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Ernest Borgnine is excellent as a husband and father whose long-awaited camping vacation with his family is cut short after his boss orders his return to the office; Borgnine's little boy is upset they left a rabbit trap behind, and is angry with his father for not caring about the potential death of an animal versus the demands of his job. Screenwriter J.P. Miller, adapting his 1955 teleplay, broadcast as part of the Goodyear Playhouse, is a bit too obvious drawing out the parallels between the man's position at work and the caged rabbit; but, even as the symbolism is beaten to a pulp, the star's performance carries the material. This project was clearly meant to get Borgnine back on "Marty" territory; while "The Rabbit Trap" isn't nearly as rich in personality as that film, it certainly has its heart in the right place, and Borgnine's confrontation scene with his hard-nosed boss is pretty powerful. ** from ****

I saw this movie decades ago but, like Little Kidnappers, it made it big impression. Leacock was an affecting film director with a distinguished early career and I don't understand why so much of his later work was as a journeyman on television shows. I hope he was well paid.

A family that just has started their vacation, must return home because the father (Ernest Borgnine) is required by his boss. When they arrive, realize that they forgotten a harmless rabbit trap ready. Because of the insistence of his son, he try to convince his boss to let him go to the vacation spot to check whether any rabbit has been caught, and so release him from a slow death agony. He must choose between his job, or give a good example of compassion and love to all creatures to his son. The Ernest Borgnine acting is at his best. I love this film.

Adapted from a '50s TV drama, this United Artists release stars Ernest Borgnine, at the height of his Everyman abilities, as a family man torn between home and work responsibilities. His boss (David Brian, good) is a slave driver who knows how to exploit his cooperativeness, and his wife (Bethel Leslie, also good) keeps talking sense to him, knowing he's disinclined to listen. When he's called back to work prematurely from vacation and forgets to dismantle the rabbit trap he and his young son set up, the son worries about the suffering rabbit and tries to travel back to the lake on his own. Yes, the movie's really that small. There's a subplot about a va-va-voom but nice secretary who's having an affair with the boss and feels guilty about it, and there's a happy ending that really isn't very happy. And there's annoying, TV-sounding music throughout, and some dull shots of L.A. and environs in 1958. It's well intentioned and reasonably well executed, but also prosaic and up to its neck in the Everyday Problems of Normal People. That's generally not a recipe for exciting cinema.

It's hard to imagine, but in this film Ernest Borgnine plays a milquetoast who lets his boss walk all over him. Eddie Colt (Borgnine) hasn't had a vacation in years and the day he and his family finally arrive at a vacation rental, the boss (David Brian) orders him to return to work immediately, as there is an emergency and he's needed. Well, there is no emergency but Eddie disappoints his family and puts up with this thoughtless behavior.

There is a problem. Just after arriving at the vacation spot, Eddie took his young son through the woods and laid a trap to catch a rabbit. They have no intention of killing or harming the animal and plan to let it go....but with the big hurry to get out of town, they forgot about the trap....and the little boy is devastated. What will happen to any bunny that gets stuck inside....surely it will die!

While the title and plot might make it sound like a cute film about kids, it's really more of a light drama about a man who just doesn't appreciate what's really important in life. It also gives Borgnine one of his best roles, as like his Oscar-winning performance in "Marty", here he excels at playing a real guy...with an incredibly natural performance. Exceptional despite the title!