Rhubarb is a 1951 film adapted from the 1946 novel Rhubarb by humorist H. Allen Smith. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the screwball noir comedy stars the cat Orangey along with Jan Sterling and Ray Milland. Cinematography was by Lionel Lindon. The supporting cast features William Frawley and Gene Lockhart. Plot Thaddeus J. Banner (Gene Lockhart), a lonely, eccentric millionaire who owns a baseball team, the Brooklyn Loons, takes a liking to a dog-chasing stray cat (played by Orangey), and takes him into his home. He names the cat "Rhubarb," which is baseball slang for an on-field argument or fight. When the man dies, it is discovered that his last will and testament made Rhubarb his sole beneficiary; hence the cat inherits the baseball team. Team publicist Eric Yeager (Ray Milland) is named the cat's guardian. His fiancée Polly Sickles (Jan Sterling), daughter of the team's manager (William Frawley), is terribly allergic to Rhubarb, causing many problems. Banner's spoiled, greedy, and unhappy daughter Myra (Elsie Holmes) files a lawsuit, contesting the will. And when the team's players discover they are owned by a cat, they stage a protest until Yeager persuades them that Rhubarb brings them luck. Brooklyn begins winning and will play the powerful New York team for the championship. But a bookie who stands to lose big if Brooklyn wins decides to kidnap the cat. Brooklyn's fortunes turn for the worse while the search for Rhubarb goes on, until the cat finally escapes from his captors and races to the ballpark to save the day. Cast Orangey as Rhubarb Ray Milland as Eric Yeager Jan Sterling as Polly Sickles William Frawley as Len Sickles Gene Lockhart as T.J. Banner Elsie Holmes as Myra Banner Taylor Holmes as P. Duncan Munk Willard Waterman as Orlando Dill Henry Slate as Dud Logan James Griffith as Ogelthorpe 'Oggie' Meadows Jim Hayward as Doom Donald MacBride as Pheeny Hal K. Dawson as Mr. Fisher Production The film was based on a novel by H. Allen Smith which was published in 1946. Smith had written several books of humorous items but this was his first novel. The New York Times called it a "rough and raucous satire". The book became a best seller. Roy Del Ruth was interested in the film rights but stepped aside when Mike Todd expressed interest. Todd bought the film rights for $100,000 but then had financial troubles and could