I think there's another version of the film, with Jane Seymore in the lead role. She plays a con woman going after rich men, pretending to be a writer to attract his attention, etc. She tricked him and his sister and fooled everyone to have him to herself after he proposed. She also tried to poison his only son. Almost got away with it. Very similar story line and plot! Can't remember the title...
Wow! I haven't had a TV in my house since 1985, and it's really nice to find good stuff that I missed through the years trying to avoid the trash. This is a good one!!! Thanks!
Referring to your not having a TV since 1985. (For me it's 2016)So are you a bookworm or was it that you've had a computer at home from way back, or perhaps a combination of the two? I have a book shelf overly stacked, these days my reading is far more digital. Both television/internet are full of 'trash'. We have to be very selective with our choices, in everything. Be that cinema to people, reading, choice of friends or associates, the jobs we take, the investments we make for ourselves & our family.
TV-less since 85? well dunn. you didnt miss a thing! Infact youre probably one of the small number of folks alive today whose mind is intact, having avoided the destructive annihilation of the medium
Wow. I’m impressed . I haven’t got tv since 2010 when I moved to a house without an aerial and learned to live without the silly box . Best thing that happened to me for many years because many strings were cut ….
Wow, I clearly remember this being on the TV in the mid 80's, I had my first house, and C4 had not long been launched, this is one of the first major dramas they televised, will hopefully enjoy rewatching it now, thanks for posting.
Thank you so much for this gem! I saw it when it originally aired on PBS and loved it. Fortunate enough to have a copy of the book I found in a used bookstore!
@@cathykinn4516 It''s really interesting. Thin volume, written is diary form, so an easy read. story is very similar, but the movie is definitely better.
This was an unexpected blast from the past! Long forgotten this, but it brings back wonderful memories of my youth. Jonathan Pryce always added value to anything he was in.
Delicious battle of wills between 2 very different females. Once this Film on 4 is seen it's never forgotten, the music is perfect too with it's different moods. Jack Gold directed 'The Naked Civil Servant' as well.
I do vaguely remember seeing this at the time but can’t remember all of the storyline so I’m thoroughly enjoying watching it. Many thanks for the upload.
I met the actor Johnathan Pryce at an art exhibition in 2014 and asked him why this series wasn't on dvd as it was the first grown-up tv I had watched. He gave me the strangest look as though he didn't care for his earlier work.
Actors can be so snobbish about the work that isn't 'Art'. Colin Firth & Mr Darcy being a perfect example, he dismissed that role but what has he done since? Cherie Lunghi seems more happy to do TV, the Entertainment Shows, even 'Watercolour Challenge'!
He's been in so many things, it's possible he doesn't remember being in it, thus didn't know what you were talking about. This is from way back in 82 isn't it?
I don't think the look he gave you had anything to do with his opinion about his early work. He was probably insulted that anyone would bother him with a technical issue. Actors are often full of themselves.
This made such an impression on me when I first saw it. I think I must have had a thing for older women as Carmen du Sautoy's femme fatale was etched on my mind.
They didn't subject us to all these banging and whooshing sounds throughout the film, or the "helicopter blade" sound effects copied by almost every filmmaker now. But we get a different kind of annoying, repetitive music, as I hear now. Although it's not too much of it in the first five minutes. Hope it stays like this. I suppose, I can't complain about a free film.😊
This was a showcase broadcast at the commencement of Channel 4 in the UK in November 1982. You can see this anticipated in the Channel 4 launch preview videos.
Cherie Lunghi, smiling, could announce the end of the world and people would applaud...but...Stan Freburg's 'clink, clink jazz' of the piano soundtrack is grating.
Poppycock sexist remark. You conveniently repress the fact that its men that kill their partners 99.9 percent of the time and not the other way around. Yes, there are women who kill their partners, but you're implying that they're in the majority.
At 24:28 "You're very sweet. And kind. Let's do it on the handy desk here". Talking of desks (I was) it's a tad odd at 41:10 that his parents can't afford a little dining table or coffee table like Her Majesty The Queen had. They don't look especially hard up like we certainly were in East Acton Shepherd's Bush 70 years ago.
Praying Mantis (TV Movie 1982) / 7.3 A middle-aged professor's young bride and his assistant plan to commit a double murder disguised as a "Crime Passionel", but discover too late that one of their intended victims has become a fellow conspirator.
The little brunette secretary bears some facial similarities to Brigitte Bardot, in the general, overall face shape, smile and certain expressions. No one will match BB, but there is still i that perkiness of her smile complemented by the look in her eyes does resemble BB to a certain extent.
Cherry lungi a real honey then and still a good looking quality woman .I had a secretary as efficient as this..... alas she weighed more than a steam locomotive fully loaded with coal.
No, I swear there’s a “Praying Mantis” where a man and wife drive off together. There’s an accident where the man gets trapped under the car and the bride facesits him to death
This movie title has been used literally countless of times and although the book, which is the source for this GREAT double-cross thriller, has only been put on film once (this adaption), similar plots have been used several times ...
I never get phased by any so called celebrities..just remember they have skid marks on their underpants just like you and if they have diarrhea they suffer the same as you...remember this tip.
I think there's another version of the film, with Jane Seymore in the lead role. She plays a con woman going after rich men, pretending to be a writer to attract his attention, etc. She tricked him and his sister and fooled everyone to have him to herself after he proposed. She also tried to poison his only son. Almost got away with it. Very similar story line and plot! Can't remember the title...
Wow! I haven't had a TV in my house since 1985, and it's really nice to find good stuff that I missed through the years trying to avoid the trash. This is a good one!!! Thanks!
Referring to your not having a TV since 1985. (For me it's 2016)So are you a bookworm or was it that you've had a computer at home from way back, or perhaps a combination of the two? I have a book shelf overly stacked, these days my reading is far more digital. Both television/internet are full of 'trash'. We have to be very selective with our choices, in everything. Be that cinema to people, reading, choice of friends or associates, the jobs we take, the investments we make for ourselves & our family.
@@HookBeak_66 books. Loads of books
TV-less since 85? well dunn. you didnt miss a thing!
Infact youre probably one of the small number of folks alive today whose mind is intact, having avoided the destructive annihilation of the medium
@@randomtux1234 everyone tells me that but they all still have them.
Wow. I’m impressed . I haven’t got tv since 2010 when I moved to a house without an aerial and learned to live without the silly box . Best thing that happened to me for many years because many strings were cut ….
Brilliantly acted. Well worth the time.
This is absolutely brilliant! What a cast.
only halfway thru it, and it is already 90% better than 90% of what hollywood/bollywood could ever muster
Wow, I clearly remember this being on the TV in the mid 80's, I had my first house, and C4 had not long been launched, this is one of the first major dramas they televised, will hopefully enjoy rewatching it now, thanks for posting.
AMAZING the best drama I’ve seen in years! Too good to watch in one go - will see part two tomorrow!
Really enjoyed this.Great British Actors.I was 27 in 1982 in NZ never seen this before 😊
Loved the movie. The music was excellent. Very interesting! 👍
Thank you so much for this gem! I saw it when it originally aired on PBS and loved it. Fortunate enough to have a copy of the book I found in a used bookstore!
How different is the book?
Is the book as good as this?
Carmen movies.
@@cathykinn4516 It''s really interesting. Thin volume, written is diary form, so an easy read. story is very similar, but the movie is definitely better.
@@4Topwood Not really, but worth reading if you can find it. The Praying Mantises by Hubert Monteilhet
This was an unexpected blast from the past! Long forgotten this, but it brings back wonderful memories of my youth. Jonathan Pryce always added value to anything he was in.
So much better than the remake. These characters and depth.
So did Cherie Lunghi!!
I have been looking for this for years and right under my nose.thank you so much for uploading it.a real pleasure x
'71-'72 and '81--'82 had such great films like this.
Thanks for the upload. I have been looking for this movie for years. An absolute gem!
Thank you for posting this gem!
Juicy little show. Hard to find original content, this is a gem.
So happy to see this again!
I love this - great 2 get the chance to see it again
Perhaps the most misanthropic tv ever produced
This was so hard to find and fix the format. That's why I wanted to share it with everyone.
I remember watching this back in the day and it was really good. I haven’t seen it since so am settling down to watch it. Thanks for sharing😊
@@davidsutcliffe8348 There's a lot of competition in fairness.
Delicious battle of wills between 2 very different females. Once this Film on 4 is seen it's never forgotten, the music is perfect too with it's different moods. Jack Gold directed 'The Naked Civil Servant' as well.
Film4 & Chn4 was so watchable before it slid into the mediocre mud bath where it now resides.
I do vaguely remember seeing this at the time but can’t remember all of the storyline so I’m thoroughly enjoying watching it. Many thanks for the upload.
Seen this scenario many times over the years, but this is a fantastic rendition of it. Thank you for posting.
A little masterpiece in sarcasm and cynicism..... absolutely irresistible!!!!!!
thumbs up X13
Thank you so much for posting this. I saw this when I was a child and I never forgot it. I searched for it for quite a while.
I met the actor Johnathan Pryce at an art exhibition in 2014 and asked him why this series wasn't on dvd as it was the first grown-up tv I had watched. He gave me the strangest look as though he didn't care for his earlier work.
Maybe it wasn’t him lol
Actors can be so snobbish about the work that isn't 'Art'. Colin Firth & Mr Darcy being a perfect example, he dismissed that role but what has he done since? Cherie Lunghi seems more happy to do TV, the Entertainment Shows, even 'Watercolour Challenge'!
He's been in so many things, it's possible he doesn't remember being in it, thus didn't know what you were talking about. This is from way back in 82 isn't it?
@@djc836you were not worthy of having his answer; he has a reputation of being like that.
I don't think the look he gave you had anything to do with his opinion about his early work. He was probably insulted that anyone would bother him with a technical issue. Actors are often full of themselves.
GREAT! 👍👍👍
From a time when TV did still put out great entertainment fare.
The book from 1960 is a GREAT read as well! 👏👏
Who’d have thought I’d be rewatching this as a period piece in 2023.
Same here
the eye opener or wot lol
Hardly a period piece! It would be if it was the 16 or 17 hundred!
Absolutely riveting with such a super surprise finish 👏💕🤣... can't wait to watch second part
Presumably transferred from VHS so the quality is a surprise
Thank you Kittenpink!
This made such an impression on me when I first saw it. I think I must have had a thing for older women as Carmen du Sautoy's femme fatale was etched on my mind.
Thanks for uploading this. Been wanting to see it again for years. One of the fIrst film on CHANNEL 4 I think. Or at least a very early one.
🙂
13:08 Those were the days, when you could top yourself in the kitchen stove.
Not sure I can fully believe this actually happening
Sylvia plath sadly😢
Kept me ON TENDER HOOKS GOT TO SEE PART TWO PRAYING MANTIS TV series reminds me of the master of suspence Alfred Hitchcock films
How lovely is Carmen du Sautoy , she was delightful in the man with the golden gun
Just cannot beat the old stuff. Although the oven suicide made me giggle.
They didn't subject us to all these banging and whooshing sounds throughout the film, or the "helicopter blade" sound effects copied by almost every filmmaker now.
But we get a different kind of annoying, repetitive music, as I hear now. Although it's not too much of it in the first five minutes.
Hope it stays like this.
I suppose, I can't complain about a free film.😊
When they were searching for the ring my blood pressure must've risen to near fatal level😂
All too Sylvia
I reckon ted had a pinky in it
This was a showcase broadcast at the commencement of Channel 4 in the UK in November 1982. You can see this anticipated in the Channel 4 launch preview videos.
Cherie Lunghi, smiling, could announce the end of the world and people would applaud...but...Stan Freburg's 'clink, clink jazz' of the piano soundtrack is grating.
Fine to see Rouen in early 80's !
Outstanding cast, script and movie.
My gawd she's evil, I adore her 💞😍
4.30 Bloody Putin pops up everywhere 😬
That music at the beginning is enough to drive anyone away.
Everytime I make carmelitas I think of Carmen.
What great television!
Never a dull moment!
Carmen du Sautoy as Vera Canova steals the thunder ❤
How lovely is she , she was delightful in the man with the golden gun but too little screen time , its great to see her as main character
Excellent .
WOW brilliant 👏
I particularly like this ambiguous quote ' some get the mother-in-law's they deserve,
some deserve the ones they get '. 1:07:40
Discrete microphone on the bookshelf 😂😅😢.. .
Thankyou xx
Just like Eve "devoured" Adam, some things never change!
Poppycock sexist remark. You conveniently repress the fact that its men that kill their partners 99.9 percent of the time and not the other way around. Yes, there are women who kill their partners, but you're implying that they're in the majority.
At 24:28 "You're very sweet. And kind. Let's do it on the handy desk here". Talking of desks (I was) it's a tad odd at 41:10 that his parents can't afford a little dining table or coffee table like Her Majesty The Queen had. They don't look especially hard up like we certainly were in East Acton Shepherd's Bush 70 years ago.
Such treachery!!😂😂😂 definitely worth it.
Good one!
Excellent
Apparently, this movie was originally based on a book. I wonder if plot is the same?
A brief plot would be appreciated.
I found another Praying Mantis made in 1993. Must be the same.
The first part was brill. The 2nd part was all over the place-padding.
Wow, how easy he fell for another woman 😅
Good Old British thriller
Didn’t no putin was a actor 😂
Guess my ex is a preying mantis based on the very first line
The frequent discordant background music is very irritating
The special effects team for the monster was the same as the one who created Jeff Goldblums The Fly.
Praying Mantis (TV Movie 1982) / 7.3
A middle-aged professor's young bride and his assistant plan to commit a double murder disguised as a "Crime Passionel", but discover too late that one of their intended victims has become a fellow conspirator.
remember this well, very erotic for a young lad this was
The little brunette secretary bears some facial similarities to Brigitte Bardot, in the general, overall face shape, smile and certain expressions. No one will match BB, but there is still i that perkiness of her smile complemented by the look in her eyes does resemble BB to a certain extent.
No, there is no resemblance to Brigitte Bardot that I can see.
@@sharonthomas2841 It's there alright, but just flashes of resemblance.
She was like Helena bonham carter
Big 'snog' behind the arm! LOL PC via Mary Whitehouse!
I am finding the piano music really irritating
This movie depicts women as cunning, untruthful, cruel, and full of avarice.
Please say it ain t so.😄
Thatcher fitted that description, so the answer is - it is so.
Yes, this TV movie came before the *Red Pill* was a thing.
True female nature is far from gentle.
Well mannered threatening too
almost halfway through and gotta say the cc capture the character names as “you smell” and “a lot if money”. 😂
Cherry lungi a real honey then and still a good looking quality woman .I had a secretary as efficient as this..... alas she weighed more than a steam locomotive fully loaded with coal.
I'm on tender hooks got to see part two
Is the the one where a guy dies by Facesitting?
No, you're thinking of 'Mapp & Lucia' when the budgie its sat on by Mrs Wise. 😏
No, I swear there’s a “Praying Mantis” where a man and wife drive off together. There’s an accident where the man gets trapped under the car and the bride facesits him to death
This movie title has been used literally countless of times and although the book, which is the source for this GREAT double-cross thriller, has only been put on film once (this adaption), similar plots have been used several times ...
@@Michaeldemented94. Some men would enjoy that.
It's Mr Bean!
37:32 I wish she was mentioning my name, she is beautiful x
I enjoyed the story but am confused about the location. It appears to be somewhere in France but everyone speaks "British".
In and around Rouen
Awesome movie.
Pinkas Braun🇨🇭😀👍🏻
English Rose's with
THORN'S 👄🇬🇧🎬🤫
First day at work and flirting right away ?? Waaw
Carmen de Sautoy is super hot.
Guilty conscience eating away at you
I thought this was about the serial killer from the book 😢
Jonathan Pryce!
4:18 Vladimir Putin?
I guess no giant praying mantis? It’s just a metaphor? 😔ok…
2:57 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
That creepy older actor (“ Paul”) looks just like a bug.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🫶🏼🇨🇦
Have u told him yre pregnant
"Weird with a beard"
Don’t try to speak to actors, don’t even look at them in the street. Bernard Cribbins, Dudley Moore, Ben Elton et al. They don’t understand.
I never get phased by any so called celebrities..just remember they have skid marks on their underpants just like you and if they have diarrhea they suffer the same as you...remember this tip.
did i miss something,,,i never saw jane seymour in the movie
Not one single likeable character to make this an interesting story.
I concur.
Horrible music, good program
Stoner film
Could do without the monotonous piano music