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A Christmas Wish - IN COLOR! Also Includes the Restored Black-and-White Version!
| Our Price |
$ 8.46
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| Retail Value |
$ 9.95 |
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| You Save |
$ 1.49 (15%) |
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| Item Number |
706504 |
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Item Description...
Product Description
A heartwarming holiday classic about a family who is down on their luck at Christmas time. Shortly before Christmas, they move into an apartment where Rupert the squirrel lives in the attic rafters and acts as the family's guardian angel not only saving Christmas, but changing their lives forever. Enlivened with an unforgettable love story between Terry Moore (Mighty Joe Young) and Tom Drake (Meet Me in St. Louis). Rupert the Squirrel (created using George Pal's Academy Award winning animation) will charm young and old alike. Jimmy Durante shines when he sings well-loved Christmas carols in the evocative voice that made him one of America's recording legends. Digitally restored and in color for the first time and includes a special audio commentary by star Terry Moore.
Outline
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
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Item Specifications...
Record Label Legend Films Inc.
Format Black & White / Dolby / DVD / Full Scre
Dimensions: Length: 5.4" Width: 7.5" Height: 0.7"
Weight: 0.25 lbs.
Binding DVD Video
Publisher Legend Films Inc.
ISBN 555737647X
EAN 0844503000408
UPC 844503000408
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Availability 20 units.
Availability accurate as of May 25, 2012 05:52.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Woodland, CA.
Orders shipping to an address other than a confirmed Credit Card / Paypal Billing address may incur and additional processing delay.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Charming Old-Fashioned Romantic Comedy... Nov 28, 2009 |
| If I could have, I would have given this movie 4-1/2 stars (an extra 1/2 for being able to see it colorized). This is a charming old-fashioned romantic comedy starring the wonderful Jimmy Durante who sings two songs in the picture. Also stars the perky Terry Moore, and handsome Tom Drake. It's just a sweet picture (made in 1950 origianally) and fun family viewing if yours is one to appreciate older films. I especially liked the theme of 'investing back in one's community' when one has the surplus finances to do so (another theme found in the other holiday movie, "It's a Wonderful Life"). | | |  | Beautifully colorized and restored! Feb 5, 2009 |
After watching a cheap unrestored copy of this movie, (under the title "The Great Rupert"), I wanted a good copy of it. The color is wonderful. It doesn't have the greyish midtones common in colorized movies.
This is Jimmy Durante's only starring role in a picture. Terry Moore and Tom Drake costar. Great plot.
It also features a wonderful commentary with Terry Moore. | | | | the great rupert Jan 25, 2009 |
I have been looking for this movie, for at least 20 years, I didn't remember the name, only that it was about a squirel. I was so happy that I received this movie and it was well worth the wait.
Peggy | | |  | "cute" but that is all Jan 8, 2009 |
| I bought this movie because I love classics, I love Christmas, and sometimes I love Jimmy Durante. It was a good movie to see, but I don't think it is necessarily worth owning. I was not super impressed with the "animation". The squirrel, Rupert, plays such a small role. It is a cute little story, predictable... But not great. | | | | Uncover This Lovely Christmas Gem! Dec 12, 2008 |
Probably better known under the title, "The Great Rupert" (though I think "A Christmas Wish" would have been a better title), this is the sweet and simple story of a down-on-their-luck circus family who, just before Christmas, moves into a shoddy apartment attached to the home of a stingy family man (their new landlord) who has just come into some extra cash. Conveniently, stingy Mr. Dingle (Frank Orth) and his wife (Sara Haden) have a handsome and charming musician son, Peter (played by Tom Drake), who is a reasonable dating age for the impoverished family's only child, drop-dead-gorgeous daughter Rosalinda (played by the stunning Terry Moore of Mighty Joe Young). Even more conveniently, Rosalinda and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Amendola (played by the great Jimmy Durante and Queenie Smith), soon come into some money of their own when a trained squirrel left to live in the walls of the Dingle house begins tossing down Mr. Dingle's stashed cash from the ceiling after Mrs. Amendola prays for some divine financial help. The squirrel is the once title character of the film, "The Great Rupert", though this sometimes real, sometimes stop-motion-animated critter doesn't get as much screen time as the original title would imply. Truly, this film is about the romance between Rosalinda and Peter and what happens when a misunderstood holiday blessing takes place around them. And it's also a great showpiece for the talents of Jimmy Durante and (did I mention she was drop-dead-gorgeous?) Terry Moore.
Though public domain versions of this film abound, this 20th Century Fox release is the authentic version, colorized and retitled by Legend Films. Now, personally, I have no interest in colorized films. Thankfully, one of the two listed bonus features is the black and white version. The other bonus feature is an audio commentary with Terry Moore and family and some of the Legend Films folks. It's fascinating to be able to watch this film with Terry Moore's commentary, though it's a shame so much of the discussion is about praising the colorization. Frankly, I can barely stand to see it with those pastels and Christmas trees that are the wrong shade of green. Give me the black and white version any day. The film itself is a must have if you enjoy sweet, family friendly Christmas movies. Released in 1950, it feels more like a '40's film (well, I guess it WAS shot in the late '40's), which in my opinion is a good thing. Watch "A Christmas Wish" once, and it will likely become an instant holiday tradition for you and your family. Just try not to think about the fact that the stop-motion scenes of Rupert involved reanimating a dead squirrel, ha. | | | Write your own review about A Christmas Wish - IN COLOR! Also Includes the Restored Black-and-White Version!
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