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Rabbit, Run
Rabbit, Run
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jack Smight
Screenplay by	Howard B. Kreitsek
Based on	Rabbit, Run; by John Updike
Produced by	Howard B. Kreitsek
Starring	James Caan; Carrie Snodgress; Anjanette Comer; Jack Albertson; Arthur Hill; Melodie Johnson; Henry Jones; Josephine Hutchinson
Cinematography	Philip H. Lathrop
Edited by	Archie Marshek
Music by	Ray Burton; Brian King
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	October 20, 1970;
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Rabbit, Run is a 1970 American independent drama film directed by Jack Smight. The film was adapted from John Updike's 1960 novel by screenplay writer Howard B. Kreitsek, who also served as producer. The film starred James Caan as Rabbit Angstrom, Carrie Snodgress as Rabbit's wife Janice, and Anjanette Comer as his girlfriend Ruth. The movie co-starred Jack Albertson as Coach Marty Tothero, Arthur Hill as Rev. Jack Eccles, and Henry Jones and Josephine Hutchinson as Rabbit's parents.^[1]^[2]

Plot

In Reading, Pennsylvania, former high school basketball star Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom is dissatisfied with both his failure to find a career and with his loveless marriage to Janice, an alcoholic who is pregnant with a child neither of them wants. Following an argument with Janice, Rabbit looks up his old basketball coach Marty Tothero, who is now living in squalor. Marty decides that Rabbit needs a woman, and he introduces him to Ruth, a part-time prostitute. When Rabbit moves in with Ruth, Jack Eccles, the family minister, tries to persuade him to return to his wife, but Rabbit refuses.

Eventually, Rabbit also becomes disenchanted with Ruth, and when Janice has her baby, Rabbit goes to the hospital and effects a reconciliation. For a time, they live in relative harmony, but Janice's insistence on a less active sex life leads to bitterness, and Rabbit again takes off. Janice resumes her solitary drinking, this time with tragic results; while in a drunken stupor, she accidentally drowns the baby. Learning of his child's death, Rabbit returns home and finds that everyone holds him responsible.

At the funeral, Rabbit responds to his parents' and in-laws' accusing glances by screaming his innocence. Fleeing from the cemetery, he goes to Ruth's apartment; but Ruth, who is now pregnant with his child, refuses to let him in unless he agrees to divorce Janice and marry her. Although he promises to do so, Rabbit is still unable to make a commitment to anyone and runs away again.

Cast

James Caan as Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom
Carrie Snodgress as Janice Angstrom
Anjanette Comer as Ruth Leonard Byer
Jack Albertson as Marty Tothero
Arthur Hill as Rev. Jack Eccles
Melodie Johnson as Lucy Eccles
Henry Jones as Mr. Angstrom
Josephine Hutchinson as Mrs. Angstrom
Don Keefer as Mr. Springer
Carmen Matthews as Mrs. Springer
Nydia Westman as Mrs. Smith
Marc Antony Van der Nagel as Nelson Angstrom
Virginia Vincent as Margaret
Sandra Scott as Miriam Angstrom
Margot Stevenson as Mrs. Tothero
Ken Kercheval as Barney

Production

James Caan later said he did this film instead of M*A*S*H, adding, "I was at odds — not screaming or fighting — with this guy, writer Howard Kreitsek... Some of the dialogue was horrendous. And I said, "I can't say this!" And they would say, "Well, John Updike wrote it!" So I said, "Well then get fuckin' Updike to play it!" It was just not good. The director [Jack Smight] was not good."^[3] It was the last in a series of financially unsuccessful films where Caan played the lead.^[4]

Following a dispute over the cut of the film submitted by producer Howard B. Kreitsek, director Smight asked Warner Bros. and the Directors Guild of America for his name to be removed from the film.^[5]

Release

The film, which was released by Warner Bros., had its world premiere in Updike's hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, on 28 October 1970.^[2] The film poster reads, "3 months ago Rabbit Angstrom ran out to buy his wife cigarettes. He hasn't come home yet."^[6]

The reception by the Reading audience was poor and Warner Bros. aborted a wide release for the film, which didn't even play in New York City. As late as 1973, John Updike was still hoping that Warners would reshoot scenes he considered weak and re-release the film.^[7]

NBC aired the film on NBC Monday Night at the Movies in January 1974.