Rhubarb (1951) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story takes place in Brooklyn, New York, centered around the Brooklyn Loons' ballpark. The urban, working-class setting provides a lively backdrop where local fans rally around the struggling baseball team. The ballpark and surrounding streets anchor the plot as the team's fortunes shift with Rhubarb's mysterious ownership.

• brooklyn
• new york
• baseball
• ballpark
• setting

The movie is set in the contemporary era of its 1951 release, reflecting post-war American culture. Baseball's prominence in American society during this period underscores the story's focus on community and national pastime. The time setting emphasizes the working-class Brooklyn neighborhood aesthetic.

• 1950s
• era
• time period
• post-war

The film explores how wealth complicates relationships when T.J. Banner leaves his fortune to his cat Rhubarb. His greedy daughter Myra contests the will, sparking petty quarrels and lawsuits. The satire shows how a spoiled heiress must contend with a cat's unlikely status as owner, revealing how money can strain family bonds.

• greed
• inheritance
• will
• family
• money

Rhubarb becomes a symbol of good fortune as the Brooklyn Loons begin winning games with the cat present. The team's superstition and public belief in the cat's luck drive the narrative, creating an uplifting underdog story. The film blends celebrity and superstition, suggesting fate plays a mysterious role in success.

• luck
• destiny
• superstition
• fortune
• winning

Baseball functions as both sport and community spectacle in the film. The plot shows how the game shapes friendships, rivalries, and loyalties among players and fans. The cat's ownership becomes a quirky reflection of how communities invest in heroes and myths, with the ballpark serving as the heart of the story.

• baseball
• community
• team
• fans
• sport

Eric Yeager is the Brooklyn Loons' publicist played by Ray Milland. He becomes the guardian of Rhubarb's bizarre inheritance and must balance professional duties with fan superstition. Yeager represents steady leadership in a world where luck seems to rule the team's fortunes, serving as the film's practical protagonist.

• eric yeager
• ray milland
• publicist
• guardian

Polly Sickles is the daughter of team manager Len Sickles and fiancée to Eric Yeager. She is allergic to Rhubarb, which creates both comedic and emotional tension in the film. Polly embodies the conflict between personal comfort and the team's fortunes, representing the human element amid the whimsical premise.

• polly sickles
• jan sterling
• allergy
• family

Myra Sickles is T.J. Banner's spoiled, greedy daughter who contests the will after her father's death. She represents vanity and entitlement clashing with family loyalty. Her lawsuit adds legal tension and heightens the stakes for the team's future, serving as the film's primary antagonist.

• myra sickles
• elsie holmes
• heiress
• will contest

Rhubarb is the titular feral cat adopted by wealthy T.J. Banner, who becomes his beloved companion. After Banner dies, Rhubarb inherits his fortune and the Brooklyn Loons baseball team. The cat becomes a symbol of luck, provoking wonder and chaos as players and fans react to feline ownership of a professional sports team.

• rhubarb
• cat
• orangey
• owner
• fortune

The will contest and courtroom scenes expose legal maneuvering as Myra challenges Rhubarb's inheritance. Characters navigate civil intrigue while trying to protect the team's future. The film uses humor to question how laws are applied when money and fame are at stake, blending comedy with legal drama.

• court
• legal
• will
• lawsuit
• justice