The Deadly Mantis (1957) / Tarantula (1955) - Scream Factory, 3/19/19

[bruce holecheck]

Tarantula Blu-ray

The Deadly Mantis Blu-ray

Nathan H. Juran's THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957) and Jack Arnold's TARANTULA (1955) on the way this March:

We’re being attacked by giant insects next Spring as the 1950s cult favorites TARANTULA and THE DEADLY MANTIS both scuttle to Blu-ray on March 19th!

"Highly enjoyable, with enough drama and suspense to keep you interested from start to finish ... one of the better monster movies from the 1950s." – The Telltale Mind

What's worse than a horde of locusts? A gigantic man-eating praying mantis, released from a million years of deep, frozen sleep and ready to claw its way to world domination!

This menacing insect kills everything in its path while scientists and military men work feverishly to stop it. Craig Stevens (Abbott And Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde) stars as the commander in charge of putting an end to this beastly insect with William Hopper (20 Million Miles To Earth) as the paleontologist and Alix Talton (The Man Who Knew Too Much) as his beautiful assistant, a photojournalist, assigned to help in this epic battle between man and mantis!

https://www.shoutfactory.com/product...roduct_id=7007

"One of the best giant-insect films, with fast pacing, convincing special effects, and interesting subplot ... " – Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide

Biochemist Gerald Deemer (Leo G. Carroll, North by Northwest) has a plan to feed the world by using a growth formula on plants and animals. Instead he creates terror beyond imagining when his work spawns a spider of mammoth proportions!

Feeding on cattle and humans, this towering tarantula has the people of Desert Rock, Arizona running for their lives. Can this horrifying creature be stopped or will the world succumb to its giant claws? This classic sci-fi film from director Jack Arnold (Creature From The Black Lagoon, It Came From Outer Space) stars John Agar (The Mole People, Attack Of The Puppet People) and Mara Corday (The Black Scorpion, The Giant Claw) and features a cameo by Clint Eastwood as a jet squadron leader!

https://www.shoutfactory.com/product...roduct_id=7006

Extras on both are in progress and will be announced on a later date.

[canucksam]

I clearly remember The Deadly Mantis from when I first saw it when I was about 8 years old. I do have a copy on DVD, but it looks like time for an upgrade. GREAT movie from the 50s.

Was going to ask about extras, but I see more news coming about extras as the news becomes available.

[MJD64]

Nice! Two 1950's Universal giant monster Sci-Fi classics hittin' Blu! TARANTULA is another lauded triumph from director Jack Arnold, but I have a particular soft-spot for THE DEADLY MANTIS (I owned a Super 8 200' sound version of it as a kid). Whether scaling the Washington Monument or knocking over a Tonka Toy bus, this one is a personal giant insect favorite!

I feel like an announcement for THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN on Blu can't be too far off now...

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Think they'll add the MST3k episodes as special features? Like with the Brain That Wouldn't Die release? I'll get these if they do.

[The Great Owl]

Excellent announcements. I love ‘em both.

[lilboyblu]

Glad to see more of these coming soon.

Now bring on Monster on the Campus!

[gates70]

Both will be mine!

[cakefactory]

When I saw the thread title, I thought it was a double feature. I guess this will depend on the price. If they're both 27.99, forget it.

I thought they already had some extras relating to the deadly mantis on the MST3K disc? I can't remember. Some of those sets had some decent extras.

[JMDiaz718]

Definitely in for both titles! Childhood favorites. Now bring on Incredible Shrinking Man and The Day of the Triffids!!

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by JMDiaz718

Definitely in for both titles! Childhood favorites. Now bring on Incredible Shrinking Man and The Day of the Triffids!!

I thought there was some issue with Day of the Triffids with the rights-holder restoring it himself and then wanting way more money than he could get (much like Dawn of the Dead). I thought that went back to the DVD era, even. Too bad he held out for so long, at this point he'd get a pittance compared to what he'd have made back in peak DVD days.

IIRC there were some trashy DVDs released that must have been without his approval, or something.

(I remember reading this like 10 years ago so my memory's probably wrong or things changed)

Arrow has a release of Incredible Shrinking Man already, maybe they'll be able to release it here?

[George Hargensen]

YESSSSSS!!!!! Tarantula & The Deadly Mantis!!!! DAY ONE PURCHASE FOR ME!!!
Finally Universal's 50s sci fi/horror classics are coming to BluRay... and luckily,not from Universal itself.
Now keep'em coming,Shout! ... The Leech Woman,Monster on the Campus,The Monolith Monsters,The Incredible Shrinking Man,Cult of the Cobra,The Thing that couldn't die,Curse of the Undead....
AWESOME NEWS!!!!

[JMDiaz718]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I thought there was some issue with Day of the Triffids with the rights-holder restoring it himself and then wanting way more money than he could get (much like Dawn of the Dead). I thought that went back to the DVD era, even. Too bad he held out for so long, at this point he'd get a pittance compared to what he'd have made back in peak DVD days.

IIRC there were some trashy DVDs released that must have been without his approval, or something.

(I remember reading this like 10 years ago so my memory's probably wrong or things changed)

Arrow has a release of Incredible Shrinking Man already, maybe they'll be able to release it here?

I read that this person had transferred the restored movie to HD. There were rumors that blu-rays were being pressed. Not sure how true any of it was. I do remember missing out on a screening of the restored movie, about 9 years ago, at Lincoln Center. Would have loved to have seen this on the big screen.

Yes, this person was stupid for playing hardball. How he wound up, with the ONLY print of this classic, is a mystery. No one else on the planet has a print? I thought this movie had fallen in the public domain arena?

[Mose Harper]

Nice jacket art!

For several years now I've owned the German release of Tarantula (and I still haven't watched yet), but I'll be picking up Deadly Mantis at some point.

I'm honestly surprised that when these have finally gotten released domestically, the retail cost I'll pay will end up being even more than when I had to import them with international shipping. That's a sad state of affairs.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by Mose Harper

Nice jacket art!

For several years now I've owned the German release of Tarantula (and I still haven't watched yet), but I'll be picking up Deadly Mantis at some point.

I'm honestly surprised that when these have finally gotten released domestically, the retail cost I'll pay will end up being even more than when I had to import them with international shipping. That's a sad state of affairs.

Yep, not just that but buying only one of them on Blu ray will cost more than what i paid for all 10 universal scifi movies back in the day (and what a great set that was!). I can't justify paying this much. Maybe Deadly Mantis since i'm obsessed with that one (so good) but even then it looks very good on dvd. I wish Universal had released them themselves. It would look as good if not better and would be affordable.

[Raven_Sky]

Amazing news, cant hardly wait for release

[DenOfEarth]

FINALLY! i enjoyed these since i saw them on TNT in the early 90s as a kid.

I hope they have the MST3K version included with Deadly Mantis.

[monwobbbo]

DEADLY MANTIS i'll end up getting as i really like that one. Tarantula is ok but unless i can get it a fair bit cheaper i'll pass and watch my DVD if the mood strikes me. although i'm glad that the Universal 50s Sci-Fi titles are coming to blu i am in the wish it was an affordable set rather than individual releases camp.

[AKORIS]

Color me impressed!! I knew there were some Universal announcements from the old Sc-fi boxed sets coming......but never thought it would be these!

This is Grade A "B-grade" releases

Tarantula! has been on my want list for a very long time... drop those bombs Mr. Eastwood!

[gpn]

Hopefully they get Tom Weaver to do commentaries for these, along with any other 50s Universals they have.

[horroru]

I'm in for these as well, staples of my childhood watching "Creature Double Feature" and "Chiller."
I have the Arrow Incredible Shrinking Man and it's excellent, would be great if they released it over here for those who aren't All Region.