The Great Rupert
5.8 /10 1 Votes
49% Rotten Tomatoes Genre Comedy, Family Music director Leith Stevens Language English | 6.6/10 IMDb Director Irving Pichel Initial DVD release June 1, 1999 Duration | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Release date March 1, 1950 (1950-03-01) Writer Laszlo Vadnay (screenplay), James OHanlon (additional dialogue), Harry Crane (additional dialogue), Ted Allen (story) Cast Jimmy Durante (Mr. Louie Amendola), Terry Moore (Rosalinda Amendola), Tom Drake (Peter 'Pete' Dingle), Frank Orth (Mr. Frank Dingle), Sara Haden (Mrs.Katie Dingle), Queenie Smith (Mrs. Amendola)Similar movies Home for Christmas , The Nightmare Before Christmas , Santa's Slay , Prep & Landing , A Christmas Carol , The Trolls and the Christmas Express Tagline Christmas miracles do happen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louie Amendola (Jimmy Durante), once a vaudeville performer with his wife and daughter, hasnt been getting any work, and, as Christmas approaches, his family is homeless. They find a room at Frank Dingles (Frank Orth) house, but dont know how theyll pay the rent. Then the money Franks been hiding in the ceiling above their apartment lands in the Amendolas hands when a crafty squirrel heaves it out of its hiding space, causing more complications within the household.
The Great Rupert, is a 1950 comedy family film, produced by George Pal, directed by Irving Pichel and starring Jimmy Durante, Tom Drake and Terry Moore. It is based on a story, written by Ted Allan, which has also been published as a childrens book under the title "Willie the Squowse".
The story revolves around a little animated squirrel who, with lots of charm, accidentally helps two economically distressed families overcome their obstacles.
A Christmas Wish is a heartwarming holiday classic about a family led by (Jimmy Durante) who is down on their luck at Christmas time.Shortly before Christmas, they move into an apartment where Rupert the squirrel lives in the attic rafters. Just as it seems that the holiday will come and go without so much as a Christmas tree, Rupert acts as the family's guardian angel - not only saving Christmas, but changing their lives forever.
Plot
Rosalinda Amendola, the daughter of happy but impoverished former acrobats is in love with the boy next door, aspiring composer Pete Dingle. Though Petes parents are wealthy, his miserly father Frank insists on hiding his money from his investments in the wall of their family home.
The siutation changes when Joe Mahoney, a vaudeville performer has fallen on hard times and has to leave his best friend and stage companion, Rupert a dancing squirrel in Frank and Rosalindas town where he will have to fend for himself with the other squirrels and live in a tree. Unsatisfied with tree life, Rupert gains access to the Dingle home and unbeknownst to Frank, has his bed in Franks hidden cache of money. Rupert decides to clear room in his domicile by throwing Franks money through a hole that floats down into the Amendola household who think the money has come from Heaven in answer to Mrs Amendolas prayers.
Attracted by Louie Amendola not only paying his debts, but helping all the needy businesses of the town, the FBI, IRS and local police coverge on the House of Amendola to discover the source of the familys wealth.
References
The Great Rupert WikipediaThe Great Rupert IMDbThe Great Rupert Rotten TomatoesThe Great Rupert themoviedb.org