The Great Rupert (1950)

Film and Plot Synopsis

As the Christmas season approaches, Vaudeville performer Joe Mahoney decides to quit the entertainment business and leaves his best friend, and dancing squirrel, Rupert in the apartment that he is vacating. Joe’s friend and fellow entertainer, Louie Amendola, moves into the apartment with his family, unaware of the rodent in the walls. A short time later, Rupert begins making the Amendola family’s dreams come true when he inadvertently transfers the wealth of the Amendolas’ landlord, Frank Dingle, to Louie and his family.

‘The Great Rupert’ Movie Summary

Vaudeville performer Joe Mahoney (Jimmy Conlin) has fallen on tough times as he cannot find any interest in his dancing squirrel act. Joe decides to leave town to begin life anew and leaves his best friend and stage partner, Rupert the squirrel, in the small downstairs apartment that he rented from the Dingle family. Before leaving town, Joe runs into his friend and fellow performer, Louie Amendola (Jimmy Durante). Louie is looking to find a cheap place to live with his wife (Quennie Smith) and his daughter Rosalinda (Terry Moore), and Joe offers up the apartment.

However, Frank Dingle (Frank Orth) is tired of the freeloading performer types and does not want to rent to any more entertainers. Fortunately, Louie convinces Frank’s big-hearted son, Pete (Tom Drake), to let them stay. Pete himself aspires to be a composer, something his father disapproves of. At the same time, Frank discovers that a gold mine that he invested in years earlier has finally struck gold and will begin making a return of $1,500 a week. Frank wishes to keep the influx of cash secret from the general public, including his son Pete. Frank begins placing the money into a hollow portion of the wall in his bedroom, unaware that is where Rupert uses the same place for his nest.

It is Christmas time, and the Amendolas are desperate for cash. While Louie and Rosalinda are out of the apartment, Mrs. Amendola prays to God for assistance. At the same time, Rupert begins throwing Frank’s cash out of his nest which falls down on top of Mrs. Amendola. Believing that she has experienced a miracle, Mrs. Amendola and her family use the money to fund their Christmas celebration. Mrs. Amendola repeats the routine every Thursday at the same time, which corresponds with the time that Frank returns from the bank with his weekly profits. Over the weeks, Rosalinda and Pete also start to develop feelings for each other.

Mama, stop worrying. Nothing can happen to her. She’s not alone. She’s with a man. Louie Amendola (Jimmy Durante)

Finding themselves with more money than they have ever had, the Amendolas begin spreading their money around, investing in small businesses all over town. Their investments begin making additional money, so they begin donating money to various charities. The Amendolas soon draw the attention of various government agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service and the local police. Everyone has a question as to the source of the Amendolas’ wealth, and no one believes Mrs. Amendola that the money falls from the ceiling. At the same time, Frank is informed that his gold mine has run out and there will be no new money coming in.

Wishing to see the miracle for themselves, the government agents come to observe Mrs. Amendola’s ritual. However, this time, nothing happened. Louie lights a cigarette and throws it into the air. This time, Rupert catches the cigarette and attempts to smoke it. Finding it distasteful, Rupert discards the cigarette which starts a fire within the walls. The Dingle house and the Amendola downstairs apartment are both consumed by the fire.

Outside, the Dingles and the Amendolas watch as their homes burn. Frank reveals that he placed the money into the walls. Without revealing that they were the recipients of the money, Louie promises to use his family’s wealth to help Frank and his family rebuild. The firefighters also manage to save Rupert who begins living in the park. A short time later, Rupert is reunited with Joe who enlists him in a newly minted circus act.

The film concludes with the families touring their newly rebuilt home. Pete learns that an oil well he invested in has finally hit and a song that he wrote was purchased by a song publisher. As the song plays on the radio, the two families celebrate and Pete and Rosalina embrace.