The Deadly Mantis 1957

A giant prehistoric praying mantis, recently freed from the Arctic ice, voraciously preys on American military at the DEW Line and works its way south.

The Cast

Craig Stevens-Col. Joe Parkman
William Hopper-Dr. Nedrick Jackson
Alix Talton-Marge Blaine
Donald Randolph-Maj. Gen. Mark Ford
Pat Conway-Sgt. Pete Allen
Florenz Ames-Prof. Anton Gunther
Paul Smith-Corporal
Phil Harvey-Lou

The Director: Nathan Juran
The Writers: Martin Berkeley, William Alland
Music by: Irving Gertz ,William Lava
Certificate : X

Film Trivia

During the movie, the Air Force sends out a message to members of the Ground Observer Corps asking for help in spotting the mantis. This was a real group that existed at least since World War Two. It was comprised of regular citizens who received basic training in spotting and identifying aircraft, but was discontinued in 1959.
Alix Talton (who resembled Della Street in this movie) was reunited with William Hopper the following year 1958 on the Perry Mason TV series episode 'The Case of the Long-Legged Models' in the role of Eva Elliot.
The footage showing the Eskimos fleeing from the mantis is actually from S.O.S. Eisberg (1933).
Originally released on a double bill with The Girl in the Kremlin (1957).
The first stock footage of the aircraft carrier is the USS Antietam, CV-36, the first US carrier with an angled deck. The operations clip is of the CV-34 USS Oriskany. They were both Essex-class carriers and most ships in this class received the SCB-125 upgrade, which installed the angled deck; however, the USS Oriskany was the LAST ship in this class to get the new deck. The take-off scene was from the deck of the USS Philippine Sea CV-47. The USS Oriskany (CV-34) was scuttled as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico (May 2006).
Two actors went on to become well known TV Detectives. Craig Stevens became Peter Gunn, while William Hopper became Paul Drake
Universal Pictures production number 1830.