Rhubarb stars Orangey the cat, who apparently lived for quite a long time. This film was made in 1951. Over the years, this feline appeared in Our Miss Brooks, as Minerva, Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961) as Cat, a pivotal role in that film, and the latest credit I could find, a 1964 episode of My Favorite Martian in which the cat is credited as Rhubarb in the end credits. This may or may not have been the cat that appeared as Rusty, Elly May's cat in several episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies as well. The film Rhubarb is a neatly plotted comedy which delivers the laughs. Ray Milland shows his easy-going style as Rhubarb's "guardian". Jan Sterling is the girlfriend who is allergic to the feline. Gene Lockhart is good as always, and William Frawley appears (probably because of the baseball subject of the storyline) just prior to his I Love Lucy success. The film has sprightly direction by Arthur Lubin, a master in dealing with animals. After this film he went on to do the Francis the Talking Mule Films and Mister Ed for television (of course, of course). The film is fast moving and funny, and the DVD from Legend Films has a lovely transfer of the film. Especially fun for cat lovers.
Review of Rhubarb
