THE GREAT RUPERT
US, 1950, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Jimmy Durante, Terry Moore, Tom Drake, Sarah Haden.
Directed by Irving Pichel.
The Great Rupert is, in fact, a squirrel, a squirrel who can dance – but, as the comedy progresses, Rupert is very instrumental in disposing of cash.
While Jimmy Durante is the star, there is a good supporting cast, Tom Drake and Terry Moore as a romantic couple. Durante and his family have been acrobats but have fallen on hard times, getting accommodation from our man who hides his profits from mining in the walls of his house, but the money is squirrelled out and dropped into the vaudeville family’s lounge room. They think it is an answer to prayer.
Meanwhile, Durante is helping all the local businesses and the FBI and the police become suspicious. They listen to the prayer explanations but cannot fathom what is the truth. In the meantime, a cigarette is tossed up and Rupert takes it, sets the whole house on fire. While the owner thinks the cash has gone up in flames, Durante is only too happy to help rebuild the house with a happy ever after ending.
1. An old-style family story, comedy?
2. 1950, black-and-white, the city, the streets, the apartments, the businesses? The musical score?
3. The title, Rupert as a squirrel, his dancing? The film as a Jimmy Durante film, his style, comedy, way with words, mixing them up, comedy routines, songs, genial?
4. The introduction, Rupert, the agent observing, Rupert having little impact? Rupert’s trainer, and issues of rent, the debt, in the park, letting Rupert go? Rupert’s return, in the roof, throwing the cash down, catching the cigarette, setting the house on fire?
5. The family, their act as a human pyramid, out of work, searching for work, somewhere to stay, mother and father, daughter? Rosalinda and the shoe, breaking? Their meeting Rupert’s manager, information, going to the apartment, meeting Peter, pleasant, his attraction to Rosalinda, their not paying immediately?
6. Peter and Rosalinda, the attraction, his not having a job, composing, the piece for himself and Rosalinda, getting the job at the bar, his work, his being upset at the agent and his taking Rosalinda out?
7. The parents, the genial mother, the father and his investments, getting information about the cash, not going to the bank, hiding it? Refusing to give any money to Peter, ousting him?
8. The family, settling in, the prayer for the shoes, the money falling down? Each week? Buying things, dad father and small Christmas tree, the big Christmas tree, the clothes? His helping all the neighbours out with the businesses, and his name on all of them? Gifts?
9. The suspicions of the police, hearing about his doing good, the shoes for the European children, the FBI, everybody arriving? The interviews, watching the prayer – no money? The giving up on the investigation?
10. Peter, his job, not wanting to back investors, but investing in the oil, its success?
11. The house on fire, the money gone? The father and his offering to rebuild the house – so the money reading-invested?
12. And happy ending for all?
