The Gaucho (1927)

Director:

F. Richard Jones

Writer:

Douglas Fairbanks (story)

Release Date:

30 January 1928 (Finland)

Genre:

Adventure | Romance

Tagline:

A glorious tale of gay adventure and romantic daring on the wild plains of South America!

Plot:

A girl is saved by a miracle after she falls from a cliff in the Argentine Andes, and is blessed with healing powers...

Plot Keywords:

Miracle | Swashbuckler | South America | Religion

Cast

Douglas Fairbanks	...	The Gaucho
Lupe Velez	...	The Mountain Girl
Joan Barclay	...	The Girl of the Shrine (younger) (as Geraine Greear)
Eve Southern	...	The Girl of the Shrine
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Ruiz, The Usurper
Michael Vavitch	...	The Usurper's First Lieutenant
Charles Stevens	...	The Gaucho's First Lieutenant
Nigel De Brulier	...	The Padre
Albert MacQuarrie	...	Victim of the Black Doom

Also Known As:

Douglas Fairbanks as The Gaucho (USA) (copyright title)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (2-strip Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Elton Corporation

Trivia:

A new preservation print of the film, created by the Museum of Modern Art, was first shown at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2008. It has subsequently been screened at MoMA (2008), the San Francisco Silent Film Festival (2009), and the National Gallery of Art (2009) to promote the new book "Douglas Fairbanks" (UC Press/Academy Imprints, 2008) with the author introducing the screenings.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Gallopin' Gaucho (1928)

Swashbuckling Fun With Douglas Fairbanks

He is feared by men and adored by women - but only one woman will tame him. He acknowledges no creed, but only One Faith will claim him. No jail shall hold him or treasure elude him. He is South America's greatest bandit and soon the fate of the Andes' most venerated shrine will be in his hands. He is THE GAUCHO.

Douglas Fairbanks was at the pinnacle of his fame when he made this wonderful adventure film. His buoyant on-screen charm is matched only by his superb & graceful athleticism. He is secure in his position as one of the very greatest of cinema legends.

Lupe Velez makes a fiery & beautiful love interest as the Mountain Girl, flirting or fighting with Fairbanks at every twist of the plot; Nigel De Brulier as The Padre & Eve Southern as the Girl of The Shrine are saintly in their supporting roles. That's Mary Pickford in a cameo as the Virgin Mary. And once seen, who can ever forget The Victim of the Black Doom?

The sets and the special effects shots - using glass mattes - are exceptional. The very long City of the Miracles set is one of the finest ever created for a silent film.