The Insect Play (1939): cast, story & where to watch
1939 · Film
Released in 1939, The Insect Play is a drama and music film directed by Stephen Thomas, running about 90 minutes.
What it’s about. A tramp falls asleep in the woods. He dreams of observing a range of insects that stand in for various human characteristics in terms of their lifestyle and morality: the flighty, vain butterfly, the obsequious, self-serving dung beetle, the ants, whose increasingly mechanized behavior leads to a militaristic society.
Who’s in it. The Insect Play stars Wilfrid Grantham as The Lepidopterist / First Snail, Edmund Willard as The Tranp, Pamela Standish as The Chrysalis and Frank Birch as Mr. Beetle / Commander of the Yellows, among others.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Insect Play page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Insect Play tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Insect Play (1939)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Insect Play change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Who stars in The Insect Play?
- The Insect Play stars Wilfrid Grantham, Edmund Willard, Pamela Standish, Frank Birch and Maire O'Neill.
- When was The Insect Play released?
- The Insect Play was released in 1939, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.