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:

Det våras för kaninerna

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Laugh or Die, Melvin Simon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Keaton's film debut.

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Quotes

The Minister: She's a truck. She'll need a forklift to get into heaven.

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Connections

References The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965)

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Soundtracks

Frere Jacques
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

Bizarre

I saw this movie three times when it first came out. I thought it was the funniest thing I had ever seen. I laughed at the antics and thought "the guy from 'Hollywood Squares'" was hilarious. I was ten years old at the time. I had no idea what the story or the humor was all about--I just loved watching adults act stupid (what kid wouldn't?) I watched it again a few years ago and, although there is plenty of slapstick, most of the humor is really desperate and unfunny. And the premise is completely bizarre, and not very funny. I guess Joan Rivers was going for the "all bets are off" humor of a Mel Brooks film. The movie pokes fun at all races and religions. The humor borders offensive, and is not successful because it's simply not funny (the image of God at the end saying "Oh my God..it's a girl!"--what is funny about this?) Irreverence is not always funny, as many comedy filmmakers in the '90s would discover. Why my parents took me to see this remains a mystery that is still discussed on occasion.