Ladybug, Ladybug

Director: Frank Perry Frank Perry

Overview

This thought-provoking and only slightly heavy handed anti-war tract is based on a real incident that occurred during the atomic terror of the Cuban missile crisis. The tragedy begins when a civil defense siren is accidentally tripped while a school is in session. The panic-stricken children are immediately sent home. One young girl has an air-raid shelter in her backyard and invites many children inside. A less popular girl begs to be let in, but the first girl makes excuses and shuts her out leaving the terribly frightened child to hide out in an abandoned refrigerator where she dies.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/15/2020
UPC:	0738329250751
Original Release:	1963
Rating:	NR
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:22:00
Sales rank:	41,728

Special Features

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Harland Smith; Theatrical Teaser

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Nancy Marchand	Mrs. Andrews
William Daniels	Mr. Calkins
Jane Connell	Mrs. Maxton
Kathryn Hays	Mrs. Forbes
James Frawley	Truck Driver
Richard Hamilton	JoAnn's Father
Jane Hoffman	Mrs. Hayworth
Elena Karam	Don and Trudy's Mother
Judith Lowry	Luke's Grandmother
Estelle Parsons	JoAnn's Mother
Doug Chapin	Gary,Joel
Bozo Dell	Peter
Dianne Higgins	Jill
Alan Howard	Luke,Steve
Donnie Melvin	Brian,Trudy
Linda Meyer	JoAnn
Alice Playten	Harriet
Marilyn Rogers	Sarah
Jennifer Stone	Pattie
Robert Cobert	Composer

Technical Credits

Frank Perry

Frank Perry

Producer,Director,Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

In its own time, Ladybug, Ladybug was a shattering experience, as people looked at the unthinkable -- the possibility of nuclear annihilation. Many viewers who saw the film upon its initial release state that it had a profound effect upon them. Unfortunately, with the passage of time and with a number of other films and TV offerings that have dealt with this situation, Ladybug now seems tame --and rather lame. Its biggest problem is simply its length. Had it been a half-hour episode of Twilight Zone (which it could easily have been), it would have worked very well. Stretched out to feature length, it becomes dull and irritating. This is especially true given director Frank Perry's decision to treat the material in a non-sensational manner, with subtlety and nuance. This is laudable, but the attempt doesn't come off; it backfires, making Ladybug lamentably slow and at times downright dreary. It even damages the ending, which should inspire horror but instead is merely a bit sad. Things are not helped by some truly dreadful dialogue. Under the circumstances, the cast -- which includes a number of very talented individuals - does as well as can be expected. Leonard Hirschfield's cinematography is outstanding, but that's the best that can be said about this nobly-intended message picture.