Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Ladybug Ladybug Blu-ray Movie Review

A first-rate production directed by Frank Perry (Last Summer, David and Lisa).

Ladybug Ladybug is a period-drama exploring the social anxieties of the 1960's circa the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the growing fears of a nuclear holocaust. Based on the short story by Lois Dickert, Ladybug Ladybug is an exploration of the growing paranoia of nuclear threats in America. The film stars Nancy Marchand.

An ordinary school day at a small-town elementary school becomes a day of paranoia and fear when an alarm unexpectedly goes off: the school siren blasts a warning that indicates an imminent threat to the students and faculty. With the possibility of a nuclear holocaust imminent, principle Mr. John Calkins (William Daniels) helps lead a charge for the students to be taken to safety. 6^th grade teacher Mrs. Andrews (Nancy Marchand) directs her students to form a line and to follow her away from the elementary school. As the students cross the barren outdoors while wondering about the risk of annihilation, the journey turns dark: is the end of civilization upon them?

Nancy Marchand delivers a strong performance as Mrs. Andrews. Marchand helped the storytelling explore the paranoia of the time with a riveting performance – one that is well-balanced alongside performances from the cast of student-characters. The role was an excellent fit for the actress and Marchand delved in to the role with a dedication that was a necessity for the part. The results are exceptional.

The production is graced with excellent art direction by Albert Brenner (Bullitt, Point Blank). The production has a relatively stark landscape (with a strong emphasis on the outdoor scenery) and it shines throughout the run-time – demonstrating the art direction expertise of Brenner as subtle and effective elements of the production are showcased (such as an interesting emphasis on foreground objects as the students traverse the outdoors).

The dangers of nuclear holocaust.

Ladybug Ladybug also benefits from the top-notch cinematography of Leonard Hirschfield (The Steps, David and Lisa). Hirschfield has a clear understanding of how film is a visual medium, first and foremost, and handles the unique cinematographic effects well. There are many unique visual cues that showcase the natural environments of the outdoors (and these scenes are so well shot that these sequences dramatically enhance the tensions of the storyline).

The music score composed by Bob Cobert (Dark Shadows, The Winds of War) is one of the other exceptional elements of the production. The score is dark and brooding at times – reminding one (fittingly) of a score from an episode of The Twilight Zone. The music adds plenty of atmosphere throughout the film. The score elevates the material and gives the filmmaking an edge that stands out.

The screenplay by Eleanor Perry (David and Lisa, The Swimmer) is one of the highlights of the film. The script has excellent dialogue and characterizations. Given the type of story, the script needed to emphasis the characters as a central component: the plot is relatively thin but the concept is quite compelling. The script is well-balanced and never suffers from egregious excess or paper-thin characterizations. An excellent effort by Eleanor Perry.

Produced and directed by Frank Perry (Last Summer, David and Lisa), Ladybug Ladybug is an example of how much a filmmaker can accomplish with a strong concept and well-executed script. With little in the way of special effects or big-budget spectacle, Ladybug Ladybug is a compelling experience that explores its story with a strong visual sensibility and a knack for characterizations. Exploring the nuclear paranoia of the 1960s, Ladybug Ladybug is an excellent production – one with first rate editing by Armond Lebowitz (Chiefs, The Ambulance). Frank Perry delivered on the premise of the film and audiences are taken on a compelling journey. Don't miss it.

Ladybug Ladybug Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Ladybug Ladybug is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. Featuring a brand new 2K master of the film, the print quality on the release is exceptional throughout. The scan demonstrates a few slight scratches (visible only during a few scenes) but generally looks outstanding: crisp, clean, and dynamic.

Ladybug Ladybug is well-preserved with a nearly flawless print. The black and white cinematography looks exceptional and the black levels are quite effective for the presentation. There are no egregious issues to report in regards to print damage, wear, and encoding anomalies. Kino Lorber has done an exceptional job with the new remaster of the film. A top-notch presentation.

Ladybug Ladybug Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio on the release is exceptional. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand throughout the presentation. The track is quite proficient given the age of the elements. Though not as crisp as a modern production, there were no issues with hiss, crackle, warps, and clicks throughout the presentation. Fans will be quite pleased.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Ladybug Ladybug Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Harland Smith

Ladybug Ladybug Theatrical Trailer (HD, 00:44)

Diary of a Mad Housewife Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:54)

Doc Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:42)

Hello Again Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1:25)

Ladybug Ladybug Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ladybug Ladybug is an exceptional film about the fear of a nuclear holocaust circa the 1960s. The performances are uniformly excellent and Nancy Marchand stands out as an authoritative teacher, Mrs. Andrews. With a strong script by Eleanor Perry (David and Lisa, The Swimmer) and excellent direction by Frank Perry (Last Summer, David and Lisa), Ladybug Ladybug is well worth seeing. Featuring a brand new 2K restoration, the Kino Lorber Blu-ray edition has an exceptional video presentation. Fans of the film won't want to miss it. Highly recommended.