Ladybug Ladybug (1963) Online

Hard to find anyone who has actually seen this movie. Doesn't deserve to be hidden away, it has a wonderful sense of unease and imminent danger as a small school receives a nuclear alert warning and while the principal tries to verify it he decides to evacuate the school. This involves the teachers walking the students back to their homes. The uncertainty remains throughout till the shattering climax. Among several movies of the period with a nuclear threat element(eg. Dr. Strangelove, Failsafe, Lord of the Flies)

I just discovered this film at my local video store. I'd never heard of it before and just happened to pick up the box. I was intrigued when I read the description. I grew up in the duck and cover era in school and would have been one of those six year olds in 1963 when this film came out so watching it brought back memories.

The film struck me as a brilliant portrayal of the emotional trauma experienced by both children and adults of that time period. I liked how it showed the various ways in which adults and children reacted to the uncertainty of the situation, with different levels of fear and anxiety, and different personality types having different responses.

The ending was shocking and unforgettable. It certainly made a statement, as we used to say. I would like to see this 1963 film play with the 1962 film La Jetee. Both films capture the angst of the era; both are unique and rarely screened films. I wish both were more well-known.

Surely this packed a hell of a punch at the time of its initial release. Today, it's still quite penetrating, though moreso as a Cold War time capsule and a memory of a gentler, though increasingly tumultuous America in the early stages of multi-directional change.

LADYBUG, LADYBUG is a deftly machinated picture, and clearly a vest-pocket project born of much heart and personal investment(as never would this type of film have been regarded as a potential blockbuster). The largely no-name cast does a spectacular job, most notably the children...they are all in top form, with a few in particular delivering some of the finest juvenile performances of that decade. Essentially actionless, LADYBUG imagines the anxiety and dread of a single day when the students and faculty of a public school are led to believe that a nuclear attack may be expeditiously imminent. The children are chaperoned home on-foot by a teacher...it's a tense walk, and all the while they do their best to keep each other calm, each straining to maintain an abstemious bravado and composure. The heartbreaking denouement is unforgettable, allegedly with a foothold in a true-life event.

Uniquely horrifying in an austere, almost fragile way...this is a minor classic with a most important hindsight, and a film to preserve for posterity. 8.5/10

When the nuclear alarm goes off in a secluded countryside grade and high school, all the children are sent home because the alarm supposedly indicates that a bomb attack is eminent within an hour of time. All through the journey home, and even long after that for certain children, it remains unclear whether the alarm is real or not. However, an atmosphere of fear and paranoia gradually builds itself up amongst them towards a nearly unbearable level. As you can derive from the obviously low-budgeted production values as well as from the obscurity status, "Ladybug, Ladybug" is a truly slow and uneventful film. Nothing really happens, and yet so many things happen simultaneously! The film is a hauntingly beautiful yet modest portrayal of a generation that had to life with the constant treat of nuclear war. The strong impact comes from the conversations held between the children. They are aware of a potentially devastating war hanging over their heads, yet they're so full of plans and dreams for the future! This is one of them films that might upset or even frustrate you slightly at first, since there's really nothing happening on the surface, but it will have a long and thought-provoking effect afterwards. This is probably also the reason why "Ladybug, Ladybug" is completely unknown out there in movie world. Nothing going on and no familiar names in the production are reasons enough for a well-intended and socially engaging film gem to instantly disappear into oblivion. Shame.

I saw this movie once in a little movie theater in Minneapolis in 1964 when I was ten years old, and to this day it haunts me!

The sense of imminent doom, the "Lord of the Flies"-esque cruelties that erupt amongst the schoolchildren, the steadily-building panic... I will never ever look at an abandoned refrigerator -- or see a plane start to cross the sky -- and not think of the heart-breaking climax of this movie!

Some years ago, HBO or one of the other pay movie channels was running rarely seen independent films on a fairly regular basis. They had a higher opinion of their viewers then. Anyway, that's where I saw Ladybug, Ladybug, but I saw it only once. I wish I had taped it. It's an extremely well done film in all regards, and I liked the fact that it was filmed in black & white, which added a kind of stark atmosphere, especially in the bright sunlight. To tell the truth, I barely remember the story now, so I've enjoyed reading the other comments from those who have seen it. What I do recall is the favorable impression this little film left me with, and the way I felt after seeing it. I'd love to see it again, and other little-seen films of this and earlier eras, but there is so much garbage being churned out by the film industry today, there's no room on the airwaves, cable, or in the DVD/VHS production studios for good things like Ladybug, Ladybug. More's the pity, there are so many great films that could be shown, it's everyone's loss!

I'd like to echo what an earlier reviewer noted: that Ladybug, Ladybug is the sort of movie that can stay with you for a very long time. The one and only time that I saw the movie was likely around 1970, when I was seven years old. I watched quite a few movies on TV when I was that age -- by myself -- and without any kind of preparation or explanation I remember being engrossed by the film.

While I remember the plot,which has already been well-described so far, it's particular images that still stick with me. Someone mentioned refrigerators, and that perhaps is the one moment in the film that terrified me the most. I remember the system of warning lights in the school, a single moment of the teacher leading the kids down a dirt road and, again, the old fridge at the end of the movie.

What is also memorable, from the perspective of a small child, is the sense of unease and dread that permeated the entire film. It also played a small role in shaping my attitudes towards war and conflict at a very early age. Is this reading too much into a childhood memory of a film? Probably, but writing my one and only IMDb entry on a film that I saw once 40 years ago is evidence of its quiet power.

I first saw this movie when I was in high school. This movie is so good. I taped it at the time and still have it (15 years later). I'm not quite sure of the year this is happening, but it's after WWII with a supposed nuclear attack happening. The film is in b/w though, so makes it appear older than it is too (it was filmed in 1963). You see the fear these kids are going through, wondering if they have a future. They try to "pump" each other up by making plans for a future day too.

I would suggest that if you haven't seen this movie, watch it!!!

This film was released the year after I was born, and I am, ironically watching it for the first time on the day before we to go to war with another country.

Besides being full of great performances by actors you didn't even realize you've been watching all your life, the movie has a realism I didn't thing films of this era had.

The first 20 minutes of the film especially were really scary. The situation may have felt unimaginable just a couple of years ago, but tonight it seems like a plausible scenario. This movie went much farther into the subject of war through a typical American's eyes than I would have expected from a film of the early '60s.

The story happens at the time of the cold war when nuclear bombs and threats of a world war are on everyone's mind. The alarm goes off at the grade and high schools in a small rural community. This alarm means that a nuclear attack is eminent in the next hour. The children are sent home via school buses and walked home by teachers. The conversations about war, if it's really a drill being done by the school, words about the meaning of life and death and emotions that only get stirred by tragic times. Some of the movie is extremely well done visually as we see the emotional stress that results in a very trying time. Then the alarm is called off because of an electrical fault. It's then that the truly tragic thing happens when a life is put into jeopardy. If you're old enough to remember air raid drills in school, jets breaking the sound barrier or prayer in schools, this movie will take you on a ride into the past that couldn't be done any other way. Will this situation every happen again? Will history help this situation from happening again? I, for one, think that humankind will never learn.

In response to the post by a misguided and biased 'bekayess from Orlando, FL', this is a fine movie about the possibility of a nuclear attack. Instead of reviewing the qualities of this movie and an appearance from Soprano's star Nancy Marchand, he chooses to belittle our President. Taken place in a remote and quiet rural town, a warning buzzer sounds off in a school. With communication cut off and no way of verifying the warning, officials dismiss the school and some of the children must walk home with teachers. Fears unfold and tension rises between adults and children. I only wish this movie was available. I caught it on an early Saturday morning a few years ago, and haven't seen it replayed since. Would be a great addition to ones collection, regardless of bekayess unwarranted comments.

This extremely chilling and quietly powerful early 60's doomsday drama benefits substantially from Frank Perry's intelligent, understated direction, Eleanor Perry's equally smart and perceptive script, and the uniformly outstanding acting from an exceptional mostly kid cast. An alarm signifying an imminent nuclear bombing sounds off at a remote rural school. The school's principal (future "St. Elsewhere" TV series regular William Daniels in his fine film debut) has the teachers walk all the students home so they can seek shelter from the fall-out in the cellars of their parents' homes. One obnoxiously bratty and overbearing girl allows five other kids to reside in her parents' shelter, but refuses to let another girl she doesn't like in. This selfish action begets tragic consequences. The serious and starkly realistic tone vividly evokes the pervasive unease and paranoia of early 60's Cold War era America, the gradually mounting tension thankfully eschews hysterics in favor of a more organic and restrained feeling of encroaching dread, the assorted kids' reactions are totally plausible and astutely observed (the older ones instantly become aware of how awful the impending blast is while the younger tykes are blissfully ignorant of the whole crushing ordeal), and the ingenious ploy of having children face up to a situation of overwhelming gravity on their own gives the overall movie an intimate and very gut-wrenching emotional immediacy that's believable, engrossing, and ultimately quite devastating (the downbeat ending in particular packs a strong and lingering punch). Inspired by actual events, this unjustly neglected sleeper deserves to be a lot better known.

I saw this movie as a child in a theater (1963 or 64). It was played before the feature. It is amazing to me that I still remember the title, and was tickled to come upon this little discussion. The fascination the movie held at that time was that it stopped in the middle, I was horrified. I was never sure whether the movie was over and they stopped here to make it seem like something had really happened or if the tape broke and they couldn't get it repaired to continue. This was very disturbing for me at the time, I related to the terror of the children. I remember coming home for lunch and listening to the radio when Cuba was threatening us. I would have been in the third grade when Ladybug, Ladybug was at the theater. I guess it was the ultimate choose your own ending. I imagined what might have happened and kept the title in the back of my mind all this time. I would probably be surprised at how it plays out now. Everything seems larger in retrospect. I've been waiting 44 years for the spoiler. Do you think I'll ever see the end?

we got sent home from school one day during the Cuban missile crisis.

I was very clueless about the whole missile thing and everything else at that point in my life, so I was VERY blasé about it. I cant remember what I did that day but I recollect looking back, sending all those kids home was the stooopidest thing the school officials could have done, for numerous reasons.

it exemplified the rampant unpreparedness at that time. and in a deeper sense, we as a race was unprepared for what the atomic scientists had dropped in our lap.

you have to remember to make the distinction between *based* on a true story (follows the recorded facts) and *inspired* by a true story (speculative fiction on other possible outcomes).

but this movie has enough realism and a very important message. still relevant today; the news services are talking about the north Korean press's veiled threats about nuclear attack on united states if the Americans should carry out a preemptive attack on them. and they are on the verge of testing a missile capable of carrying out the threat.

sometimes Hollywood directors and producers create outstanding drama, this is one of them. I always liked Nancy Marshand in 'Lou Grant'.

The children, especially the girls, give outstanding performances. Really gives you a sense of the paranoia and dread of the time. Apparently you'll have to keep watching the skies [and TV Guide] for its rare appearances on the small screen, as it has not been released on video. Great movie -- wish it was available!

As the alarm goes off and the office staff and principal use the telephone to find out if the alarm is for real no one seems to think about turning an a radio to find out the situation. There was as system called CONELRAD - Control of Electromagnetic Radiation - with the frequencies marked on AM radio dials. If the school didn't have a radio in the office there would be one in a car. Furthermore, all radios would advise folks to move to one of the CONELRAD frequencies. Indeed, at one of the children's homes a radio is playing music yet no CONELRAD announcements. Very unrealistic situation because of this. CONELRAD was replaced in 1963 by EBS, Emergency Broadcast System, then EAS, Emergency Alert System, which is now in use.

I lived thru this and this film very accurately captures the paranoia of 1962. As a small child, I went thru the type of school drills shown (as well as drill at home). Too young to understand why, but old enough to understand the paranoia and fear. Movie could cause semi-ptsd from the era. I saw it as a 20-something year old and was totally amazed at the accuracy of actions/feeling. It shows schools walking students home (which we did in So Calif during that time period) and it shows just the general PARANOIA that permeated lives at the time. My folks saved rolled up newspapers with the intent of lining the hall if needed. We were to hide in the hallway, "Protected from nuclear fallout" by the rolls of newspaper. We had food etc. saved up. My folks were scared. We were scared.

We stumbled across this today on This Network about 10 minutes into the film. The alarm had just begun to sound. I am surprised that I had not heard of this film, as I am a fan of Cold War Americana.

I really appreciated the way in which all of the fear and uncertainty was portrayed, and the whole cast was very believable, the kids in particular. As someone who grew up in the shadow of the A-Bomb, I could relate to every one of the characters.

The heart-rending climax will leave you feeling like you were punched in the stomach - a sign of any great message film. Watch it if you get the chance.

In response to mib_one...My father was stationed at an Air Force base in Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 (not that long before this movie was released), and families there did stockpile canned goods in their cellars, at the very least, in the expectation that a nuclear missile attack might indeed be imminent. The possibility of a nuclear strike was omnipresent if barely acknowledged, exactly as it is depicted throughout this film. I thought William Daniels was especially good at not overtly revealing more than his frustration at not being able to get through to anyone on the phone. (According to the credits all this was inspired by an actual incident, although I wish I could find more details about that.) Apparently TIME Magazine didn't think much of this movie either. But to me it's a gem of an encapsulated moment in time, when Cold War paranoia was at its peak, and everyone had to face the possibility that they actually might not make it to adulthood, or even next Saturday.

The children were excellent young actors. I saw this movie about 3 times and the memories of that sobbing little girl putting herself into that old refrigerator haunts me. I think her name was Marilyn Rogers. And the teacher in the movie,she plays on As The World Turns now as Kim. Was this really a true story? Did a frightened group of children hide out in a bomb shelter?And why didn't the teacher go back and get those children when she found out everything was okay.One mother was trying to reassure her daughter that everything was okay. That the radio would not be playing music but she ran to her room and hid under the bed. And Harriet not letting that girl back into the shelter was awful too.

I've only seen it once-(on TV)-but I have vivid memories of this film. As a "child of the 60s" who grew doing the "duck and cover" routine in school, this brings back some interesting memories. But the ending (and please remember I've only seen it once, so my memories could be wrong) in what I recall is a junkyard when one of the children closes him(her)self in a refrigerator (while another hides in a box) as protection against the nuclear attack...whether my memories are exact or not, it certainly made an impression. (The only other film to make such an impression on me is "Miracle Mile" with Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham: it's a superb follow-up to "Ladybug, Ladybug."

When an air raid alarm goes off at an elementary school in a rural town, signifying nuclear warheads have been launched at the US, the ladies in administration and the principal believe it must be a malfunction with the alarm system. Still, they get the kids out of their classes and individual teachers walk groups of them home, everyone filled with questions and personal terrors. A few of the children are pragmatic about a possible strike, others become hysterical, some are even wistful--even in the midst of panic--while the grown-ups reassure themselves (and each other) that it's all a mistake. Intriguing, observant film from director Frank Perry (who also produced) and his screenwriter wife, Eleanor Perry, working from Lois Dickert's story. The Perry's, having had a sleeper hit with "David and Lisa" the previous year, were probably hoping lightning would strike twice, and that the controversial nature of the film would generate strong word-of-mouth. However, "Ladybug Ladybug" didn't catch on with the public, who might have been put off by the depiction of school-age children enacting the stereotypes usually associated with adults in crisis dramas (the leader who enforces the rules and doles out the food rations, the boy who challenges her, the distraught girl who pounds on the door and is refused entry, etc.). The acting is a bit uneven (predictable with so many age groups), however there are several young people in the cast who do exceptional work. Their parents are shown to be the juvenile ones--fussy and overworked, they can't even make time in their schedules for the end of the world. **1/2 from ****

The memory of this film, about a possible, pending nuclear war and the effect on parents, teachers, and especially the children in a rural school community has remained with me for these many years. It is not a "grand film", but the sense of doom, the helplessness and innocence of both adults and children in the face of total destruction makes one think deeply about the foibles of humanity and the total lack of control over the finality of our decision makers' actions. Its true that I grew up in a period of "cold war" and still carry the scary memories of practice hiding under our school desks. But, are we so far removed from that world today with the hawkish talk now (2017) going on in Washington? And, I cannot help equating the scene where the schoolgirl was refused refuge in a bomb shelter (only to take shelter inside an abandoned refrigerator in a field) with the politically motivated acrimony and divisions we see so amplified today between the peoples of our country. This film is worth watching for sure.

Saw this 9/26/15. A deftly handled examination of what real fear of an imminent nuclear attack on the United States would be like, here experienced from the point of view of students and faculty at a small rural elementary school in the early 1960's.

"Ladybug Ladybug" was released when memories of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis were still fresh. The occasion for the film's action is a false but credible alert received by a school that the bombs are on their way, i.e., the sort of warning the fictional authorities in "Dr. Strangelove" (1964) were comically unable to deliver. The film is another Eleanor and Frank Perry collaboration, following their success with "David and Lisa" the previous year.

The final act of that film, featuring some remarkable street-level photography, gives a preview of the cinematic style adopted here – with a camera at times hand- or shoulder-held, in motion at key moments, capturing some great shots in the pre-steadicam era. The Perrys seem to have filmed at a real elementary school, with many of the child performers nonprofessionals selected as "real people". We get a look at a rustic Main Street America that has disappeared, fortunately because of time and economics, not hydrogen bombs.

Some scenes look a bit stagy. There is preaching, too, but the sermons are justified. It's hard to argue with a plea against nuclear annihilation.

For a movie with such an obviously low budget I found myself buying the ticket sold by the Perrys. William Daniels as the school principal and Nancy Marchand one of the teachers didn't hurt. Viewers will also get to see Estelle Parsons playing the mother of one of the students, in what appears to be her first role on the big screen.

"Ladybug Ladybug", a movie I had never heard of until yesterday, deserves a place on the shelf with "Dr. Strangelove", "Panic in the Year Zero!" (1962), "Fail Safe" (1964), "On the Beach"(1959), "The Day After" (1983), and "Thirteen Days" (2000). Viewers may sense a stylistic affinity with Morris Engle and Ruth Orkin's "Lovers and Lollipops" (1956). The Perrys' work with children, interacting among themselves and with adults, reminded me of "Forbidden Games" (1952), directed by Rene Clement.

A strong recommendation for this movie. Quite a find.