Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The Great Rupert is a squirrel with a mind of his own and a talented one. When Rupert's handler is evicted and runs into the Amendola family who needs a place to stay around Christmastime. They move in without paying rent. Their landlord is a greedy miser who would evict them on Christmas but magically money appears from the sky. So they spend money, pay their rent, and have a Christmas to remember. The great Rupert is behind the magical money. The story is far fetched but enjoyable. The cast do a great job. You wonder what happened to the first guy who lived in the house first and hope for the best. You can't help but like the good natured Amendolas who take and spend the money it for themselves and others as well.

No, this isn't the beloved pet teddy bear of "Family Guy's" Stewie. This is a cute little squirrel who has run off from his trainer (Jimmy Conlin) back to the old apartment that Conlin has been tossed out of. An old vaudeville pal of Conlin's (Jimmy Durante) moves in with his down and out family, and the little prankster squirrel plays a trick on the miserly owner (Frank Orth) by tossing down bills hidden by Orth in the walls. Thinking that a Christmas miracle has happened, the family's fortunes begin to rise but Orth becomes puzzled as his stash begins to dwindle.This sweet low budget Christmas fantasy was created by George Pal, best known for some of the most groundbreaking science fiction films of the 1950's. The cheapness of the film is obvious, but it is done with such humanity that it really doesn't matter that you can tell that this is a mechanical squirrel. You really begin to care about this family as they go through a series of bad circumstances, and hope that the miserly Orth will learn some lessons from this and begin to care more about people than money, and that includes his long-suffering wife (Sara Haden). There are a lot of familiar character actors from the golden age of movies and television, including Frank Cady of "Green Acres" and that queen of the bit part Queenie Smith in a much larger role than normal. Terry Moore of "Mighty Joe Young" fame is the romantic heroine. While younger audiences of our high-tech era might find this silly and sappy, those of us who grew up in more innocent times can sit back and enjoy the film from a non-cynical point of view and hope the younger generation will eventually realize the charm of film like this.

i've never liked or approved much of redneck gourmet cook Heidi Wilson "The Huntress", but after seeing this piece of Christmas schmaltz, i couldn't really think of a better purpose for Rupert the Christmas squirrel.in the opening scene a actress and her agent come to see a old man who puts a Scottish kilt and outfit on a squirrel and makes it dance to his accordion. i pretty much related to the snobby actress who basically gives Rupert a look of disdain and boredom after his dance.to say that there is much better Christmas fare than this is a understatement. this not only was the stooooopidest Xmas flick i've ever seen, it is amongst the most tryingly inane movies i've ever seen. i usually like movies that are so bad they're good, but this one was so bad you just wanted to start screaming for mercy.i don't think squirrels are all that smart and talented. the beach front here in my town is infested with the nasty rodents and it ain't pretty. they run in and out of the rocks and they look malnourished and like they have rabies or something. i wouldn't wanna touch em. my friend, who by the way happens to love this stupid cheeseball of a movie, has some cuter, healthier looking squirrels in his backyard tree, but they ain't good for much except getting into the bird feeder and chasing away the birds. i think Rupert is probably worth half as much as the "real" thing and the "real" thing ain't much.the only thing i thought was salvageable about this hokey pokey was Jimmy Durante's rendition of "jingle Bells". at least Jimmy Durante was good for carrying the slack when Rupert couldn't.Rupert is a bad actor. i wouldn't even have him on a patty melt. i'm sure he would taste bad. like stinky, old Christmas candy from Christmas long past. pee-yew. there wasn't anything funny or cute about Rupert, he was just tedious and boring. he should have had more slapstick antics rather then trying to do God's work by being careless with other people's money. i usually like a religious element in film, but the idea that the good lord works miracles through Rupert approaches a kind of blasphemy of sorts. don't need no religious preachings from no mangy squirrel.i assure you your Christmas is better spent with Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown or whatever the heck gets you through the trying holiday season. only don't waste your time with Rupert, he will only try your patience and make you glad Christmas only comes once a year. no wonder chipmunks are more fashionable at Christmastime.

Originally known as THE GREAT RUPERT, this is a charming tale about a talented squirrel (that would be Rupert) who lives in the attic of a down and out family of struggling vaudevillians, and who accidentally helps them gain wealth and prosperity during the Christmas season. The vigorous Jimmy Durante is a lot of fun to watch as the well-meaning father who sings, and he's got a couple of silly "so bad they're funny" lines that made me laugh, though it's too bad he wasn't given more. Terry Moore (MIGHTY JOE YOUNG) is his young daughter who falls for Tom Drake (MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS). This is a somewhat charming, if not great, family film to watch for the holidays. Rupert the Squirrel is brought to life via George Pal's animation. **1/2 out of ****