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The Great Rupert
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Wikipedia article
and Tom Drake
'The Great Rupert' is a 1950 comedy family film starring Jimmy Durante, Tom Drake and Terry Moore, produced by George Pal and directed by Irving Pichel. It is based on a story written by Ted Allan that has also been published as a children's book under the title 'Willie the Squowse'.[http://www.normanallan.com/Misc/Ted/nT%20ch%208.htm "Ted, Chapter Eight: Oh Canada], Norman Allan
The story revolves around a little animated squirrel who, with much charm, accidentally helps two economically distressed families overcome their obstacles.
Plot
Rosalinda Amendola, the daughter of happy but impoverished former acrobats, is in love with the boy next door, aspiring composer Pete Dingle. Though Pete's parents are wealthy, his miserly father Frank hides his money in the wall.
Joe Mahoney, a vaudeville performer who has fallen on hard times, has to leave his best friend and stage companion Rupert, a dancing squirrel, in the town. Rupert 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 makes his bed in Frank's hidden cache of money. He clears room by throwing the money through a hole, causing it to float down into the Amendola house and appear as if sent from heaven in answer to Mrs. Rosalinda's prayers.
Taxmen and cops converge on the Amendola house to discover the source of the family's wealth.
Cast
* Jimmy Durante as Mr. Louie Amendola
* Terry Moore as Rosalinda Amendola
* Tom Drake as Peter 'Pete' Dingle
* Frank Orth as Mr. Frank Dingle
* Sara Haden as Mrs. Katie Dingle
* Queenie Smith as Mrs. Amendola
* Chick Chandler as Phil Davis
* Jimmy Conlin as Joe Mahoney
* Rupert, an animated squirrel
* Hugh Sanders as Mulligan
* Don Beddoe as Mr. Haggerty
* Candy Candido as Molineri - Florist
* Clancy Cooper as Police Lt. Saunders
* Harold Goodwin as Callahan - F.B.I. Man
* Frank Cady as Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
* Irving Pichel as Puzzled Pedestrian (uncredited)
Production
In 1949, the film's producer George Pal, who had formerly produced animated shorts, convinced the independent Eagle-Lion Films to co-finance a two-picture deal with him. These films would be 'The Great Rupert' and 'Destination Moon'.HOLLYWOOD 'ANGELS': Rathvon and Odlum Ready to Finance Independent Producers -- Other Items
By THOMAS F. BRADY HOLLYWOOD. New York Times 24 July 1949: X3.BUSY HOLLYWOOD: New York Times 10 July 1949: X3.
The film was originally known as 'Money, Money, Money' and was based on a story by Ted Allen purchased by Pal in June 1948.Shakespeare Drama Back
G K. Los Angeles Times 21 June 1948: 16. It was adapted by Laszlo Vadnay. Filming started at General Service Studio on June 20, 1949.Pal Slates 'Rupert II;' Wyman Secures Story; Music Chief Chosen
Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (3 June 1949: B7.PROSER, NASSERS TO FILM MUSICAL: New York Times 4 June 1949: 8.
At one stage the film was called 'The Great Amandola'; at another, it was 'Rupert II'.BY WAY OF REPORT: By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 20 Nov 1949: X5.
Pal's stop-motion animation used in creating the illusion of the dancing squirrel was so realistic that he received many inquiries about where he had located a trained squirrel.
In 1999, Arnold Leibovit Entertainment rereleased the film on DVD.
In 2003, 20th Century Fox and Legend Films revived the public domain film with a colorized special edition under the title 'A Christmas Wish'. For that release, Terry Moore provided an audio commentary track.
See also
* List of films in the public domain in the United States
References
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