Bunny Lake is Missing (1965)
Blu-ray Company Release: Twilight Time
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Carol Lynley, Keir Dullea, Noel
Coward, Martita Hunt, Finley Currie, The Zombies
Plot: A mother who claims that her child has been snatched
from school—may be mad, joining the ranks of eccentrics who surround her.
My Review and Thoughts:
Film: (4/5)
Wowzers what a great suspenseful mystery. This is one of the
true classics of the 60’s that stand out as being something thick with story
that tends to play with the viewer’s mind, in that, it sends them into a spiral
of what really is the truth and what really is happening. I feel this is one of
those movies that one should not dare to pass up because of the skilled
storytelling and the truly engrossing acting and direction of this turning
thriller as if one is reading a book, it unfolds page after page. What is
spectacular about this movie is the twists and turns and true thick crime
mystery that must be solved.
This British psychological thriller is one of brilliant film
making. Directed and produced by Otto Preminger a legend and truly someone that
knows how to make a film. He also directed another mystery suspense thriller
the one and only classic 1959’s Anatomy of a Murder which might I add was
nominated for best picture. Otto was someone that seemed to be able to place
the viewer into the picture. He mastered the reality of creating a thick book
form of storytelling through his direction. He was a man that enjoyed pushing
the limits of his time by adding eye opening and taboo realities such as drugs,
rape, and homosexuality. He seemed to almost laugh in the face of censorship
but that is what makes him a shining artist of film making. Bunny Lake is
Missing is a film that expresses his ultimate clarity to making films. He sends
the viewers into a truly stark and dark story and also mixes the drama; twists
the suspense in thick layers of mystery.
Now something that makes this film all the more deep and
dark and wonderful is why it belongs on the music inspired release of Twilight
Time Blu-ray and that is the music score. The soundtrack bleeds
perfection. Paul Glass basically creates
the perfection of heaven in this music score. Twilight Time truly saw and gave
the outlet this masterful music so deserved. It’s possibly one the best scores
around.
Looking at it now, I don’t understand why so many in the
critic world pushed it away. The film was never really given any push or like
by the critic world. Basically it was a simply skipped and I don’t understand
why. It is one of those films that lingers with you and through the amazing acting
and most of all direction; it should have been a film that was talked about and
awarded at the time it came out. It does have some minor flaws like the
children at times looking at the camera but you overlook that because of the
thick plot. I think it was so different that for its time it confused people
and persons just did not known what they were seeing. The odd psychological mix
of mystery and personal insanity I am sure turned most off. It was something so
far ahead of its time that maybe people just did not get it.
Interesting to note is the band The Zombies recorded three
songs to the soundtrack. Remember You, Just Out of Reach and Nothing’s Changed
are three songs that give the music soundtrack something to be discussed and
something to ultimately remember. The Zombies just added to the already
brilliant film. I really enjoyed the marketing concept of the 60’s and Bunny
Lake is Missing added to that realm of odd promotion with no one being allowed
to enter the film after it started. The promotion forbid anyone to enter the
film which I think is classic because on the poster itself there is a tag line
that says “No One Admitted While the Clock is Ticking.”
This movie is based on the novel by the same name written by
Merriam Modell who also wrote the book The Nanny which would become another
adaption of her book into a movie starring the amazing Bette Davis. Merriam
Modell mainly wrote pulp fiction and under the false name of Evelyn Piper.
Now this stars one of the greatest actors of all time the
one and only master of film Laurence Olivier. He is what the very definition of
acting is. He is the very definition of film. He is the very definition of art
in performing. Starring in some of the greatest films and creating some of the
greatest characters on screen to remember. He was a talent so defined that it’s
almost a criminal act to talk bad about him. He is one that was able to become
the very characters he displayed. No matter if the movie he was acting in
sucked, he was able to own his character and give a worthy performance. If you
need films to display Shakespeare then you need to look no further than Henry V
(1944), Hamlet (1948) and Richard III (1955) for they are all that one needs to
understand the talent of Olivier. Now he not only starred in these, he also
directed them. He was pure perfection in film form and it’s no different seeing
him in Bunny Lake is Missing. He was such a wonderful performer and every time
I see him in a film my eyes open and my jaw drops at just how extraordinary he
is. Beautiful, brilliant and utterly phenomenal. He plays the character of
Newhouse in Bunny Lake is Missing and owns the part and crafts his master
talent into the story and ultimate suspense that takes place.
Also starring the beautiful Carol Lynley as the character of
the single mother Ann who says her daughter is missing. Lynley has always
captured my eye. She was a child star long before Bunny Lake is Missing came
out. She aced the part as the young mother in a frantic reality. She is able to
with the character of Ann Lake to make the viewer feel and understand her
dilemma. She aces the emotional reality to the character and it is one of the
performances in film history that to me really stands out as being flawless.
Now I have to mention the other star of the film Keir Dullea who plays Ann’s
Brother Stephen. I will always remember him in film history as astronaut David
Bowman in the masterpiece 1968's film Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey.
He also starred in another favorite film of mine, the cult horror film 1974’s
Black Christmas. Like all his other roles he adds perfection to the character
of Stephen. He bleeds the very idea and persona of insanity. He gives a true
haunting and twisted performance as Stephen. He is a defining actor that shined
in his roles and gave his all and so much more. The role of Stephen will always
be remembered by me. A true powerhouse of acting.
Dramatic and powerful at times. Great direction and acting
weaves this tale together. The vivid emotional depictions are amazing placing
you there and creating an atmosphere of reality from screen to the mind. Carol
Lynley is great and develops her character of intense force and emotional
appeal. She grows on the viewer and the viewer can understand and relate to
her. This is brilliant and an original
piece of fiction that seems like it’s real. When you look back on these films
you can see how so many other modern films have taken from the original ideas
of older films. The originals are the best and are the ones that always remain.
It shocks me after seeing this amazing film brought out lovingly by Twilight
Time Special Edition Blu-ray how many modern films have copied from it or based
itself on the idea of this film.
A true thriller that sparks all the senses into overload.
This is an escalating story of mystery and clue after clue builds to the front
of the viewer’s mind as slowly the story turns and twists into something far
more. Every little detail or action seems to have you questioning the real
reality of what is happening. I love a good suspense thriller of a film and
this one knows what it wanted to say, descriptive in nature, dark and deep in
explanation and a fantastic woven piece of an ultimate answer seeking mystery.
Twilight Time did it again releasing another flawless work
on their part.
Audio/Video: (5/5)
Stunning sound and amazing picture quality. The best the
film has ever been. Twilight Time enriched the experience of the film with their
careful treatment to an already brilliant film that they made all the more
fresh and brilliant for a new generation.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1965 / B & W
107 MINUTES
NOT RATED
REGION FREE
Extras: (3/5)
I love listening to the Film historians talk about films and
this one is great and is worth the admission just for it. The isolated score is
what it's all about and the score for Bunny Lake is Missing shines in all the
wonder that this company is.
Isolated Score Track
Audio Commentary with Film Historians Lem Dobbs, Julie
Kirgo, and Nick Redman
Original Theatrical Trailers
Liner notes by Julie Kirgo
Overall Product Rating: (4/5)
Twilight Time aced it again. Another flawless Blu-ray on the
example of how to treat a film. Twilight Time understands the art of film and
most of all the art of supplying the music score and crafted the Blu-ray
through its listening perfection.
A pure delight to watch with amazing emotions, suspense and
drama, tension and a twisted wonderful edge of your seat story on just what the
truth is and what is really happening.
INFO:
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