This is a delightful 1960's version of Cinderella tale. The sets are admittedly sparse but in a dreamy and whimsical way - besides, I confess to growing up watching TV specials with these kind of sets so they don't bother me! (In fact, it's kind of fun to imagine the cigar chomping studio hands wheeling Cinderella's coach and fireplace, etc. around, maybe during commercials if this was originally broadcast live, and if it was produced in New York, it's fun to imagine the actors stepping out to go audition for soap operas and Broadway shows on their lunch hour.) What a fun cast! Lesley Ann Warren is delicately lovely as Cinderella from her huge doe eyes, swanlike neck, and pretty voice, and Stuart Damon is perfect as the Prince, both come across as very warm and winsome. I love the stepmother and stepsisters, they are hilarious! The Rogers and Hammerstein songs are memorable, I'm not sure what the titles are but they include Cinderella's song while sitting by the fireside, "in my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be", the exciting announcement "the Prince is giving a ball!", the fairy godmother's song about how "Impossible things are happ'ning every day!", the romantic song when Cinderella arrives at the ball, "ten minutes ago I saw you", the jealous stepsisters' song about "why should a fellow want a girl like her", and perhaps best of all, the moving song "do I love you because you're beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?" For some reason the scenes where Cinderella meets the Prince by the well and offers him some water are especially touching, you get the feeling that the Prince and Cinderella really love each other, and not just 'because they're beautiful'. In fact, the sparse sets are perfect in that Cinderella is not dreaming of a fancy palace or clothes, she is in love!
Reviews
2 Reviews
Bunny Lake Is Missing
(1965)
Lovely Carol Lynley presides over A-1 cast
26 December 2004
Ironically enough, 'Bunny Lake is Missing' actually was missing for years - not listed in movie guides, not on VHS, only rarely making a ghostly appearance on the late late show.
Fortunately it's being remade with a major young star, Reese Witherspoon. Can't wait to see it, Witherspoon was really good in a movie with Keifer Sutherland where she plays a teen runaway.
So as a result of the remake the original is due out on DVD! So technology really does lead to better living.
BLIM is a very well-made, scary movie. Don't watch it alone, unless you are not easily made, well, uneasy. Not a slasher type movie, or a 'watch out it's going to get you ' scariness, but a psychological thriller.
Like other movies from the 1960's set in Europe, Bunny Lake is austere and stark, the characters have an emotionally remote manner, as if in a trance. Other examples are Alfie, Blow-up, Georgy Girl, and the horrifying Repulsion, the last of which if you are going to try to watch at all, you should not do alone, and you should be warned that it's no picnic watching even Catherine Deneuve come totally unglued while no one seems to suspect a thing.
The various settings in the movie, that should be quaint, innocuous or at worst drab but end up being terrifying in their shadowy oddness. A children's day care center, an apartment, a hospital, and a 'doll hospital'.
Maybe the discordant soundtrack of various whistle-y pan pipe -y sounds is a big reason for the desolate mood of the film.
You just fall in love with beatific Carol Lynley, she is adorable in this and very brave, after all if we are having to watch this nightmare her character is actually living it.
Supporting cast boasts kindly detective Sir Larry Olivier, leering neighbor Noel Coward and high-handed brother Keir Dullea.
If you enjoy this one, you may also enjoy 'The Shuttered Room' another scary flick from 1960s Britain with Miss Lynley being threatened by dastardly Oliver Reed as an evil country lout. Haven't seen it in decades but it scared us as children.
Fortunately it's being remade with a major young star, Reese Witherspoon. Can't wait to see it, Witherspoon was really good in a movie with Keifer Sutherland where she plays a teen runaway.
So as a result of the remake the original is due out on DVD! So technology really does lead to better living.
BLIM is a very well-made, scary movie. Don't watch it alone, unless you are not easily made, well, uneasy. Not a slasher type movie, or a 'watch out it's going to get you ' scariness, but a psychological thriller.
Like other movies from the 1960's set in Europe, Bunny Lake is austere and stark, the characters have an emotionally remote manner, as if in a trance. Other examples are Alfie, Blow-up, Georgy Girl, and the horrifying Repulsion, the last of which if you are going to try to watch at all, you should not do alone, and you should be warned that it's no picnic watching even Catherine Deneuve come totally unglued while no one seems to suspect a thing.
The various settings in the movie, that should be quaint, innocuous or at worst drab but end up being terrifying in their shadowy oddness. A children's day care center, an apartment, a hospital, and a 'doll hospital'.
Maybe the discordant soundtrack of various whistle-y pan pipe -y sounds is a big reason for the desolate mood of the film.
You just fall in love with beatific Carol Lynley, she is adorable in this and very brave, after all if we are having to watch this nightmare her character is actually living it.
Supporting cast boasts kindly detective Sir Larry Olivier, leering neighbor Noel Coward and high-handed brother Keir Dullea.
If you enjoy this one, you may also enjoy 'The Shuttered Room' another scary flick from 1960s Britain with Miss Lynley being threatened by dastardly Oliver Reed as an evil country lout. Haven't seen it in decades but it scared us as children.
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