<PAGE>
Penn Mutual Variable Life Account I
The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company
Statement of Certification
Pursuant to Rule 497(j)
The Registrant hereby certifies that the form of the Prospectuses that would
have been filed under Paragraph (c) of Rule 497 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, would not have differed from those contained in Post-Effective
Amendment No. 7 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-6 (File No.
33-54662) which was filed electronically on Thursday, April 23, 1998 (Accession
No. 0001036050-98-000671).
PENN MUTUAL VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT I
BY: THE PENN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Dated: May 4, 1998 By /s/ Richard F. Plush
-----------------------------
Name: Richard F. Plush
Title: Vice President