A Christmas Wish (aka The Great Rupert)

Amazon.com

Although it's now more of a curiosity and a quaint reminder of a time when movies possessed a quality of innocence that has long since vanished, The Great Rupert was something of a marvel when it was released in 1950. Produced by special-effects pioneer George Pal, who had delighted audiences of the 1940s with his innovative series of Puppetoon shorts, this charming comedy employs Pal's technique of animated puppetry to bring life to the title character--a lovable trained squirrel that comes to the rescue of a down-and-out family of vaudeville performers in the depths of the Great Depression.

Jimmy Durante leads the struggling clan, barely able to pay rent in a converted garage adjoining the home of a man who's been stockpiling lucrative investment dividends in the floorboard between the two homes. From his cubbyhole in the wall, resourceful Rupert has been tossing wads of $100 bills to Durante's wife, who thinks it's cash from heaven! Ol' Jimmy cracks wise with ancient puns and one-liners, making this a treat for Durante fans looking for squeaky-clean family entertainment. And once he's saved the day for all involved, furry-tailed Rupert goes back to his own vaudeville gig with his devoted owner, played by another veteran of vaudeville, Jimmy Conlin. It's all a bit too sweet by today's tarnished standards, but The Great Rupert stands as a testament to George Pal's optimistic spirit and creative imagination, which would later bless the productions of such films as The Time Machine and The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A charming and wholesome 1950 holiday film about a New York family (led by Durante) who are down on their luck at Christmas time. Shortly before Christmas, they move into a ground floor apartment building where Rupert the squirrel lives in the attic rafters. Just when it seems that the holiday will come and go without so much as a Christmas tree, Rupert acts as the family's beneficent guardian angel - not only saving Christmas, but changing their lives forever. (Originally titled The Great Rupert, the title has been changed to A Christmas Wish, which more adequately describes the story and showcases the delightful holiday theme.)

Customer Reviews:

The Great Rupert.......2007-01-25

This was a very innocent movie and we enjoyed it...all ages were having fun with the film. The kids were interested in people they never heard of, cars they hadn't seen before, and the clothing people wore at that time in the 1950's. The plot was cute; no need for censorship with this one. What a delight.

destined to become a Christmas favorite at our house.......2007-01-18

I love old movies, especially at Christmas time. We already had It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas in our DVD collection but decided to try some other oldies but goodies. I wouldn't put this one on the same level as the other two I mentioned but the squirrel (Rupert) in this picture is too funny. The story line is just hilarious. The landlord hides his money in the wall where the squirrel's nest is. The squirrel throws the money out a hole in the other side of the wall and the down-on-their-luck tennants receive "money from heaven!" just as the mom is praying for new shoes for her daughter.

The town's people can't figure out how these newcomers are making so much money - maybe they're gangsters? The police AND the IRS show up at their door asking questions. There is a romance involved between the poor tennants' daughter and the wealthy landlord's son. It was a very entertaining movie overall!

A CHRISTMASS WISH.......2006-01-29

THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY IT MY BE AS THAY SAY AN OLD TIMER BUT IT IS A HEART FELT MOVIE,ABOUT A LITTLE SQUIRL THAT IS A LITTLE LIFE AND FREIND SAVER.

Very Mild Mannered and Entirely Inoffensive.......2005-11-15

When a slightly miserly landlord takes to hiding his savings he inadverdently intrudes into a squirrel's nest--which wastes no time in shoving the money out of his nest and into the hands of the down-on-their-luck Amendola family, who rent an apartment below. Originally released under the title of THE GREAT RUPERT, in 1950 the film was primarily admired for its then-artful blend of live action and puppet animation to create Rupert, the squirrel; today, however, it is best regarded as a very mild mannered and entirely inoffensive little movie that just happens to offer the legendary Jimmy Durante one of his final film roles.

The script and story are as memorable as school cafeteria banana pudding, but the performances are reasonably engaging. As head of Amendola family, Durante is brash is only Durante could be, doing doubletakes and pounding out an occasional tune on the piano in his unique style. He is well supported by the likes of Terry Moore, Tom Drake, and such veteran character actors as Queenie Smith, Frank Orth, Sara Haden, and Jimmy Conlin. It's all in good fun.

The 20th Century Fox release consists of two versions of the film: the original black and white and a colorized version. There is nothing visually impressive about the film, so it is not hurt by colorization per se; as for the colorization, it is reasonably well done, at least so far as such effects go. Most astonishingly, the release includes a commentary track by Terry Moore and various people associated with the colorization and the DVD release.

The commentary track is not tremendously informative; Moore freely admits that she had seen the film only once before, and that some fifteen years earlier. Even so, Moore proves good company, offers the occasional insight into the cast, and now and then proves unwittingly amusing--with her comments on actor Tom Drake, who was both gay and deeply closeted, a case in point. On the whole, I'd say the commentary is actually more engaging than the film itself, but whatever the case Durante fans, Moore fans, and those in search of truly innocent family fare should find it pleasing.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

A sweet and gentle family film.......2005-11-03

"A Christmas Wish" (AKA "The Great Rupert") is a sweet and gentle film with a quiet reminder about the true meaning of Christmas. I recently found this film by accident, and I am glad I did. Most, if not all, contemporary "holiday" films are only marketing devices used to sell useless junk to kids. Fortunately, "A Christmas Wish" pre-dates this era, having been made in the late 1940's-early 1950's when Hollywood made many, many great kid-friendly films that had real stories and demonstrated great imagination. I am thinking of the "Lassie" films, "My Friend Flicka", "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T", etc. "A Christmas Wish", in my opinion, belongs with this group. I especially love the optimism and humor of the character played by the great Jimmy Durante. Where, in a contemporary film, will you find a father who isn't a drug dealer, or pimp, or hit man, or a crook of some kind? Or where parents, and kids, are not portrayed as morons who exist only to consume? No, you have to go back to films like "A Christmas Wish" for portrayals of human beings who have positive things to offer. I am so glad this film has been restored. The dvd edition offers the film in two versions, B&W and colorized. The B&W version is crisp and clear. I have not watched the colorized version, as I do not subscribe to the concept.

Average customer rating:

The Great Rupert / Joe Palooka
Starring: Jimmy Durante
Director: Multi
Manufacturer: Movie Ventures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Average customer rating:

Cant lose on this classic tale.

Great Rupert
Starring: Don Beddoe , Frank Cady , Candy Candido , Chick Chandler , and Jimmy Conlin
Director: Irving Pichel
Manufacturer: Gotham Distribution
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0007OP0V8
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Customer Reviews:

Cant lose on this classic tale........2005-07-28

They dont make family films anymore like this...
Ive heard of it, but i never had the chance to see it.
Good old Jimmy Durante.... this guy is a classic act. Use to see
him on Ed Sullivan or other shows and we always enjoyed him, his
siging his jokes...
So this movie which depicts different characters which is set
in the good old no money ..depression days delivers the package.
With a excellent cast,good storetelling and Rupert, this movie
can be watched by anybody, and its guaranteed that it will entertain you and leave you with a smile.

The Great Rupert - A Christmas Wish / Collector's Edition Digitally Remastered

Average customer rating:

The Great Rupert - A Christmas Wish / Collector's Edition Digitally Remastered

Manufacturer: not provided
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000EE1HZ4

Product Description

Family- Christmas dvd

[DVD] The Great Rupert (1950) starring Jimmy Durante by Movie Classics

Average customer rating:

[DVD] The Great Rupert (1950) starring Jimmy Durante by Movie Classics

Manufacturer: Movie Classics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0006NLCKS

Product Description

The Great Rupert. Starring Jimmy Durante. (1950, 86 minutes). This charmingly original story about a poor family and a Christmas miracle features American recording legend, Jimmy Durant, bellowing Christmas carols as youve never herd them before, and Rupert the squirrel drawn into the film using Academy Award Winning animation. The Great Rupert will warn the heart and could of adults and children alike.

Average customer rating:

The Great Rupert in a Christmas Wish
Starring: Don Beddoe , Frank Cady , Candy Candido , Chick Chandler , and Jimmy Conlin
Director: Irving Pichel
Manufacturer: Brentwood Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Kids & Family | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0002M5UD8
Release Date: 2004-08-24

The Great Rupert (AKA The Christmas Wish)

Average customer rating:

The Great Rupert (AKA The Christmas Wish)

Manufacturer: Miracle Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

THIS HEART-WARMING CLASSIC IS A VERY APPEALING STORY FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

Average customer rating:

The Great Rupert
Starring: Great Rupert
Manufacturer: Woodhaven Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0002JELWC
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Average customer rating:

The Great Rupert: A Christmas Wish
Starring: Great Rupert-Christmas Wish
Manufacturer: Unicorn Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0006A9J0Q
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Where Angels Fear to Tread [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]

Average customer rating:

Where Angels Fear to Tread [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]
Director: Charles Sturridge
Manufacturer: Prism Leisure
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000B9J448

Product Description

Great Britain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: o English (Dolby Digital 5.1) Synopsis: A wealthy, upper-class British widow marries a much younger Italian man with disastrous results in this turn-of-the-century costume drama based on the E.M. Forster novel. After marrying into a wealthy family and then losing her husband, middle-aged Lilia Herriton (Helen Mirren) suffers under the disapproving yoke of her haughty mother-in-law (Barbara Jefford). At the suggestion of family friend Caroline Abbott (Helena Bonham Carter), Lilia leaves her young daughter and in-laws for a holiday in Italy, where she falls in love with the penniless but handsome Gino Carella (Giovanni Guidelli). When she announces her plans to marry Gino, the family dispatches her brother-in-law, Philip (Rupert Graves), to prevent the union. But the alternately caddish and thoughtful Philip fails in his mission. Gino proves to be as charming to other women as he is to his wife, but he's genuinely bereaved when she dies in childbirth. Soon, Philip and his high-strung sister, Harriet (Judy Davis), arrive in Tuscany in an attempt to spirit away Lilia's son. But the principled Caroline turns up, determined to stop them, setting the stage for unexpected realizations and unforeseeable tragedy. Where Angels Fear to Tread reunites Bonham Carter and Graves, who co-starred in the previous E.M. Forster adaptation, A Room With a View. Each actor also starred in other Forster films: Bonham Carter in Howards End and Graves in Maurice. Special Features: o Biographies o Commentary o Featurette o Filmographies o Interactive Menu o Scene Access o Trailer(s)

DVD:

DVD

DVD