Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965)

90% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(2,304 ratings)

Based on the mystery novel by Marryam Modell (using the pseudonym Evelyn Piper), Bunny Lake Is Missing is a bizarre study in motherhood, kindness, enigma, and insanity. Ann Lake (Carol Lynley), an American freshly relocated to England, wishes to drop off her daughter Bunny for the girl's first day… More Based on the mystery novel by Marryam Modell (using the pseudonym Evelyn Piper), Bunny Lake Is Missing is a bizarre study in motherhood, kindness, enigma, and insanity. Ann Lake (Carol Lynley), an American freshly relocated to England, wishes to drop off her daughter Bunny for the girl's first day at a new nursery school. Oddly, Ann cannot locate any teachers or administrators, only the school's disgruntled cook (Lucie Mannheim). She is forced to leave Bunny unsupervised in the building's "first day" room, under the reassurance that the cook will be responsible for the child. When Ann returns in the afternoon, the cook has quit and Bunny Lake is missing. The school's remaining employees vehemently deny ever seeing the child, and Ann desperately calls her older brother Stephen (Keir Dullea) for help. Ann was raised fatherless and never married; she and Bunny have lived under Stephen's care and protection for the majority of both their lives. Stephen is enraged by the irresponsibility of the staff, but as Scotland Yard begins its investigation, it comes to light that he had never officially enrolled a child at the school. When Police Superintendent Newhouse (Laurence Olivier) begins to unravel the Lakes' lives and search their belongings, he discovers that not only did Ann once have an imaginary childhood daughter named "Bunny," but that the young Bunny seemed to have no tangible possessions at the Lake apartment. Bunny Lake (whom we have yet to see onscreen) may not be missing: she may not even be real. Terrified that Newhouse will now abandon the search for the girl, the hysterical Ann sets out to prove her sanity and, in the process, surprisingly uncovers the true psychosis behind the disappearance of her little Bunny Lake. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Otto Preminger
Written By: John Mortimer, Penelope Mortimer
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Oct 3, 1965 Wide
On DVD: Jan 25, 2005

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The effect is stingingly poignant.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
One of Preminger's best films, this stylish psychological mystery-thriller is extremely well shot and well acted by Olivier, Carol Lynley and Keir Dulea.
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
A solid-but-frustratingly-tantalizing experience.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Somehow the unconvincing story is engrossing, as the marvelous supporting cast put it over... .
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Olivier is excellent as the analytical inspector, his easy-going grace a delightful contrast to the two stars.
, Time Out
A middling thriller,
Dan Fienberg, Zap2it.com
Artfully directed, professionally performed and just twisty enough to make viewers get lost in the overtly Hitchcockian trappings...
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
As disturbing as he's supposed to be, Wilson is also the film's uncanniest highlight.
, Film4
Preminger's well-constructed and suspenseful film in the Hitchcock tradition is worth watching for the performances, but alas the conclusion comes as something of a let down.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
The passage of time has been quite kind to the film.
Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com
Vintage mind-thrills in slinky, shadowy black and white.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

!!! SPOILER ALERT !!! This movie sucks.
Jennifer D

Whenever I watch a good film and don't like it, I feel like I'm missing something. And this was one of those moments. Okay, not entirely true, I liked *parts* of it. The ending. Oh my god. Painful. I dunno. Mixed.
Stella D

umm wtf? one of the most ridiculous 'thriller's i've seen. the americans were just embarrassing, especially in the final scene. olivier can do no wrong and noel coward was hilarious but otherwise i'm pretty sure i laughed at all the wrong parts. still… More
umm wtf? one of the most ridiculous 'thriller's i've seen. the americans were just embarrassing, especially in the final scene. olivier can do no wrong and noel coward was hilarious but otherwise i'm pretty sure i laughed at all the wrong parts. still entertaining in a perverse kind of way
Michael G

Great performances (namely Lawrence Olivier), incredible titles by Saul Bass and even better direction from Otto Preminger who delivers 25 of the most jarring final minutes (MUCH of which is owed to Fritz Lang) I've seen in a movie to date. Bunny Lake is Missing is an all-around… More
Great performances (namely Lawrence Olivier), incredible titles by Saul Bass and even better direction from Otto Preminger who delivers 25 of the most jarring final minutes (MUCH of which is owed to Fritz Lang) I've seen in a movie to date. Bunny Lake is Missing is an all-around creepy movie with everything from the brother/sister relationship, that landlord with that chihuahua to the secondary cast. It seemed to shift gears a lot and often made me wonder if they were going to go to the proverbial "there." I felt gypped when The Zombies were finally shown (I'm a big fan) and I truly despised the movie's score. Worth it for the ending, but be warned--this movie does take a while to get going.
Ken S

A campy creepy cult classic from the madman Otto Preminger. Performances all round are top notch. Extra awesome creepy award goes to the landlord. I feel all dirty.

Cast

            Carol Lynley as Ann Lake

            Keir Dullea as Stephen Lake

            Laurence Olivier as Newhouse

            Noel Coward as Wilson

            Martita Hunt as Ada Ford

            Anna Massey as Elvira

            Clive Revill as Andrews

            Finlay Currie as Doll-maker

            Richard Wattis as Clerk in Shipping Office

            Lucie Mannheim as Cook

            Megs Jenkins as Sister

            Victor Maddern as Taxi Driver

            Delphi Lawrence as First Mother at School

            Suzanne Neve as Second Mother at School

            Adrienne Corri as Dorothy

            Kika Markham as Nurse

            Jill Melford as Teacher

            Damaris Hayman as Daphne

            Patrick Jordan as Policeman

            Jane Evers as Policewoman

            John Sharp as Fingerprint Man

            Geoffrey Frederick as Police Photographer

            Percy Herbert as Policeman at Station

            Michael Wynne as Rogers

            Tim Brinton as Newscaster

            Fred Emney as Man in Soho

            David Oxley as Doctor

            John Forbes-Robertson as Attendant

            The Zombies
            
See full cast