Fanciful Holiday Fun: ‘The Great Rupert’ 1950

 

Jimmy Durante & "The Great Rupert!"

Even back in 1950, the small-budget film The Great Rupert was considered sentimental and far-fetched. Yet its good-natured story and clever special effects with a dancing squirrel have stuck in the minds of movie fans. The comedy-drama of a down on their luck show biz family who benefit from the former four-legged tenant benefits from a cast of familiar names, solid direction, and special effects by George Pal.

You will believe a squirrel can dance! "The Great Rupert" from 1950.

Actor-turned-director Irving Pichel directs the corny material straightforwardly and gives the whole cast their moments to shine. Pichel notably discovered child actress Natalie Wood. Special effects legend George Pal, who later went on to elaborate classics The War of the World and The Time Machine, has just one special effect in The Great Rupert: the title character, which happens to be a show biz squirrel! Rupert dances and also reacts charmingly to the human story here. Pal’s mechanical Rupert is quite convincing even by today’s standards. I’m surprised somebody hasn’t made a big-budget remake of this tall tale.

"The Great Rupert" is a sweet little fantasy film from 1950.

Rupert’s human owner, Joe Mahoney (Jimmy Conlin) can’t find them any gigs and must leave their very humble rental abode. He is released in the park, which initially struck me as horrible. But fear not, Rupert goes right back to his old home, up in the attic.

Then comes the new renters, equally as down on their luck, but with a spiel. This family is show biz folk, too, acrobats—about as much in demand as dancing squirrels by 1950. Lou Amendola is played by Jimmy Durante, always watchable and warm. Mama Amendola is played by Queenie Smith, who played Eleanor Parker’s whining mother in Caged the same year. Their teen-age daughter, Rosalinda, is played by Terry Moore, back in her sweet starlet days.

Terry Moore & Tom Drake play the young lovers in 1950's "The Great Rupert."

Their landlord Frank Dingle (played by Frank Orth) is a cheapskate who literally squirrels extra dough in his wall. Even his wife Katie (Sara Haden of the Andy Hardy family) and son Pete (MGM’s boy next door Tom Drake) think Frank’s a tightwad.

Queenie Smith has a touching scene where she prays for help for her family
in 1950's holiday-themed fantasy, "The Great Rupert."

At first Lou is hard pressed to figure where he’s going to come up with the rent, but he’s got the gift of gab to give in the meantime. Mama Amendola (Amen, dollars?) is more pragmatic and prays for help. Miraculously, money falls from the broken skylight. This scene happens about the same day each week—I won’t spoil the fun here.

After the family fixes up their rented hovel, they begin to invest in the community, and soon many of the townspeople begin to prosper—think It’s a Wonderful Life with a dancing squirrel!

Every time a squirrel drops some dough, the Amendolas buy some things!
1950's fantasy family comedy, "The Great Rupert."

Despite an unwelcome visit from the IRS, wondering where the Amendolas got their new-found dollars, The Great Rupert has a happy ending, with the characters falling into money. If you’re in the mood for an old-fashioned movie with a holiday theme, watch wonderful Jimmy Durante and a cast of pros serve up this cornball cinema fun.

Jimmy Durante brings his great humor and heart to 1950's holiday-themed
"The Great Rupert."