Night of the Lepus (1972)

Director:

William F. Claxton

Writers:

Russell Braddon (novel)
Don Holliday (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

4 October 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

They were born that tragic moment when science made its great mistake... now from behind the shroud of night they come, a scuttling, shambling horde of creatures destroying all in their path.

Plot:

Giant mutant rabbits terrorize the southwest!!

Plot Keywords:

Rabbit | Dead Family | Giant Animal | Mutant Animal | Pantyhose

Cast

Stuart Whitman	...	Roy Bennett
Janet Leigh	...	Gerry Bennett
Rory Calhoun	...	Cole Hillman
DeForest Kelley	...	Elgin Clark
Paul Fix	...	Sheriff Cody
Melanie Fullerton	...	Amanda Bennett
Chris Morrell	...	Jackie Hillman
Chuck Hayward	...	Jud
Henry Wills	...	Frank
Francesca Jarvis	...	Mildred
William Elliott	...	Dr. Leopold
Bob Hardy	...	Professor Dirkson (as Robert Hardy)
Richard Jacome	...	Deputy Jason
Inez Perez	...	Housekeeper
Roy Gaintner	...	Walker (as G. Leroy Gaintner)
Evans Thornton	...	Major White
I. Stanford Jolley	...	Dispatcher
Robert Gooden	...	Leslie
Walter Kelley	...	Truck Driver
Frank Kennedy	...	Doctor
Don Starr	...	Cutler
Peter O'Crotty	...	Arlen
Phillip Avenetti	...	Officer Lopez
Russell Morrell	...	Priest
Donna Gelgur	...	Wife in car
Steve DeFrance	...	Husband in Car (as Stephen deFrance)
Sherry Hummer	...	Child in car
Rick Hummer	...	Child in car
Jerry Dunphy	...	Television Newscaster

Directed by
William F. Claxton

Writing credits
Russell Braddon		(novel "The Year of the Angry Rabbit")
Don Holliday		(screenplay) and
Gene R. Kearney		(screenplay)

Produced by
A.C. Lyles	....	producer

Original Music by
Jimmie Haskell

Cinematography by
Ted Voigtlander

Film Editing by
John McSweeney Jr.		(as John McSweeney)

Production Design by
Stan Jolley

Set Decoration by
William F. Calvert		(as William Calvert)

Makeup Department
Wes Dawn	....	makeup artist
Alma Johnson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
John G. Wilson	....	unit production manager (as John Wilson)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stan Jolley	....	second unit director
Ted Schilz	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jerry Jost	....	sound
Hal Watkins	....	sound

Stunts
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norman A. Burza	....	wardrobe (as Norman Burza)

Other crew
Henry Cowl	....	animal trainer
Lou Schumacher	....	animal trainer
Lee Sollenberger	....	animal trainer: rabbits
Jack N. Young	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• A.C. Lyles Productions

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM-EMI (1972) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Howard Anderson Company, The

Also Known As:

Rabbits (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG | UK:X (original rating) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Ajo, Arizona, USA

Company:

A.C. Lyles Productions

Trivia:

'Lepus' is the Latin term for rabbit.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the climactic rabbit rampage, poor film processing makes some of the rabbits look transparent.

Quotes:

Gerry Bennett: Rabbits aren't your bag Roy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 3 (1996) (V)

What's Up Docs?

A mutant bunny is "saved" by a scientist's daughter and released into a hotbed of hare activity where it breeds and helps genetically alter the growth rate of rabbits in this western desert town. Soon, living in huge mining shafts are these monstrous rabbits with fangs out to rip, shred, cut, slice, maim, hew, and devour any living thing in their wake. This is the stark, gritty horror that is Night of the Lepus. Yeah right! Night of the Lepus has to be one of the most ridiculously inspired films I've seen in some time. Did a bunch of people actually sit down and think that bunnies would be frightening? To give credit where it is due, some of the rabbits(seen through some process that magnifies actual rabbits with blood-like red smeared on their noses and whiskers) actually look ... quite ridiculous. With those kind of special effects, you know what you are getting. Some scenes are just so humorous because of their poor production values. Seeing a handful of rabbits stuffed into a miniature hotel or watching the National Guard battle those rascally rabbits being just such two scenes. The cast has some big names with Stuart Whitman and Janet Leigh playing the scientist couple and Rory Calhoun as the farmer in need of ridding his pastures from rabbits, and then there is Deforrest Kelly, looking quite out of place, as a friend to all. Watchin Deforrest lay down TNT to blow up rabbit holes is a real hoot. The acting though can't save this film from anything more than what it is: a funny bad picture that is fun to watch because of its ridiculous premise, lamentable special effects, and some corny acting and dialog. C'mmon! Rabbits! What's next? Revenge of the Hamsters. Gerbil Apocalypse. The Guniea Pig Massacre. Ludicrous stuff here but fun nonetheless.