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The Great Rupert [1950]

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Director:Irving Pichel
Writer:László Vadnay
Composer:Leith Stevens
Length:87 minutes
(1 hour 27 minutes)
MPAA Rating:UR
Sorting Category:Comedy
IMDB Rating:6.5/10
Amazon Rating:4.5/5 stars
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Classifications:
  • Comedy
  • Family
  • Romance
Available Formats:
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Synopsis: A little squirrel with lots of charm accidently helps two poor, down-but-NOT-out families overcome their obstacles.


Reaction: Charming and fun.


Personal Rating: 7/10

Irving Pichel => Director
László Vadnay => Writer
Leith Stevens => Composer
Candy Candido => Molineri - Florist
Chick Chandler => Phil Davis
Clancy Cooper => Police Lt. Saunders
Don Beddoe => Mr. Haggerty (as Donald T. Beddoe)
Frank Cady => Mr. Taney - Tax Investigator
Frank Marlowe => Dave the Mailman (uncredited)
Frank Orth => Mr. Frank Dingle
Harold Goodwin => Callahan - F.B.I. Man
Hugh Sanders => Mulligan
Jimmy Conlin => Joe Mahoney
Jimmy Durante => Mr. Louie Amendola
Lester Dorr => Eddie, the Bartender (uncredited)
Queenie Smith => Mrs. Amendola
Rupert => Himself the Squirrel
Sara Haden => Mrs.Katie Dingle
Terry Moore => Rosalinda Amendola
Tom Drake => Peter 'Pete' Dingle
Torben Meyer => Mr. Petrushka the Baker (uncredited)

Random Trivia For This Title:

  • Jimmy Durante was actually a last minute addition to the cast. As a result, Terry Moore's billing was dropped from first to second. The script was also modified to allow for Durante-style patter and songs.
  • Terry Moore's career was so hectic during this period that she claims that she didn't see this film until over 35 years later when [?] Marjorie Durante, Jimmy's widow, ran a private print for her.
  • This was reportedly shot in 1948 but not released until 1950. It was later re-released as a holiday film under the title A Christmas Wish.
  • The stop-motion animation used in creating the illusion of a dancing squirrel (Rupert) was so realistic that director [?] George Pal received many inquiries as to where he got a squirrel that was trained to dance.
  • This was the first feature length film for producer [?] George Pal.