Dumb Bug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why The Hell Is It Leaving New York City For New Jersey????????????????????????????

                                     This is one of the many hilarious things about Universal's 1957 giant monster movie, "The Deadly Mantis," shown last Saturday on "Svengoolie."  The monster is apprehended in the Holland Tunnel, while trying to escape the bright lights of NYC for the Garden State of Jersey!  Why? I mean, I was raised in that state, and if there was not much there for me, there certainly isn't much for a gigantic praying mantis.

                                       Now, earlier, I said I would reveal how the mantis was accomplished.  It was done in three ways.  The first, and most impressive, was that a 200-foot Papier Mache mantis was built for some scenes.  In others, like when it pops up from the snow crevice, a puppet was used.  And, in the sequence where it is scaling the Washington Monument, a real praying mantis was placed on a miniature monument.

                                         And here is another thing.  I thought it was "preyiing mantis," when it is actually "praying mantis."  Why?  Is the bug Catholic???????????

                                            Another thing to note--the plot sets up William Hopper to be the romantic interest of Alix Talton as Marge, the magazine editor, but she ends up two-timing him for Craig Stevens. Also, Paul Smith's performance as an overtly horny hetero Corporal, livens things up.

                                              All told, though, the mantis steals the show.  And it turned out to be the highlight of the evening.

                                          Because the film Sventoonie chose to deconstruct this past week was one we never heard of or wanted to again.  This was a 1973 film, "The Werewolf Of Washington," where Dean Stockwell--thirteen years before "Blue Velvet"-- plays a presidential cabinet adviser who becomes a werewolf.  It borrows heavily from Universal's 1941 classic, "The Wolf Man," and is as cheesy as hell.  Though the make-up is pretty good.  But, after "The Deadly Mantis," something better than this was deserved.  Oh, well, at least lovable Blob E. Blob was there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             But, girls, if you missed it, you just HAVE to see "The Deadly Mantis."

                                         Poor, lonely little Deadly Mantis Doll.  Won't you take him home, and give him some love?????????????????????????