Rhubarb, le chat millionnaire

If you've never seen this 1951 screwball comedy, you have missed a real gem. A cat that can fight and beat dogs, an eccentric baseball team owner who dies and leaves the team to the cat (Rhubarb), the cat's guardian (Ray Milland) whose fiancée is allergic to cats, a group of gangsters who believe Rhubarb is hurting their earnings in the field of betting (the team begins to win after they believe Rhubarb is good luck), and the dead owner's relations who have been left penniless by Rhubarb usurping them in their inheritance all mix together to make great fun for cat lovers and baseball lovers alike. Nobody remembers this one very much because it is rarely televised and also because it was made by Paramount, a studio that tends to neglect its many classic films. In fact, the expression that the Joker utters in the 1989 Batman film : "Never rub another man's Rhubarb" refers to this film, although almost everyone assumed a more unsavory meaning for the expression. The baseball team in this film starts to turn their luck around when one batter pets (rubs) Rhubarb before a game. It really is a great family movie, but not many people at all have seen this one and thus few understand what the Joker was talking about.

This was one of my favorite movies growing up. My office has about about a two foot camel as you walk in and I named him Rhubarb, and have all my employees "pat" him on the head for good luck. I have to tell the story of Rhubarb to everyone because it seems NO ONE has ever seen this movie. There is a line in the first Batman movie where the joker says "Don't pat another man's Rhubarb"; though it doesn't seem anyone online knows where the phrase comes. In fact you can find many sites that quote that line with the explanation that Rhubarb means genitals! Maybe sometime in the near future this lost treasure will be available on DVD. Its also interesting to see a VERY young Lenard Nemoy as one of the baseball players. I think he may have one or two lines in the whole movie.

Hello Rhubarb fans...back in 1984 I stumbled across this movie and loved it! I went out the next day in "search" of my own Rhubarb. Found and orange tabby and he is awesome. Here it is 2002 ,he's 18 ys. old and still the the star around here! Whenever someone asks why I named my cat Rhubarb, I tell them about the movie. My kids and neighbor kids like to watch it too. Comical, sassy and full of spice...that's Rhubarb! ***MUST SEE***

Todays young audiences probably won't find much to keep their attention, but none-the-less, it's a gem by any standards. A simple, yet charming tail (and everyone else here has pretty much summed up the plot) that I enjoyed through the early and mid 80's on television. I haven't seen it in probably well over 10... probably 15 years, but I've never forgotten it, and I would love to see again. It's story is so basic and timeless, that I'm surprised Hollywood hasn't jumped on the re-make bandwagon with this one. But probably just as well. The performances were priceless, and I'd hate to see anything in the story altered or changed in any way. If you've never seen it, take the time to do so. It'll be worth it!

I saw this movie when it first was released. My hometown movie theater had Saturday matinée's for kids through early teens. If you were lucky enough to go to one of these early releases you also received a picture of Rhubarb with his "pawtograph". I also acquired a large "rhubarb colored" cat. He lived up to his name well. Many a dog left our yard rather than face up Rhubarb any longer. Over the years I have recommended this movie to many people for their children to view. Those who have managed to find the movie have been well placed. I have seen this movie listed at Blockbusters. This movie will probably also be enjoyable for those of us older folks with a touch of nostalgia.