Product: Bunny Lake is Missing (1965)
Rating: 4.0
Bunny Lake is Missing is a missing psycholical thriller
In 1965 Otto Preminger produced a now forgotten movie - Bunny Lake IsMissing. I first saw this film in 2005, or so, and wonder why I had notever heard of this psychological thriller before. Bunny Lake was filmed in black and white and portrays the city of London in a dark gray and black moodiness which enhances the story of a missing child and a frantic mother trying to find her. There are effective portrayals here by since deceased actors - Laurence Olivier, Martita Hunt and a special appearance by Noel Coward.Carol Lynley plays Bunny's mother, a transplanted American who hasjust placed her small daughter in a day school who turns missing.Or so she claims. She has a very over- protective brother portrayed by Kier Dullea, whom audiences may remember as the astronaut "Dave" in 2001. I remember Dullea in the 1962 classic David and Lisa too.Some say this film is "dated" but I don't think so. Of course therehave been more than forty since Bunny Lake was made and few people seemto value a black and white film these days. There were so many goodclassics before black and whites virtually ceased to be made by the late 1960's.Apparently there will be a remake soon, which need not spoil theappreciation of this forgotten thriller. There will be no Olivier orCoward (or Martita Hunt) in the remake. Therefore this 1965 versionneed not be ignored by those who like a classic and well-make film.