What Is Rhubarb About?
The premise of Rhubarb in 293 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a world where baseball and eccentricity collide, wealthy recluse T.J. Banner finds unexpected companionship in a scrappy stray cat he names Rhubarb—a moniker borrowed from baseball slang for a heated argument. Their quiet bond forms the heart of a story that blends gentle humor with the rhythms of mid-century American life, centered on a man whose loneliness finds remedy in the unlikeliest of friends.
When Banner’s passing sets an extraordinary legal wheels in motion, the reading of his will delivers a surprise that leaves everyone stunned: the cat inherits not just a fortune, but the Brooklyn Loons, a struggling professional baseball team. Eric Yeager, the team’s publicist, steps into the baffling role of guardian to the feline heir, tasked with managing both a confused clubhouse and a city’s skeptical imagination. The arrangement draws attention from all corners—from players unsure how to react to their new four-legged owner, to fans who wonder if the odd turn of events might somehow change the team’s fortunes.
Complicating matters, Eric’s fiancée Polly Sickles discovers a severe allergy to Rhubarb, turning household harmony into a delicate balancing act of sneezes, compromises, and wounded pride. The personal tension mirrors the broader unease surrounding the team, as players and staff alike must decide whether to embrace the absurdity of their situation or resist it. Eric works to convince the clubhouse that the cat’s presence might be more blessing than burden, spinning superstition into a kind of reluctant hope.
Set against the backdrop of ballpark rivalries and small-time baseball dreams, the film unfolds with a warm, deadpan charm that finds humor in bureaucracy and heart in unexpected places. It’s a tale about loyalty, luck, and the strange ways a city can rally around even the most improbable symbol of belief.
What Happens in Rhubarb?
The complete story of Rhubarb, from the first scene to the last, in 610 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 6 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Thaddeus J. Banner, a lonely, eccentric millionaire who owns the Brooklyn Loons, takes in a dog-chasing stray cat and gives him the name Rhubarb—a playful nod to baseball slang for a on-field argument. The unlikely bond between man and cat becomes the quiet center of a tale that blends money, loyalty, and the quirks of major-league life, as the film unfolds with a gentle, deadpan charm.
When Banner dies, the will reveals a truly odd twist: Rhubarb is named the sole beneficiary, effectively inheriting the team. The cat’s guardian is appointed in the form of the team’s publicist, Eric Yeager, who must navigate the logistics of a feline owner while keeping the baseball dreams of a city intact. Yeager steps into a role both caretaker and unlikely strategist, trying to hold together a squad that suddenly finds itself under the paws of a four-legged proprietor. Meanwhile, the romance and family dynamics around the club add tension: Polly Sickles—the fiancée of Yeager and daughter of the team’s manager—learns she is terribly allergic to Rhubarb, complicating plan after plan with sneezes, worry, and a touch of comic misfortune.
Banner’s daughter, the spoiled and ever-demanding Myra Sickles, adds a different kind of pressure by contesting the will in court. The clash between pages of the will and the day-to-day gravity of running a baseball club creates a fresh kind of drama for a team already adjusting to an unusual new owner. Yet amid these legal and personal complications, the players themselves begin to sense something different: if Rhubarb can be the catalyst for good luck, maybe the unusual ownership can turn into real advantage. Yeager, trying to keep morale high, persuades the team that Rhubarb’s presence could be a source of luck rather than a problem, and the players gradually rally around this strange new superstition.
As Brooklyn stitches together a string of wins, the Loons head toward a championship showdown against the powerful New York squad. The presence of Rhubarb becomes a unifying symbol, with Len Sickles—the team’s manager—wrestling with the balance between pride, practicality, and the odd fortune that seems to follow the cat. The mood in the clubhouse shifts from skepticism to cautious optimism as the fans begin to believe that the feline beneficiary might actually tilt the odds in their favor.
Yet the story takes a sharper turn when a bookmaker, fearing a big loss if Brooklyn triumphs, decides to kidnap the cat. The mood darkens as the team’s fortune slides into doubt; with Rhubarb missing, the chase to recover him becomes a race against time that sweeps through the ballpark, the city streets, and the lives of everyone connected to the Loons. The search is frantic, and the tension is high as the audience wonders whether the club can survive a season without its most unlikely talisman.
In a climactic turn, Rhubarb escapes his captors and races back to the ballpark, reinvigorating the team with a surge of energy and hope. The cat’s return rekindles the players’ belief and steadies the ship just in time for the pivotal moments of the game. The final act ties together loyalty, luck, and a family of characters who weather legal battles, allergic reactions, and the highs and lows of small-time baseball fame to deliver a conclusion that feels earned, heartwarming, and true to the quirky premise that started it all.
This is a story about unlikely guardianship, the strange ways luck can appear, and a city’s enduring love for its baseball team, all wrapped in a warm, gently paced comedy that uses a cat named Rhubarb to remind everyone that sometimes the oddest things can change the course of a season.
Rhubarb Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Banner takes Rhubarb in and names him” to “Resolution and celebration”. 14 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Banner takes Rhubarb in and names him
Thaddeus J. Banner, a lonely, eccentric millionaire, notices a dog-chasing stray cat and brings it into his home. He forms an unusual bond with the feline and gives him the name Rhubarb, a nod to a baseball term. The cat quickly becomes a fixture in Banner's life.
When:early in the story Where:Banner's home
- 2
Banner dies; Rhubarb inherits the team
After Banner passes away, it is revealed that his will makes Rhubarb the sole beneficiary of the Brooklyn Loons. The cat suddenly becomes the owner of a professional baseball team, an absurd twist that sets the plot in motion. The realization shocks everyone connected to the team.
When:after Banner's death Where:Banner's estate
- 3
Eric Yeager becomes guardian
Team publicist Eric Yeager is named the cat's guardian in the will's arrangements. He must navigate the surreal situation of managing a professional baseball team for a nonhuman owner. Yeager becomes the practical face of Rhubarb's stewardship.
When:shortly after death Where:Brooklyn ballclub offices
- 4
Polly Sickles battles Rhubarb allergy
Polly Sickles, the manager's daughter, is terribly allergic to Rhubarb, creating tense friction within the team and home life. The allergy complicates interactions with the cat and strains relationships with other characters. Polly's condition adds comic and logistical hurdles for the guardians.
When:early in Rhubarb's ownership Where:Brooklyn ballpark
- 5
Myra Banner challenges the will
Myra Banner, Banner's spoiled daughter, files a lawsuit to contest the will and dispute Rhubarb's ownership of the team. The lawsuit introduces legal drama and threatens the team's continuity. Her actions create tension and raise questions about rightful ownership.
When:soon after will discovery Where:court
- 6
Players discover ownership by a cat
The Brooklyn Loons' players discover that they're owned by Rhubarb, the cat. They stage a protest, feeling the situation is ludicrous and unfair. The protest brings attention to the surreal arrangement.
When:early in the protest Where:ballpark
- 7
Yeager frames Rhubarb as luck and calms tensions
Eric Yeager persuades the players that Rhubarb's ownership could bring luck and turn their fortunes around. He negotiates and keeps the team focused despite the absurd ownership. The idea of luck helps unify the team.
When:during the protest Where:ballpark
- 8
Brooklyn begins winning toward the championship
With Rhubarb in control, the Loons start winning games, turning the season around. The team rides a wave of momentum as fans grow hopeful for a championship. Their improved fortunes attract attention around the league.
When:mid-season Where:Brooklyn ballpark
- 9
Brooklyn faces the powerful New York team in the championship
The Loons secure a shot at the championship against the formidable New York team. The looming final game sets the stakes high and motivates every character involved. Rhubarb's ownership remains the central, odd catalyst.
When:final-stage Where:ballpark
- 10
A bookie kidnaps Rhubarb
A bookie who stands to lose money if Brooklyn wins decides to kidnap Rhubarb. The team's morale falters as the cat disappears, threatening their chances in the championship race. The kidnapping adds a thriller-like obstacle to the sports comedy.
When:during the lead-up to the final Where:city locations / hideout
Show the other 4 events of Rhubarb Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Search for Rhubarb
Brooklyn's fortunes dip as the search for Rhubarb unfolds. Yeager and the players scramble to locate the missing cat before the championship game. The city becomes a backdrop for the race to recover the feline owner.
When:while Rhubarb is missing Where:citywide
- 12
Rhubarb escapes and races to the ballpark
Rhubarb escapes captivity and makes a dash back toward the ballpark. The cat's return rekindles hope and drives the team to renewed resolve. The dramatic escape serves as the turning point of the plot.
When:final moment Where:city and ballpark
- 13
Rhubarb saves the day at the ballpark
Rhubarb's timely arrival brings luck and inspiration to the Loons, influencing the outcome of the championship chase. The team rallies, and the cat's stewardship is vindicated. The outcome is celebrated as Rhubarb's improbable heroism.
When:final game Where:ballpark
- 14
Resolution and celebration
The story concludes with Rhubarb's ownership proven to be a source of luck and heart for Brooklyn. The team wins or remains competitive, and the community celebrates the cat as an unlikely mascot and guardian. The film wraps up with humor and warmth.
When:end of story Where:Brooklyn
Who Are the Main Characters in Rhubarb?
6 characters, among them Eric Yeager (Ray Milland), Polly Sickles (Jan Sterling) and Thaddeus J. Banner (Gene Lockhart): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Eric Yeager (Ray Milland)
Played by Ray Milland
The team publicist who becomes guardian of Rhubarb's bizarre inheritance. He must navigate professional duties, fan superstition, and the owner’s will, balancing pragmatism with the whimsical chaos around the cat. Yeager represents steady leadership in a world where luck seems to rule the scoreboard.
- Publicist
- Guardian
- Loyal
- PS
Polly Sickles (Jan Sterling)
Played by Jan Sterling
Daughter of the team's manager and fiancée to Yeager, Polly is allergic to Rhubarb, which creates both comedic and emotional tension. She is caught between family business, romance, and the unpredictable drama surrounding the cat’s ownership. Polly embodies the conflicts between personal comfort and the team’s fortunes.
- Daughter
- Manager’s family
- Allergic
-
Thaddeus J. Banner (Gene Lockhart)
Played by Gene Lockhart
The eccentric, lonely millionaire who owns the Brooklyn Loons and the cat. His whimsy and isolation drive the central premise, while his potential greed tests loyalty among friends and family. He embodies the idea that wealth can be as much a burden as a boon.
- Owner
- Eccentric
- Wealth
- LS
Len Sickles (William Frawley)
Played by William Frawley
Team manager and Polly’s father, Len is the practical, old-school steward of the Loons. He navigates the chaos with a focus on the team’s success and the community’s expectations, even as Rhubarb’s influence grows.
- Manager
- Father
- Proponent
- R(
Rhubarb (Orangey the Cat)
Played by Orangey the Cat
The titular cat whose sudden inheritance of the team triggers the whole plot. Rhubarb becomes a symbol of luck, provoking wonder and chaos as players, fans, and rivals react to the feline ownership. The cat’s presence changes the dynamic around the ballpark.
- Cat
- Luck
- Catalyst
- MS
Myra Sickles (Elsie Holmes)
Played by Elsie Holmes
Banner’s spoiled, greedy daughter who contests the will, representing vanity and entitlement clashing with family loyalty. Her lawsuit adds tension and heightens the stakes for the team’s future.
- Daughter
- Spoiled
- Rival
Where and When Is Rhubarb Set?
Rhubarb is set in Brooklyn and New York. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Brooklyn, New York
The story unfolds in Brooklyn, New York, centered around the Brooklyn Loons' ballpark. The city provides a lively, working-class backdrop where local fans rally around the team. The ballpark and surrounding streets anchor the plot as fortunes swing with Rhubarb's mysterious ownership.
- 🗺️ City
- ⚾️ Baseball
- 🏙️ Urban
What Are the Themes of Rhubarb?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Greed & Inheritance, Justice & Legality and Luck & Destiny.
-
01
Greed & Inheritance
A solitary will launches a chain of petty quarrels and lawsuits as Banner’s fortune passes to a cat. Family ambition clashes with genuine affection, revealing how wealth can complicate relationships. The satire lies in watching a greedy, spoiled heiress contend with the cat’s unlikely status as owner.
-
02
Justice & Legality
The will contest and courtroom spats expose legal maneuvering and the slippery path of personal loyalties. Characters maneuver through civil intrigue while trying to protect the team’s future. The plot uses humor to question how laws are applied when money and fame are at stake.
-
03
Luck & Destiny
Rhubarb the cat becomes a fateful symbol as the team rides a lucky streak attributed to the feline's presence. The players’ superstition and the public’s belief in fate drive the narrative as wins appear to hinge on the animal’s role. Celebrity and superstition blend to create an uplifting underdog arc.
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04
Baseball & Community
Baseball functions as both sport and spectacle, shaping friendships, rivalries, and loyalties. The plot tracks crowd energy, bookies, and the media’s spotlight on a small-town team that dares to dream big. The cat’s ownership becomes a quirky reflection of how communities invest in heroes and myths.
What Kind of Film Is Rhubarb?
Whimsical in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Whimsical
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A charming and whimsical comedy that lightly navigates inheritance disputes and sports superstitions through the absurd premise of a cat owning a baseball team, resulting in a consistently upbeat and amusing viewing experience.
- quirky
- lighthearted
- charming
- comical
- uplifting
- whimsical
- inheritance
- animal companion
- sports team
- courtroom battle
Quiz
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