Rating: 
Summary: oh, no -- the return of colorization!
Review: A Christmas Wish is a heartwarming holiday classic that truly captures the magic of Christmas. This well-written film combines a genial underdog (Durante) whom you can't help rooting for, an inspiring tale of young love, unforgettable comedy bits by Durante, and an irresistible guardian angel who saves Christmas.
The film has a touching 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 puppet animation technique) will charm young and old alike. Jimmy Durante shines when he sings Jingle Bells and other Christmas Carols.
Originally titled "The Great Rupert", this film has been restored perfectly and is being released in color for the first time. It looks absolutely beautiful. There also is an engaging special DVD commentary by star Terry Moore (secret wife of Howard Hughes). If you've already seen It's a Wonderful Life and are looking for something charming and new for Christmas, this is a great choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Re-discover this Jimmy Durante Christmas Classic
Review: A Christmas Wish is a heartwarming holiday classic that truly captures the magic of Christmas. This well-written film combines a genial underdog (Durante) whom you can't help rooting for, an inspiring tale of young love, unforgettable comedy bits by Durante, and an irresistible guardian angel who saves Christmas.The film has a touching 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 puppet animation technique) will charm young and old alike. Jimmy Durante shines when he sings Jingle Bells and other Christmas Carols. Originally titled "The Great Rupert", this film has been restored perfectly and is being released in color for the first time. It looks absolutely beautiful. There also is an engaging special DVD commentary by star Terry Moore (secret wife of Howard Hughes). If you've already seen It's a Wonderful Life and are looking for something charming and new for Christmas, this is the film.
Rating: 
Summary: So bad it's good
Review: First of all, I totally agree with those who hate colorization. I've searched for this film in its black-and-white version to no avail. That said, the movie itself is something else if you can get past the (bad)colorization. With an incredible plot that's so predictible it's mind-boggling, the movie goes from one extreme to the next. But the film's charm lies in the fact that it is really a time capusle of how we used to think things were or were capable of being. This movie is worth seeing alone for the annimation of the squirrel. Tom Drake is as charming as ever with his deep voice and good looks, and Durante is strictly from the Burlesque stage with his jokes, mugging, and schnoz profile which he manages to show every 5.5 seconds. Less likable are the stingy landlord and his wife. There's really no way to describe this movie, but it is a must see and proabably one of the most unusual films ever made.
Rating:
Summary: George Pal's THE GREAT RUPERT is a miracle!
Review: GEORGE PAL'S THE GREAT RUPERT is a miracle! A heart-warming tale about a lovable trained squirrel who inadvertently helps a family of vaudeville performers who are down on their luck. The incomparable Jimmy Durante is the unemployed Mr. Amendola, whose family moves into a converted garage adjoining the home of the only one in town getting rich during the Depression. The stingy landlord thinks he's hoarding his money in the wall between the two houses, but when Rupert the squirrel moves in, miracles can happen! Audiences thought Rupert was a real animal, but actually he was a puppet animated through Pal's Academy Awardª - winning PUPPETOONª technique, a forerunner to the computer-generated images of "Toy Story" and "Jurassic Park". Oscar winning sci-fi fantasy film pioneer George Pal went on to make such classics as "THE TIME MACHINE" "WAR OF THE WORLDS" "WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE" "DESTINATION MOON" "7 FACES OF DR. LAO" and many other influential pictures in the genre. Osar winner George Pal took off his short pants making the glorious *PUPPETOONSª and put on his long pants to make his first feature THE GREAT RUPERT - it certainly defined the original sort of entertainment this Hungarian born film genius would go on to make. A real charmer starring Jimmy Durante in one of his most memorable screen performances and a truly inspiring musical score by composer Leith Stevens (Pal's WAR OF THE WORLDS & DESTINATION MOON) alone worth the price of admission. The unmistakable stamp of hope and optimism Pal felt about the human condition comes shining through RUPERT. You can't help feeling good about yourself when watching this film. There is simplicity, great humor and resonance you never seem to forget. Of course this is true for all of George Pal's creations. Whether it be an image, sound, musical moment, spoken word, special effect or an action - all seemingly defining moments in the genre of fantasy and science fiction he so dearly loved and inspired others like Geoge Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Gene Roddenberry to pursue in later years. It is the opinion of this reviewer that George Pal stands then and stands now as a Giant in the annals of movie history and the little charmer THE GREAT RUPERT - Pal's roots in features - is just one more testament to his timeless legacy!
Rating:
Summary: oh, no -- the return of colorization!
Review: God help us, colorization is back! WHY? I thought this miserable fad went away with the '80's. Why bring it back? Why ruin this film with phoney color? It's almost as bad as the fake "3-D" crap some DVDs are using. For the b/w version, I give 5 stars. But for bringing back this wretched colrization process, I give 1 star. Please, studios, NO MORE COLORIZATION!
Rating:
Summary: oh, no -- the return of colorization!
Review: God help us, colorization is back! WHY? I thought this miserable fad went away with the '80's. Why bring it back? Why ruin this film with phoney color? It's almost as bad as the fake "3-D" crap some DVDs are using. For the b/w version, I give 5 stars. But for bringing back this wretched colrization process, I give 1 star. Please, studios, NO MORE COLORIZATION!
Rating:
Summary: GOOD, CLEAN, WHOLESOME FAMILY FUN
Review: I bought this movie (DVD) based on the reviews here at Amazon. I have four kids aged 14, down to five. My kids thought it was terrific. It was "old Hollywood" at its best: comic, romantic, fun and wholesome.
Rating:
Summary: GOOD, CLEAN, WHOLESOME FAMILY FUN
Review: I bought this movie (DVD) based on the reviews here at Amazon. I have four kids aged 14, down to five. My kids thought it was terrific. It was "old Hollywood" at its best: comic, romantic, fun and wholesome.
Rating:
Summary: Can't wait for the release!
Review: I often watched this movie on Christmas with my children and more recently with my young grandchildren because it touches the very essence of the Christmas season. I've always loved Terry Moore from her serious and not so serious movies (especially Mighty Joe Young) and of course Jimmy Durante is a clown that everyone loved and loves. I personally feel The Great Rupert should have been produced originally in color and released as a Christmas movie. I'm so I'm so happy to learn it is now considered a Christmas classic and is available in color. Can't wait to see it in color and listen to Terry's commentary.
Rating:
Summary: A Merry Mixture Of Comedy,Romance, And Drama!
Review: The Comedy To This Film Is The Parts Where Rupert Does His Dance! The Romance Part Is The Love Affair Between Tom Drake And Terry Moore. But The Parts I Played And Replayed Were The Parts In This Film Where They Kissed, That Was Three Times In All, And Of Course All 3 Kiss Scenes Were Passionate Kissing And Reasonably Long Kisses! At The End, The Really Cute, Romantic Event Happens Between The 2! I Loved That Part Of The Film! The Drama Is Where Terry Moore Starts To Cry Because Of Course Because Tom Drake Would Not Accept Her Father's Money. I Loved This Film Because It Is So Cute! But The 2 Stars I Loved From This Film Are Tom Drake And Terry Moore. Much Better Than Cass Timberlane!!
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