Rhubarb (1951) in Color — Starring Orangey the Cat & Ray Milland

Rhubarb (1951) – Buy This Classic Comedy in Color

Experience the hilarious Rhubarb (1951) in stunning colorized HD. Directed by Arthur Lubin for Paramount Pictures, this irresistible comedy stars Ray Milland as Eric Donat, a harried press agent who must manage the most unlikely client in sports history — a stray cat named Rhubarb who has inherited a professional baseball team from his eccentric millionaire owner. Jan Sterling co-stars as Milland’s fiancée, whose severe cat allergy creates catastrophic complications. Based on the bestselling novel by H. Allen Smith, this inventive farce takes an absurd premise and plays it with such deadpan conviction that the laughs never stop. With a scene-stealing feline performance, sharp satirical wit, and a climax involving a cat-napping scheme and a pennant race, this is one of Hollywood’s most original and purely entertaining comedies. Now available as a premium digital download for just €15.00 — DRM-free and yours to keep forever.

Plot Summary

Thasseus Jefferson Donat (Gene Lockhart) is one of the wealthiest and most eccentric men in America — a millionaire who owns the Brooklyn Loons, a perennially unsuccessful professional baseball team. When Donat befriends a tough, streetwise alley cat he names Rhubarb, he becomes convinced that the cat possesses a supernatural ability to bring good luck to everything around him. When Donat dies, his will shocks the world: he has left his entire fortune — including the baseball team — to Rhubarb the cat.

Eric Donat (Ray Milland), Donat’s loyal press agent, is appointed as Rhubarb’s legal guardian and manager. His task: convince the baseball world, the public, and the courts that a cat can legally own a professional sports team, while simultaneously managing a squad of disgruntled players who refuse to take orders from a feline. The situation is complicated further by Donat’s disinherited daughter, who wages a fierce legal battle to overturn the will, and by a network of gamblers who will stop at nothing — including cat-napping — to prevent Rhubarb’s team from winning the pennant.

To Eric’s astonishment, Rhubarb’s alleged luck appears to be real. When the cat is present at games, the Loons begin winning — transforming from league laughing stock to genuine pennant contenders. But Eric’s personal life is in shambles: his fiancée Polly Donat (Jan Sterling) is violently allergic to cats, meaning every encounter with his employer puts his engagement at risk. Eric must simultaneously manage a pennant race, fight off kidnappers, protect his relationship, and maintain the legal fiction that a cat is running a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

The film builds to a gloriously chaotic climax during the pennant-deciding game, as gamblers attempt to steal Rhubarb, the players need their mascot for luck, Eric tries to keep all the plates spinning, and the fate of the baseball season depends on getting one very independent-minded cat to the ballpark in time.

Cast & Crew

Director: Arthur Lubin
Stars: Ray Milland, Jan Sterling, Gene Lockhart, William Frawley, Elsie Holmes, Taylor Holmes, Leonard Nimoy

Ray Milland — the Academy Award winner for The Lost Weekend — proves equally brilliant at light comedy, bringing his characteristic debonair charm and impeccable timing to the increasingly frantic Eric. Jan Sterling is wonderfully funny as the allergic Polly, whose sneezing fits provide some of the film’s biggest laughs. William Frawley (who would soon become famous as Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy) is perfectly cast as the Loons’ crusty manager. Eagle-eyed viewers will spot a very young Leonard Nimoy in an early bit role.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The vivid baseball sequences — the green diamond, the packed grandstands, the colourful uniforms — are wonderfully enhanced through expert colorization. The visual comedy of Rhubarb’s antics, the chaotic chase sequences, and the bright, cheerful world of early 1950s America gain delightful new energy in colour. The contrast between the sleek business world and the rough-and-tumble baseball scenes becomes more visually engaging. Now also available in colour. Own this irresistible comedy classic for just €15.00 — where a cat rules the diamond.

Historical Significance

Rhubarb is based on the hugely popular 1946 novel by H. Allen Smith, one of the bestselling humorous books of the postwar era. The film is a pioneering example of the “animal comedy” genre and showcases the remarkable animal training work that was a hallmark of director Arthur Lubin, famous for the Francis the Talking Mule series. The film’s satirical take on American sports culture, inheritance law, and the intersection of money and athletics anticipates themes that would become increasingly relevant in modern professional sports. The presence of a young Leonard Nimoy — decades before Star Trek — adds a fascinating footnote to the film’s cultural significance. Through colorization, this uniquely entertaining comedy has been preserved for modern audiences in a delightful new visual presentation.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes – professionally colorized from the original black-and-white
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 95 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes – no restrictions on playback
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is the cat performance really that good?
A: Rhubarb (actually played by a cat named Orangey, who won the PATSY Award — the animal Oscar — for this role) is genuinely a scene-stealer. The combination of natural feline behaviour and expert training creates a character that holds its own against seasoned Hollywood actors.

Q: Is Leonard Nimoy really in this film?
A: Yes — a very young Nimoy appears in a small role, years before Star Trek made him famous. It is one of the fascinating early screen appearances of an actor who would become a cultural icon.

Q: How does this compare to other animal comedies?
A: Rhubarb is smarter and more satirical than most animal comedies. It uses the absurd premise to deliver genuine observations about American sports culture, the legal system, and human nature — while remaining consistently hilarious throughout.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in 720p HD resolution, compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM on this download?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free, meaning you can watch it on any device without restrictions or expiration dates.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchasing?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment. You can start watching within minutes of completing your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• Impact (1949)
• The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
• London After Midnight (1927) Minoru Production
• London After Midnight (1927) Metro Production
• The Stratton Story (1949)