Main Cast: Walter Brennan, Tom Lowell, Matthew Garber, Karen Dotrice, Ed Wynn, Richard Deacon
Release Year: 1967
Country: US
Run Time: 84 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
The Gnome-Mobile was Walt Disney's first all-out fantasy since Mary Poppins. Walter Brennan stars in a dual role, as kindly lumber tycoon D. J. Mulrooney and the irascible (and much tinier) 943-year-old gnome Knobby. Mulrooney likes Knobby and his fellow gnomes, but the feeling isn't reciprocal, since Knobby considers Mulrooney a threat to his beloved forest. Meanwhile, the tycoon's vice-president Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), hearing his boss' claims that he's been consorting with gnomes, decides that the old guy is insane and has him committed. Rescued by his grandchildren Rodney (Matthew Garber) and Elizabeth (Karen Dotrice), D.J. seeks out Knobby and Knobby's own grandson Jasper (Tom Lowell), who are hiding somewhere in the woods with gnome-king Rufus (Ed Wynn, in his final film role). There follows an amusing rite of passage wherein Jasper becomes engaged to gnomette Shy Violet (Cami Sebring), leading to a happy ending for all concerned. The film's title refers to D. J. Mulroney's precious 1930 Rolls Royce, which is "adopted" by the gnome population. Gnome-Mobile is a virtual inventory of Disney's most beloved trademarks, ranging from excellent miniature and special-effects work (including the producer's newest innovation, audio-animatronics) to a zany slapstick car chase. Walt Disney did receive a producer credit on this film, which was actually made in 1966 - the year of his death - and released nationally in 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The folks at Disney probably spent a pretty decent penny (in 1967 dollars) on The Gnome-Mobile, one of the studio's forays into live-action fantasy, and it shows in the special effects. The miniaturization effects are believable (and come off well, even in comparison with current advanced standards), which is of primary importance in this sort of film. Still, one wishes that more time had been spent on the screenplay itself, especially in terms of character development. As it is, the characters are pretty much a matter of "what you see is what you get," and while that may not bother the little ones (children, not gnomes), it does make the movie a bit dull for adults. The script is also a bit unfocused and contains numerous "cutesy" segments (such as the lengthy car chase or the rescue of Mulrooney) that are typical of Disney in that period, but can be a bit annoying. Fortunately, the cast is quite good, with Walter Brennan appropriately avuncular, Karen Dotrice professional without being slick, and Matthew Garber given more to do than in most of his roles. The title song is catchy -- perhaps too much so -- and the car itself really is a dream. A modest and enjoyable effort, Gnome-Mobile is not one of those children's films that bears repeated viewing. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Sean McClory - Horatio Quaxton; Jerome Cowan - Dr. Conrad Ramsey; Charles Lane - Dr. Scroggins; Norman Grabowski - Male Nurse No. I; Gil Lamb - Gas Station Attendant; Maudie Prickett - Katie Barrett; Ellen Corby - Etta Pettibone; Frank Cady - Charlie Pettibone; Hal Baylor - Male Nurse No. 2; Karl Held - Paul; Charles Smith - Airport Attendant; Byron Foulger - Hotel Clerk; Susan Flannery - Airline Stewardess; Ernestine Barrier - Nell; Dee Carroll - Second Secretary; William Fawcett - Chauffeur; Robert S. Carson - Twin Oaks Attendant; John Cliff - Night Watchman; Mickey Martin - Bellboy; Alvy Moore - Gas Station Mechanic; Dale Van Sickel - Uniformed Guard; Parley Baer - Owl; Jimmy Murphy - Raccoon; Jesslyn Fax - Voice of Bluejays; Carla Borelli; Amedee Chabot; Susan Henning; Carol Merrill; Cami Serbing - Violet; Virginia Aldridge - Gnome Maidens; Judy Van Wormer; Marianna Case; Jack Davis - Manson
Credit
Carroll Clark - Art Director, Emile Kuri - Art Director, William Tuntke - Art Director, Chuck Keehne - Costume Designer, Bill Thomas - Costume Designer, Neva Rames - Costume Designer, Robert Stevenson - Director, Arthur J. Vitarelli - Director, Norman R. Palmer - Editor, Buddy Baker - Composer (Music Score), Pat McNalley - Makeup, Edward Colman - Cinematographer, James Algar - Producer, Walt Disney - Producer, Hal G. Gausman - Set Designer, Emile Kuri - Set Designer, Eustace Lycett - Special Effects, Robert Mattey - Special Effects, Ellis Kadison - Screenwriter, Upton Sinclair - Book Author
It was based on a 1936 book by Upton Sinclair entitled The Gnomobile.Walter Brennan gives a fine, highly amusing double performance as D.J. Mulrooney, the kind-hearted Lumber Tycoon of Irish descent; and as the irascible yet loveable 943 year-old gnome Knobby. The children, Elizabeth and Rodney, were played by Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber, familiar from their roles as Jane and Michael Banks in Mary Poppins, (as well as their excellent performances as Mary MacDhui and Geordie MacNab in the 1964 film The Three Lives of Thomasina). Tom Lowell who plays the young gnome Jasper in this movie, also appeared in the 1965 Disney film That Darn Cat as Canoe, the befuddled surfer boy-friend of Hayley Mills. The title song, a.k.a. '"The Gnome-Mobile Song", was written by the Sherman Brothers, who were also the songwriters of the songs in Mary Poppins. Ed Wynn, of course, has appeared in several other Disney films, (Mary Poppins and That Darn Cat, among others).
The story opens with the children's grandfather, D.J. Mulrooney (Walter Brennan), a well-known executive officer of a vast timber-trading company. D.J., an eccentric and passionate man with a distinctive snore, as well as vast dedication and determination, has bought up a preserve of ancient virgin forest to show his descendants the majesty of the Redwood trees. In order to meet with business clients in Seattle, D.J. takes his personal, customized Rolls-Royce Phantom II on a trip, picking up his grandchildren Elizabeth (Karen Dotrice) and Rodney (Matthew Garber). Mulrooney takes them to a part of his forest en route. In a brief conversation with his Company Head of Security, Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), we learn that the car was purchased after D.J. earned his first $1 million.
In the forest, Elizabeth encounters a gnome called Jasper (Tom Lowell), who is desperately seeking a bride for himself, but cannot find any functional gnome communities remaining. Elizabeth, touched by the trusting gnome, agrees to help him find one. She brings her unbelieving grandfather and brother to the same spot, and Jasper makes a reluctant reappearance. The three are introduced to Jasper's 943-year old grandfather Knobby (also played by Brennan) who, like D.J., is passionate and short-tempered. Knobby is temporarily suffering from a sickness called "fading", he is becoming semi-transparent periodically because he's losing the will to live. The reason for this is that he fears that he and Jasper are the last two of their kind; and he too wants Jasper to find a bride before he (Knobby) dies. Knobby harbors immense hatred for humans because of their damage to the forests and the livelihood of gnomes, but agrees to go along and seek other gnomes because of Jasper's insistence. As they leave together, the Rolls-Royce is affectionately named by the children "the Gnome-Mobile."
Trouble begins, however, when Knobby discovers that D.J. is responsible for logging. The two elders quarrel until D.J., infuriated, vows to take the two gnomes back to the forest. Jasper and his grandfather are kidnapped by Horatio Quaxton (Sean McClory), a freak show owner, while D.J. is committed to an asylum by Yarby, who has heard about the gnomes and deems his boss insane. Rodney and Elizabeth rescue D.J. (using the "Gnome-Mobile"). D.J. tumbles out of his window at the asylum and narrowly escapes. The children and D.J. find Quaxton's cabin, rescue Jasper from Quaxton, and then set out to find Knobby, (who managed to escape earlier at Jasper's insistence).
Yarby, on finding that D.J. has escaped, mounts a personal pursuit. His company-owned 1958 Cadillac is literally broken to pieces by the rough going, while the durable Rolls-Royce with D.J.'s skillful and daring driving manages to get away undamaged.
They arrive in the woods to find Knobby delighted with the presence of a thriving community of gnomes. Jasper is disappointed that they are all old men, but is then recognized by Rufus the Gnome King (Ed Wynn) as "the eligible gnome", to a large number of young females of his race, who then compete in a contest to determine which one will marry him. The bachelor is covered in soap, then set upon by the girls, who try to chase after him, and catch and hold onto him for seven seconds. Jasper didn't know that this was how he would find a mate; to be the "prey" in a wild chase. He is smitten with one lovely, timid girl-gnome named Shy Violet (Cami Sebring). However, after a very wild chase by some very aggressive other girl gnomes, Jasper and Violet manage to end the race the way they want it.
D.J., for his part, gives as a wedding-present the rights to several acres of forest, which become a haven in perpetuity for the gnomes.
Many of the same type of special effects used for this movie, were also used in Disney's earlier 1959 film Darby O'Gill and the Little People.
