Bunny Lake Is Missing
A conspiracy of madness.
When Ann Lake (Carol Lynley, The Poseidon Adventure) goes to pick up four year old Bunny at her new preschool in London, she's told that no child by that name is enrolled there! Superintendent Newhouse (Academy Award winner Laurence Olivier, Best Actor, 1948, Hamlet; The Boys From Brazil) of Scotland Yard is assigned to the case. His suspects include: Steven Lake (Keir Dullea, 2001: A Space Odyssey), the child's protective uncle; Horatio Wilson (Noel Coward, The Italian Job - 1996), the Lake's decadent landlord; and Aida Ford (Martita Hunt, Anastasia), the school's eccentric ex-headmistress, but he soon learns that no one has actually seen the child and there is absolutely no proof that Bunny ever existed! Ann maintains the child's been kidnapped, but Newhouse begins to suspect that the hysterical young woman may just be insane. Bunny Lake is Missing is director Otto Preminger's (Anatomy of a Murder) controversial masterpiece of terror and suspense.
Member Reviews
Soooo much potential...... - Ubik
This is an...almost...fantastic movie. It's almost one of the most creepy, mysterious, compelling thrillers I've ever seen. Almost. So frustrating that it didn't get there. In fact, for the first hour and a half, it is, it's that good. But then, of course, the mystery needs to be solved, and as is often the case, the solution is far less interesting than the mystery.
Until that failed ending, the movie really, really had me. It's got an awesome premise, a perfectly grotesque cast of Dickensian weirdos, some extremely puzzling questions, and a great tone. The acting, especially from Olivier (no surprise there) is right on the money. I was on the edge of my seat guessing, and all along, the movie seemed a step ahead of me.
So, why, why, why do the writers not trust their own characters to act plausibly in the end? Near the end of the movie, a moment arrives (you'll know exactly which one I mean) where, for the sake of movie-tension and perceived movie-coolness, the characters start acting completely implausibly, considering what has come before - particularly, I speak of the heroine, the mother of the lost child. Just when she needs to be strong and resourceful, the movie feels the need to turn her into an idiot, just to ratchet up the suspense. In that last scene, considering the stakes, ask yourself, as you watch it, what the hell is she doing? Why is she wasting her time? Bleah. I didn't believe it for a second. No thank-you.
Anyway, as I said, the rest of the movie is utterly fantastic. Perhaps you'll feel differently about the ending than I did. If you like the ending, you'll probably love the whole movie.More than just Bunny is missing - CaptainDave
Here's a misguided psycho-suspense-thriller from Otto Preminger. As seems usual with Preminger's movies, the film looks terrific, with stunning black and white widescreen photography. The rest of the film, alas, is a bit more stunned than stunning.
Laurence Oliver is the police officer heading the investigation into the case of a missing child, and he provides the calm centre of the movie. Around him director Otto Preminger has arrayed an assortment of oddball characters who give the film a bizarre kind of interest but which also give it a strange tilt: it's kind of Hitchcock meets Polanski, with a messy, unsatisfying result.
Carol Lynley seems too lightweight for her role as the bereft mom, and poor Keir Dullea as her brother is totally misdirected. The film continually teeters on the edge of camp, and Dullea's performance finally pushes it over.Effective Atmosphere and Suspense - Gregg
The story of a young single mother who has just arrived in England from America to live with her brother, and whose young daughter Bunny has gone missing on her first day at school. The mystery though is not simply what has happened to the child but was there actually ever any child to begin with. With this development the mystery suddenly becomes psychological as both the police and the audience don’t know who might be lying.
Although not irredeemable I would agree with others that Keir Dulea’s performance as the brother is not as effective as it could have been. The performance of Carol Lynley as the young mother I am less certain about, at times it seems effective and at other times less so. On the other hand Laurence Olivier is very subdued and convincing as Police Superintendant investigating the crime and Noel Coward relishes his role as the nosy and somewhat unsettling landlord.
Produced and Directed by Otto Preminger who seemed at his most effective in the Mystery/Thriller Genre’s and also worked well in the Black and White medium.
The film also features a classic Saul Bass title sequence and an effective score from composer Paul Glass. The film makes some very good use of its London locations as well.
There are some obvious comparisons to be made with Alfred Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes" from 1938 and their are even more obvious parallels to the Jodie Foster film “Flightplan”. Plans for a remake are currently in the works though they seem to have hit a snag.
Member Reviews
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Soooo much potential...... - Ubik
This is an...almost...fantastic movie. It's almost one of the most creepy, mysterious, compelling thrillers I've ever seen. Almost. So frustrating that it didn't get there. In fact, for the first hour and a half, it is, it's that good. But then, of course, ...More than just Bunny is missing - CaptainDave
Here's a misguided psycho-suspense-thriller from Otto Preminger. As seems usual with Preminger's movies, the film looks terrific, with stunning black and white widescreen photography. The rest of the film, alas, is a bit more stunned than stunning.
Laurence ...Effective Atmosphere and Suspense - Gregg
The story of a young single mother who has just arrived in England from America to live with her brother, and whose young daughter Bunny has gone missing on her first day at school. The mystery though is not simply what has happened to the child but was there ...