Bunny Lake Is Missing

Bunny Lake Is Missing is a 1965 British psychological thriller film starring Laurence Olivier and directed and produced by Otto Preminger, who filmed it in black and white widescreen format in London. It was based on the novel of the same name by Merriam Modell. The score is by Paul Glass and the opening theme is often heard as a refrain. The Zombies also appear in a television broadcast.

Dismissed by both critics and Preminger as insignificant upon its release in 1965, the film received a strong review by critic Andrew Sarris. The movie was released on DVD in 2005 (Region 1) and 2007 (Region 2).

Plot

American single mother Ann Lake (Carol Lynley), who recently moved to London from New York, arrives at the Little People's Garden preschool to collect her daughter, Bunny. The child has mysteriously disappeared. An administrator recalls meeting with Ann but claims never to have seen the missing child. Ann and her brother Stephen (Keir Dullea) search the school and find a sinister woman living upstairs, who claims she collects children's nightmares. In desperation, the Lakes call the police and Superintendent Newhouse (Laurence Olivier) arrives on the scene.

Bunny Lake Is Missing (novel)

Bunny Lake Is Missing is a 1957 novel by Merriam Modell (writing as Evelyn Piper) set in New York City.

Plot introduction

Blanche Lake, a 21-year-old single mother, wants to collect her three-year-old daughter Bunny from her first day at day care but finds that she is not there. Over the course of the ensuing night, she tries everything in her power to find out what has happened to her. Before daybreak, she thinks she knows where Bunny is.

The plot takes place all within the space of 24 hours.

Adaptations

The novel was adapted as a film in 1965, directed by Otto Preminger and starring Laurence Olivier, Carol Lynley, Keir Dullea, Martita Hunt and Noël Coward. The locale was changed from New York to London and the ending was changed.

A remake was planned in 2009 but has not materialized.

A stage production, adapted by Ken Simon from the novel, played January 4–14, 2012 at The Brick Theater in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Edition