DEADLY MANTIS REFERENCE PHOTOS

Movie poster art by Reynold Brown.

The photographs shown here today offer a rare and unique look behind the scenes of a 50s "giant bug" movie. The model-making and special effects of Universal's THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957) were shared between Cleo E. Baker (1895-1984), who had built miniatures for earlier monster movies including FRANKENSTEIN (1931), BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) and THE INVISIBLE RAY (1936), and Fred Knoth (1907-1976), who worked on films that included ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (1957).

The first photo shows the miniature mantis model supported by a stand. The subsequent photos show how the model was incorporated into the staging of film shots for the movie that turned it from a miniature to a giant monster!

The Deadly Mantis (Universal International, 1957). Reference Photos (5) (8" X 10").
Vintage gelatin silver, single weight, glossy photos. "Ready for My Closeup, Mr. Juran." This unique lot of "reference photos" displays some very interesting insights as to how small models were used in the creation of this fun big-bug classic sci-fi from the late 1950s. Note the small model of the mantis affixed to a platform for close-ups, and in the next shot, how the close-up shot would actually be framed to exclude the platform. The next three shots show a progression of pre-production planning with toy models through to the integrated shot using actual wrecked cars and a background overlay of the mantis. Great group of rare photos, which would have been produced in only a few copies. Only one has a slight discoloration and a small crease in the lower left border. Very Fine+.

BONUS: See the Crestwood House adaptation of THE DEADLY MANTIS in an earlier MMW post HERE.

EXTRA: THE DEADLY MANTIS lobby card set.

CRESTWOOD'S 'THE DEADLY MANTIS' (PART 2)

 

 

 

 

CRESTWOOD'S 'THE DEADLY MANTIS' (PART 1)

I spent my Jr. and Sr. High School years living in the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of L.A. We lived at the far west end (Vanowen St. and Valley Circle Blvd. for those who know that location) and it seemed like it was on the edge of the civilized world in the late 60s. Now of course, the fields and hills that we spent countless hours in have been stripped away and homes litter the once natural landscape.

The Valley is a desert, environment wise. It gets up to the 100s during the summer (I remember it once being 116 degrees) and freezes (and sometimes even a snowflake or two will fall) frequently in the winter. As a result, the types of critters that flourish in this environment are abundant.

One of the more interesting insects that were common in our backyard garden were the Praying Mantis. They got their name from raising their forelegs into what looks like a praying position. They could also have been just as easily called "Preying Mantis", because often I would see two of them battling it out for either territory or a mate.

They were weird looking and fascinating at the same time. It is no wonder that they were the subject of a "Giant Bug" movie in the 1950s. THE DEADLY MANTIS was released by Universal in 1957, that bumper crop year of sci-fi movies.

Thirty-five years later, Crestwood House adapted it for one of their "scholastic" monster series of picture book adaptations. Written by Ian Thorne, the text is based on the screenplay by Martin Berkeley. Let's step back into the past and give it a read, shall we?