Rhubarb (1951 film)
| Rhubarb | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Arthur Lubin |
| Written by | Dorothy Davenport (screenplay), Francis M. Cockrell(screenplay) H. Allen Smith (novel) |
| Produced by | William Perlberg, George Seaton |
| Cinematography | Lionel Lindon |
| Edited by | Alma Macrorie |
| Music by | Van Cleave |
Production company | |
Release date | 1951 |
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Rhubarb is a 1951 film adapted from the 1946 novel Rhubarb by humorist H. Allen Smith. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the screwball noir comedy stars the cat Orangey along with Jan Sterling and Ray Milland. Cinematography was by Lionel Lindon.
Plot
Thaddeus J. Banner, a lonely, eccentric millionaire who owns a baseball team, the Brooklyn Loons, takes a liking to a dog-chasing stray cat (played by Orangey), and takes him into his home. He names the cat "Rhubarb," which is baseball slang for an on-field argument or fight.
When the man dies, it is discovered that his last will and testament made Rhubarb his sole beneficiary; hence the cat inherits the baseball team. Team publicist Eric Yeager (Milland) is named the cat's guardian. His fiancee Polly Sickles (Sterling), daughter of the team's manager, is terribly allergic to Rhubarb, causing many problems.
Banner's unhappy daughter Myra files a lawsuit, contesting the will. And when the team's players discover they are owned by a cat, they stage a protest until Yeager persuades them that Rhubarb brings them luck.
Brooklyn begins winning and will play the powerful New York team for the championship. But a bookie who stands to lose big if Brooklyn wins decides to kidnap the cat. Brooklyn's fortunes turn for the worse while the search for Rhubarb goes on, until the cat finally escapes from his captors and races to the ballpark to save the day.
Cast
- Orangey as Rhubarb
- Ray Milland as Eric Yeager
- Jan Sterling as Polly Sickles
- William Frawley as Len Sickles
- Gene Lockhart as T.J. Banner
Reception
The film earned an estimated $1.45 million at the US box office in 1951.[1]
Awards
Orangey won PATSY Awards (Picture Animal Top Star of the Year, the animal version of an Oscar) for his appearances in both Rhubarb and Breakfast at Tiffany's, the only cat so far to win more than once.
Strother Martin and Leonard Nimoy have uncredited roles in this film.
The film was released on DVD by Legend Films on July 1, 2008.
References
- ^ 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1951', Variety, January 2, 1952
External links
 | This film article about a 1950s comedy film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |