Night of the Lepus (1972)

User Rating:

3.7/10   

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:

As a promotional piece of memorabilia for the film lucky rabbits feet complete with red paint ("blood") on the toes were distributed.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Officer Lopez: Attention! Attention! Ladies and gentlemen, attention! There is a herd of killer rabbits headed this way and we desperately need your help!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Everybody Hates Chris: Everybody Hates DJs (#2.17)" (2007)

The glory of B-movies, where else would you see this!

Campy, hokey, and oh so hilarious B movie is an unforgettable tale of nature on the rampage.

In rural New Mexico folks trying to eliminate the rabbit population create a race of huge, killer rabbits that terrorize mankind!

Night of the Lepus is one of those golden B flicks that must be seen to be believe. It's wonderfully tongue-in-cheek in its premise, and builds up some good moments of spookiness despite of its silliness. For a film of its budget, this movie manages to have some pretty decent special FX, it certainly beats the likes of Food of the Gods (1976) or Empire of the Ants (1977).

The veteran cast is OK in their performances. The late-great Janet Leigh, Rory Calhoun, and Stuard Whitman are the best of the cast. The music score is bland, but in a nicely moody way.

Night of the Lepus is a classic film not to be missed by fans of the B horror genre.

** 1/2 out of ****