
The Insect Play
1939, English. Directed by Stephen Thomas.
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.
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Insect Play
The Insect Play isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 29 May 1939.
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Cast & crew
- Stephen ThomasDirector
- Wilfrid GranthamThe Lepidopterist / First Snail
- Edmund WillardThe Tranp
- Pamela StandishThe Chrysalis
- Frank BirchMr. Beetle / Commander of the Yellows
- Maire O'NeillMrs. Beetle / Philanthropist
- Charles PetersRobber Beetle/Journalist
- Rupert Bruce LockhartThe Ichneumon Fly / Inventor
- Sheila KayThe Larva
- Leslie FrenchMr. Cricket / Second Snail
- Wendy ToyeMrs. Cricket
- Wilfred FranksThe Blind Ant Timekeeper
- Geoffrey WincottThe Parasite
Details
- Released
- 29 May 1939
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Written by
- Karel Čapek, Josef Čapek
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News & fan talk
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The Insect Play: quick answers
Is The Insect Play worth watching?
The Insect Play doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Insect Play?
The Insect Play runs 90 minutes (1h 30m).
Does The Insect Play have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Insect Play. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Insect Play parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Insect Play yet.
Which OTT platform is The Insect Play on?
The Insect Play isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 29 May 1939. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Insect Play?
If you liked The Insect Play, try Battle of the Year, Honey: Rise Up and Dance, Clika.
Who directed The Insect Play?
The Insect Play (1939) was directed by Stephen Thomas and stars Wilfrid Grantham, Edmund Willard, Pamela Standish.