Rabbit Test (1978)

Lionel's life turns around after a one-night stand on top of a pinball table... he becomes the world's first pregnant man!

Director:

Joan Rivers

Writers:

Joan Rivers, Jay Redack

Stars:

Billy Crystal, Alex Rocco, Joan Prather

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Crystal	...	Lionel Carpenter
Joan Prather	...	Segoynia Savaka
Alex Rocco	...	Sergeant Danny Bonhoff
Doris Roberts	...	Mrs. Carpenter
Margaret Adachi	...	Interviewer
Adam Anderson	...	Sobbing Sailor
John Andersonjo	...	African Chief
Edward Ansara	...	Second Newscaster
Gino Ardito	...	Wino Brother
Lawrence Bame	...	Second Secret Serivce Man
Sarverio Barbiere	...	Gypsy Cousin
Marlene Barr	...	Cashier
Billy Barty	...	Lester
Tanii Bauer	...	Mrs. Reinheimer
Peggy Blow	...	Bunny

Storyline

Twenty-four year old Angeleno Lionel Carpenter teaches a citizenship class at night school, most of his immigrant students who have no idea of what he is teaching in the language barrier. He has also had no luck with women largely due to the sheltered life he's led under the wings of his overbearing mother. His lack of encounters with women in the sexual sense is unlike his brash cousin, Sgt. Danny Bonhoff, who will do anything and take whatever opportunity to be up close and personal with the opposite sex. With Danny's help, Lionel is able to lose his virginity, although it isn't a totally satisfying experience. Regardless, Lionel learns that the reason for his nausea and vomiting following that encounter is because he got pregnant from it, he being the first male in recorded history to be so. By this time, he and one of his students, Russian gypsy Segoynia Savaka, have fallen in love and want to get married. They have to decide what to do about the baby. But the infamy and notoriety...

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Plot Keywords:

one night stand | pregnant man | f rated | title directed by female | weird pregnancy | 

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Taglines:

The story of the world's first pregnant man... it's inconceivably funny.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Spanish

Release Date:

30 August 1979 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Rabbit Test

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Melvin Simon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rabbit Test features Valerie Curtin and Susanne Zenor in small roles. Both women were initially cast as leads in the pilot for Three's Company (1976) before the show was re-worked and re-cast.

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Quotes

Sergeant Danny Bonhoff: Of course I know what a uterus is; he's the guy who killed Ceasar.

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Connections

Referenced in Rewind This! (2013)

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Soundtracks

Frere Jacques
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

One Word:Disappointment

And that one word pretty much describes this movie. True, it has it's funny moments, but I expected more from this film than what I saw. For example, the ending left many questions unanswered and what happened afterwords was left up to the imagination of those who've seen it. Plus, some of the jokes were tasteless and some were cliched. I believe they should have told more of this story than trying to cram it all in under 90 minutes, which is just what they did here. I also can't believe that this movie was described as one Mel Brooks would've directed, because I know, if left up to him, he would've done more to the script and the plot than Joan Rivers did, added more time to the movie, and explained the story better.