The Gnome-Mobile (1967) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A family road trip becomes a rescue mission and ultimately protects a hidden gnome community from the threat of logging.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Forest Road Detour

D.J. collects Rodney and Elizabeth and travels toward Seattle to sell timberland. A detour through his Redwood grove leads the family to Jasper and Knobby.

Key Events

• D.J. Earns His Fortune — D.J. purchases the customized Rolls-Royce after earning his first million dollars. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby Location: San Francisco
• The Seattle Timber Deal — D.J. travels to Seattle to sell 50,000 acres of timberland. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby Location: Road to Seattle
• Grandchildren Join The Trip — D.J. picks up Rodney and Elizabeth, who accompany him to Seattle. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Rodney, Elizabeth Location: Airport
• Mulrooney Grove Detour — The trio detours through D.J.'s endowed grove of Redwood trees. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Rodney, Elizabeth Location: Mulrooney Grove

A Gnome's Vanishing Fear

Knobby reveals his fading condition and his fear that the gnomes are nearly extinct. The travelers agree to search for other gnomes, and the children name the car the Gnome-Mobile.

Key Events

• The Gnomes Appear — The travelers encounter Jasper and his grandfather Knobby in the forest. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Rodney, Elizabeth, Jasper Location: Redwood forest
• Knobby's Fading Revealed — Knobby explains that he is becoming semi-transparent because he fears the gnomes are nearly gone. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Jasper Location: Redwood forest
• A Bride Must Be Found — Knobby wants Jasper to find a bride before Knobby dies. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Jasper Location: Redwood forest
• Gnomes Join The Journey — Despite Knobby's hostility toward humans, the gnomes agree to travel with the trio. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Rodney, Elizabeth, Jasper Location: Redwood forest road
• The Gnome-Mobile Is Named — The children rename D.J.'s Rolls-Royce the Gnome-Mobile. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Rodney, Elizabeth, Jasper Location: Forest road

Kidnapping And Confinement

Quaxton kidnaps Jasper and Knobby, while Ralph has D.J. committed after deciding that his employer is insane. Rodney and Elizabeth take responsibility for the rescue.

Key Events

• Quaxton Takes The Gnomes — Horatio Quaxton kidnaps Jasper and Knobby for his freak show. Characters: Jasper, Horatio Quaxton Location: Roadside area
• Ralph Calls D.J. Insane — Ralph overhears D.J. discussing gnomes and concludes that his employer has lost his sanity. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Ralph Yarby Location: Traveling party
• D.J. Is Committed — Ralph has D.J. involuntarily committed to an asylum. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Ralph Yarby Location: Mental asylum
• The Children Plan Rescue — Rodney and Elizabeth act to free D.J. from the asylum. Characters: Rodney, Elizabeth, D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby Location: Mental asylum
• D.J. Escapes The Asylum — The grandchildren rescue D.J. and restore the traveling group. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Rodney, Elizabeth Location: Mental asylum
• Jasper Is Rescued — Rodney and Elizabeth rescue Jasper from Quaxton's custody. Characters: Jasper, Rodney, Elizabeth, Horatio Quaxton Location: Quaxton's freak show

The Hidden Gnome Settlement

The children rescue Jasper, and the group searches for the escaped Knobby. They eventually find a thriving gnome community in the woods, where Rufus welcomes Jasper.

Key Events

• Knobby Has Escaped — The group learns that Knobby escaped earlier and sets out to find him. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Jasper, Rodney, Elizabeth Location: Road toward the woods
• A Gnome Community Emerges — The travelers reach the woods and discover a thriving community of gnomes. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Jasper, Rodney, Elizabeth Location: Woodland gnome settlement
• Rufus Welcomes Jasper — Rufus welcomes Jasper and presents him as the eligible gnome. Characters: Jasper, Rufus Location: Gnome settlement
• The Bride Contest Begins — Rufus oversees a contest among young female gnomes to determine Jasper's bride. Characters: Jasper, Rufus, Violet Location: Gnome settlement

Violet's Race And Refuge

Jasper enters a bride contest and becomes attached to Violet despite the other contestants' aggression. Violet wins, marries Jasper, and receives D.J.'s forest rights as a lasting refuge for the gnomes.

Key Events

• The Bride Contest Begins — Rufus oversees a contest among young female gnomes to determine Jasper's bride. Characters: Jasper, Rufus, Violet Location: Gnome settlement
• Violet Is Pushed Aside — Jasper tries to help Violet catch him, but the aggressive contestants repeatedly push her aside. Characters: Jasper, Violet, Rufus Location: Gnome race course
• Violet Wins The Race — After a wild chase, Violet manages to win the race. Characters: Jasper, Violet, Rufus Location: Gnome race course
• Jasper And Violet Marry — Jasper and Violet marry after Violet wins the contest. Characters: Jasper, Violet, Rufus, D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby Location: Gnome settlement
• D.J. Gifts The Forest — D.J. gives Jasper the forest rights originally intended for logging as a wedding present. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Jasper, Violet Location: Gnome settlement
• A Haven For Gnomes — The donated forest becomes a safe haven for the gnome community. Characters: D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby, Rodney, Elizabeth, Jasper, Violet, Rufus Location: Protected forest

Story Breakdown

• Business Road Trip — D.J. begins a timber-selling journey with his grandchildren.
  • Seattle Timber Deal — D.J. travels to Seattle to sell 50,000 acres of timberland.
  • Grandchildren Arrive — D.J. picks up Rodney and Elizabeth at the airport.
• Redwood Encounter — The travelers detour through D.J.'s grove and meet two endangered gnomes.
  • Mulrooney Grove — The trio visits the Redwood grove endowed by D.J.
  • Jasper And Knobby — Jasper and Knobby appear and reveal the gnomes' predicament.
• Gnome Survival Quest — Knobby's fading and desire for Jasper to marry motivate the search for other gnomes.
  • Knobby's Fading — Knobby is becoming semi-transparent because of his fears about gnome extinction.
  • Search For A Bride — Knobby wants Jasper to find a bride before he dies.
• Human Obstacles — The journey collapses when Quaxton kidnaps the gnomes and Ralph rejects D.J.'s account.
  • Quaxton's Kidnapping — The freak show owner takes Jasper and Knobby.
  • Asylum Confinement — Ralph has D.J. committed after mistaking the gnome story for insanity.
• Children's Rescue — Rodney and Elizabeth restore the group by rescuing D.J. and Jasper.
  • Freeing D.J. — The siblings rescue their grandfather from the asylum.
  • Freeing Jasper — The siblings rescue Jasper from Quaxton's custody.
• Gnome Community — The group reaches a thriving woodland settlement led by Rufus.
  • Rufus Welcomes Jasper — The Gnome King introduces Jasper to the community.
  • Eligible Gnome — Jasper is presented as the eligible gnome for the bride contest.
• Violet's Triumph — Jasper's romantic choice challenges the aggressive contest and ends in marriage.
  • Wild Gnome Chase — Violet is pushed aside while competing, but Jasper encourages her.
  • Wedding Victory — Violet wins the race and marries Jasper.
• Forest Protection — D.J. transforms a planned logging sale into a permanent gnome refuge.
  • Wedding Forest Gift — D.J. gives Jasper the rights to the 50,000 acres.
  • Gnome Haven — The forest becomes a safe haven for the gnome community.

Directed by

Robert Stevenson

Key Cast

• Walter Brennan — D.J. Mulrooney / Knobby
• Matthew Garber — Rodney
• Karen Dotrice — Elizabeth
• Richard Deacon — Ralph Yarby
• Sean McClory — Horatio Quaxton