IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
A little squirrel with lots of charm accidentally helps two poor, down-but-NOT-out families overcome their obstacles.A little squirrel with lots of charm accidentally helps two poor, down-but-NOT-out families overcome their obstacles.A little squirrel with lots of charm accidentally helps two poor, down-but-NOT-out families overcome their obstacles.
Don Beddoe
- Mr. Haggerty
- (as Donald T. Beddoe)
Walter Bacon
- Pedestrian
- (uncredited)
Lester Dorr
- Eddie - the Bartender
- (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp
- Passerby in Park
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe stop-motion animation used in creating the illusion of a dancing squirrel (Rupert) was so realistic that producer George Pal received many inquiries as to where he got a squirrel that was trained to dance.
- GoofsAs Rosalinda and Pete are walking along the city sidewalk, the reflection of the camera is visible in the shop windows.
- Quotes
Mr. Louie Amendola: [fleeing fire] The polar bear rug with the radio inside! I'll miss the Jimmy Durante show!
- Alternate versionsArnold Leibovit Entertainment released a restored HD version of The Great Rupert classic in 2021 with its original main titles intact exactly as George Pal intended. This is a restored upgrade to the DVD version Leibovit first released in 1999. Can be streamed on various online platforms including Tubi, Plex, Apple TV and others
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal (1986)
- SoundtracksMelody For Two Orphan Instruments
(uncredited)
Written by Fred Spielman, Buddy Kaye and Eden Ahbez
Instrumental
Featured review
I ran across this oddity in the video store which I assume would find most of its fans from those who collect George Pal films. He's the famous science fiction and fantasy producer/director (The Time Machine, War of the Worlds) who patented a technique known as Puppetoon visually similar to today's Claymation. It stars the great Jimmy Durante, and B-movie favorites Terry Moore (the original Mighty Joe Young), and Tom Drake. Disney animation had its pulse on the public and other studios were looking to cash in too via live action. So why not a live action film with a very talented squirrel? Why not? It's a family film, fun, original, and quite different. The squirrel looks a little like the contemporary mice in the "The Mouse and The Motorcyle" and the Jim Henson film "The Witches." This film however always has its feet firmly planted in reality with the squirrel seeming more like an organ grinder's monkey than human. It's also a film that is hard to resist from the film's first shot. Whereas most films wait too long into a film to show the audience what it came to see (Superman flying, ET talking, Aliens killing, etc...), The Great Rupert is introduced dancing in the very first scene! Good decision, because once you see him, you gotta love him!
- How long is The Great Rupert?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- A Christmas Wish
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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