Rhubarb (1951)

Rich, eccentric T.J. Banner adopts a feral cat who becomes an affectionate pet. Then T.J. dies, leaving to Rhubarb most of his money and a pro baseball team, the Brooklyn Loons. When the ... See full summary »

Director:

Arthur Lubin

Writers:

Dorothy Davenport (screenplay) (as Dorothy Reid), Francis M. Cockrell (screenplay) (as Francis Cockrell)

Stars:

Ray Milland, Jan Sterling, Gene Lockhart

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ray Milland	...	Eric Yeager
Jan Sterling	...	Polly Sickles
Gene Lockhart	...	Thaddeus J. Banner
William Frawley	...	Len Sickles
Elsie Holmes	...	Myra Banner
Taylor Holmes	...	P. Duncan Munk
Willard Waterman	...	Orlando Dill
Henry Slate	...	Dud Logan
James Griffith	...	Ogelthorpe 'Oggie' Meadows (as James W. Griffith)
Jim Hayward	...	Doom
Donald MacBride	...	Pheeny
Hal K. Dawson	...	Mr. Fisher
Orangey	...	Rhubarb (as Rhubarb)

Storyline

Rich, eccentric T.J. Banner adopts a feral cat who becomes an affectionate pet. Then T.J. dies, leaving to Rhubarb most of his money and a pro baseball team, the Brooklyn Loons. When the team protests, publicist Eric Yeager convinces them Rhubarb is good luck. But Eric's fiancée Polly seems to be allergic to cats, and the team's success may mean new hazards for Rhubarb.

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Plot Keywords:

animal character name as title | one word title | cat | baseball | feral cat | 

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Taglines:

The Laughing-est Picture in Nine Lifetimes!!!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sport

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Fourteen different cats portrayed Rhubarb at different points in the film. Each cat was trained to do a different trick. Three of the most identical cats appeared in the courtroom scene where Polly Sickles has to choose which one is the real Rhubarb.

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Goofs

At the end of the opening sequence, when Rhubarb is pursuing the fleeing dog past a shop, the film is clearly reversed - the word "Furniture" over the shop front is mirrored, as is the wording on the mailbox.

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Quotes

Ball Player: A Rhubarb. It's a donnybrook... a dust-up...
Eric Yeager: [takes phone] Lady, you know what happens at a sale, when two women get hold of the same dress? THAT's a Rhubarb!
[slams phone down]

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Crazy Credits

The opening cast list ends: "and introducing the newest addition to Hollywood's great galaxy of stars -- that dynamic, exciting, scintillating personality RHUBARB (by special arrangement with the S.P.C.A.) ...A.H.A. Y.M.C.A. U.C.L.A. B.P.O.E. R.F.C.)"

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Connections

Referenced in The Comedy of Terrors (1963)

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Soundtracks

FRIENDLY FINANCE COMPANY
Written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Sung by chorus in parody TV commercial

User Reviews

Miss you, Rhubarb!

I saw this movie first on TV in the 70's(I think). The story follows a multi-millionaire-baseball team owner who wishes his team would show some spunk. He meets Rhubarb, a golf ball stealing feral cat, and in the process of trying to eradicate the cat, finds just what he is looking for in a team player, all fight. He takes in the cat, and after the man passes away, the cat is willed ownership of the baseball team. (this has actually happened in real-life a few years ago, a cat inheriting millions.) Once the superstitious ball players are convinced the cat is good luck, the team begins to win, angering gangsters betting on the games. Battling them and his fiance's alergy to cats, the hero finally manages to conquer all. This movie is simply fun. I really wish it could be revived and sold as VHS or DVD. I would think it could make quite a lot of money, considering the millions of loving cat owners (including myself) who would enjoy seeing this show. If you want a simple and cute story,see this movie!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1952 (France)

Also Known As:

Aj, som katten

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Perlberg-Seaton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1