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 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.

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.