In the stodgy eurothriller Praying Mantis (which is set mostly in the Normandy region of France) Professor Paul Canova (Jonathan Pryce) has recently remarried to the glamorous Vera (Carmen Du Sautoy) but he finds himself drawn into an affair with his new secretary Beatrice Manceau (Cherie Lunghi). However Beatrice has her own agenda and is also involved in a relationship with a friend of the professors called Christian Magny (Pinkas Braun). Things become decidedly murky when Beatrice learns of Christian’s plot with Vera to murder Paul and make it look like a crime of passion (for which you cannot be tried under French law). Soon Beatrice, Christian and Vera are playing off against each other.
Has the same glossy style over substance look of most of the Portman productions of the 1980’s. The story, written by the excellent Philip Mackie, is highly intriguing and you are kept guessing as to just what is going on as every single character seems to have their own agenda but in the end its all far too convoluted, couple that with some particularly ordinary acting from people who you definitely expect more of and you have something of a misfire.
Cast: JONATHAN PRYCE as Christian Magny; CHERIE LUNGHI as Beatrice Manceau; CARMEN DU SAUTOY as Vera Canova; PINKAS BRAUN as Professor Paul Canova; ANNA CROPPER as Gertrude; FRIEDRICH BON THUN as Insurance Director; ARTHUR BRAUSS as Richter; SARAH BERGER as Madeleine; KEVIN McNALLY as Bernard; DAVID SCHOFIELD as Cafe Waiter; MARGARET WARD as Madame Magny; RICHARD WARNER as Monsieur Magny; JONATHAN BLAKE as Raymond; JOHN BRYANS as Dubreuil; GORDON KANE as Sound Technician; BARBARA YOUNG as Solicitor’s Secretary; DEREK SMITH as Maitre Chardois; DOUGLAS WILMER as Maitre Fleury; PETER BLAKE as Dr Courant; JOBY BLANSHARD as Dr Laporte; CLIVE SWIFT as Dr Faure; DENYSE ALEXANDER as Alice; CAROL GILLIES as Convent Sister; RALPH SCHICHA as Rudi; GERARD HELY as Bank Cashier
Writer: Philip Mackie / Novel: Les Mantes Religieuses by Hubert Monteilhet / Music: Carl Davis / Photography: John Coquillon / Production Design: Robert Cartwright / Executive Producer: T.L. Donald / Producers: Ian Warren, Dickie Bamber / Director: Jack Gold
UK / ITV – Portman / 2×75 minute episodes / Broadcast November 1982
