The Gnome-Mobile

SYNOPSIS

An eccentric millionaire and his niece and nephew are embroiled in the plights of some forest gnomes who are searching for the rest of their tribe. While helping them, the millionaire is suspected of being crazy because hes seeing gnomes! Hes committed, and the niece and nephew and the gnomes have to find him and free him.

The Gnome-Mobile was Walt Disneys 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 isnt reciprocal, since Knobby considers Mulrooney a threat to his beloved forest. Meanwhile, the tycoons vice-president Ralph Yarby (Richard Deacon), hearing his boss claims that hes 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 Knobbys 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.