''The Rabbit Trap'' is a 1959 American drama film directed by

Philip Leacock Philip David Charles Leacock (8 October 1917 – 14 July 1990) was an English television and film director and producer. His brother was documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock. Career Born in London, England, Leacock spent his childhood in the ...

based on a 1955 ''

Goodyear Television Playhouse ''Goodyear Television Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that was telecast live on NBC from 1951 to 1957 during the first Golden Age of Television. Goodyear alternated sponsorship with Philco, and ''The Philco Television Playhouse'' ...

teleplay A teleplay is a screenplay or script used in the production of a scripted television program or series. In general usage, the term is most commonly seen in reference to a standalone production, such as a television film, a television play, or a ...

JP Miller James Pinckney Miller (December 18, 1919 – November 1, 2001) was an American writer whose pen name was "JP Miller". He was a leading playwright during the Golden Age of Television, receiving three Emmy nominations. A novelist and screenwriter, ...

.''The Rabbit Trap''
at TCM Monthly

Plot

Since leaving the army ten years ago, Eddie has been working hard without any promotion, never missing a day of work and having only three weeks holiday in his ten years with his construction firm. The day after, Eddie and his wife Abby and son Duncan are granted a two-week holiday. They spend it in a mountain cabin. On the first day, Eddie and Duncan place a rabbit trap out in the countryside for the sheer joy of feeding and releasing him. Eddie is called back to work the next day, leading to arguments with Abby who insists that Eddie should remain on holiday. Eddie fears being left behind in promotion if he endangers his reputation for reliability. Upon returning home, Duncan realizes they left the trap set and a rabbit could be trapped inside. Duncan breaks his piggy bank and returns to the mountains by himself to save the rabbit and tries to take the bus to Deep Springs to save the rabbit. In the midst of this, his Dad gets a promotion and Judy kisses the owner of the construction firm and gives her one-week notice. Eddie decided that it is more important to bring his son back to check the rabbit trap than his promotion and quits.

Cast

Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine ( ; born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American actor whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his gruff but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin. A popular perf ...

: Eddie Colt *

David Brian Brian James Davis (August 5, 1914 – July 15, 1993), better known as David Brian, was an American actor. He is best known for his role in '' Intruder in the Dust'' (1949), for which he received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. ...

: Everett Spellman * Bethel Leslie: Abby Colt *

Kevin Corcoran Kevin Anthony "Moochie" Corcoran (June 10, 1949 – October 6, 2015) was an American child actor. He appeared in numerous Disney projects between 1957 and 1963, leading him to be honored as a Disney Legend in 2006. Early life Born in 194 ...

: Duncan Colt *

June Blair Margaret June Blair (October 20, 1932 – December 4, 2022) was an American model and actress. She was best known for being ''Playboy'' magazine's Playboy Playmate, Playmate of the Month for its January 1957 issue and for being part of the TV se ...

: Judy Colt *

Christopher Dark Christopher Dark (born Alfred Francis DeLeo, April 21, 1920 – October 10, 1971) was an American actor. He graduated from Cornell University and did post graduate work at Columbia University. He served as an army medic in the Philippines ...

: Gerry *

Jeanette Nolan Jeanette Nolan (December 30, 1911 – June 5, 1998) was an American actress. Nominated for four Emmy Awards, she had roles in the television series '' The Virginian'' (1962–1971) and '' Dirty Sally'' (1974) and in films such as ''Macbeth'' ...

: Mrs. Colt * Russell Collins: Hughie Colt *

Don Rickles Donald Jay Rickles (May 8, 1926 – April 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was known primarily for his insult comedy. His film roles include ''Run Silent, Run Deep (film), Run Silent, Run Deep'' (1958), ''Enter Laughing ...

: Mike O'Halloran

References

External links

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''The Rabbit Trap''
at

TCMDB Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of ...

''The Rabbit Trap''
at New York Times 1959 drama films 1959 films American black-and-white films American drama films Films based on television plays Films directed by Philip Leacock Films produced by Burt Lancaster Films produced by James Hill Films produced by Harold Hecht Films produced by Harry Kleiner Films scored by Jack Marshall Films set in California Norma Productions films United Artists films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-US-drama-film-stub