (1918–2000), he was one hell of a cool actor who never became the big star that he should have been, he could menacing, gentlemanny and humourusly sarcatsic at the same time, as seen in Buchanan Rides Alone 1958. and offcourse Peter Gunn serial.
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Post by Doghouse6 on Jun 18, 2017 0:11:33 GMT
Love the photos and the story. It brings back so many memories of my childhood when I saw so many films like that. As an entomophobic of the first order, those photos gave me the shakes. I don't recall The Deadly Mantis well, but if memory serves, it was among that crop of films employing patently phony creatures (like Them), so I had no problem watching, uh, them. I will say this about mantises: for insects, they display an unusual amount of personality. Although since moving from California to the Inland Northwest 10 years ago, I've become acquainted with some little critters no more than 3/8 of an inch in length called boxelder bugs, which proliferate in the warm months and are the most docile of insects; so much so that they're almost endearing. In spite of my phobia, I won't kill any six-or-eight-legged creature I find in the house, preferring to trap them in a plastic cup and escort them outside for release. Those boxelders are so cooperative that when you see one walking across the floor or up a wall, I just put the cup in front of them and they walk right in; I don't even have to cover the cup to keep them from escaping as I head for the door, as is necessary with other buggy invaders. If they happened to be the size of a mantis, however, I confess I'd feel entirely different about them. Thanks goodness for small favors (and smaller bugs). |
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Post by petrolino on Jun 18, 2017 0:14:59 GMT
I haven't seen this movie so I won't judge it. I remember it as there was something called 8mm projectors back then, in the late 1960's early 1970's the closest thing that I can think of that is like Youtube today, highlights from movies with no sound. One of my school buddies had this on a 8 mm home movie (he never passed the age of 50), and those 9 to 11 minutes we were in movie magic. The story you tell remind me of Harryhausen's The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms 1953 and Them 1954. Craig Stevens (1918–2000), he was one hell of a cool actor who never became the big star that he should have been, he could menacing, gentlemanny and humourusly sarcatsic at the same time, as seen in Buchanan Rides Alone 1958. and offcourse Peter Gunn serial. 'Them' is my favourite big bug movie. It's a good comparison, I think, as is 'The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms' for its atomic testing and arctic shake. Another '50s movie it has some commonalities with is 'The Thing From Another World' (1951). |
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Post by petrolino on Jun 18, 2017 0:21:56 GMT
Love the photos and the story. It brings back so many memories of my childhood when I saw so many films like that. As an entomophobic of the first order, those photos gave me the shakes. I don't recall The Deadly Mantis well, but if memory serves, it was among that crop of films employing patently phony creatures (like Them), so I had no problem watching, uh, them. I will say this about mantises: for insects, they display an unusual amount of personality. Although since moving from California to the Inland Northwest 10 years ago, I've become acquainted with some little critters no more than 3/8 of an inch in length called boxelder bugs, which proliferate in the warm months and are the most docile of insects; so much so that they're almost endearing. In spite of my phobia, I won't kill any six-or-eight-legged creature I find in the house, preferring to trap them in a plastic cup and escort them outside for release. Those boxelders are so cooperative that when you see one walking across the floor or up a wall, I just put the cup in front of them and they walk right in; I don't even have to cover the cup to keep them from escaping as I head for the door, as is necessary with other buggy invaders. If they happened to be the size of a mantis, however, I confess I'd feel entirely different about them. Thanks goodness for small favors (and smaller bugs). I like bugs but I prefer to keep a safe distance if possible. The only time they tend to freak me out is when I don't see them coming. Like when a spider appears out of nowhere. Like you, I try not to kill any bugs if I can help it, preferring to employ a cup strategy if necessary, or simply to shepherd them to outdoor safety. I love seeing bugs in movies and documentaries; my favourite film director, Luis Bunuel, was an entomologist who was fascinated by insect forms. I googled boxelders and read that they enjoy sunbathing. Not sure if we have any here in U K but they remind me a little bit of the stag beetles and churchyard beetles who live here. |
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Post by Doghouse6 on Jun 18, 2017 2:04:07 GMT
I googled boxelders and read that they enjoy sunbathing. Not sure if we have any here in U K but they remind me a little bit of the stag beetles and churchyard beetles who live here. Oh yes, they love warm places. As the cooler weather sets in during autumn, and before they disappear for the winter, opening drapes or blinds reveals dozens of them clinging to the outside of the windowpanes to absorb whatever warmth they can. Another charming quirk is their habit of walking around while engaged in what I presume to be sex. You'll see a pair of them meandering around the porch while hooked up end-to-end like a Vauxhall towing a caravan. |
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Post by Doghouse6 on Jun 18, 2017 2:18:13 GMT
Oh, Doghouse, I'm the same! I do this with every critter, including boxelders. When I lived in the country, I carried scorpions (the small kind) in a glass more than once out to the front yard. And one time even did it with a big, beautiful tarantulla I found in my living room when I left the back door open and it came in. Can't bring myself to kill anything unless it's unavoidable. With the mantis, I'd just pick it up in my hand and carry it out. They are all holy to me - except maybe for indoor cockroaches. The outdoor cockroaches are fine, and they live for three years! Well, good for us! I figure any creatures have the right to live no matter how distasteful I may find them, and I'm not about to presume to decide otherwise. I'm happy to say this isn't a very buggy region, to all appearances: other than the odd spider here or there, dragonflies on summer evenings or occasional wasps or bees, the boxelders are what we see most of, and they're the most inoffensive of creepy-crawlies. I'm even happier to say I haven't seen a cockroach since I left California. |
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