The Great Gabbo (1929)

An insanely, egocentric ventriloquist, even though he is possessed by his wooden dummy, is in love with a dancer who is in love with another. The dummy gives advice to the ventriloquist.

Director:

James Cruze

Writers:

Ben Hecht (story), Hugh Herbert (continuity),

Stars:

Erich von Stroheim, Betty Compson, Donald Douglas

Cast

Credited cast:
Erich von Stroheim	...	Gabbo
Betty Compson	...	Mary
Donald Douglas	...	Frank
Marjorie Kane	...	Babe (as Margie 'Babe' Kane)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John F. Hamilton	...	Neighbour
Harry Ross	...	Performer

Storyline

For the ventriloquist Gabbo his wooden dummy Otto is the only means of expression. When he starts relying more and more on Otto, he starts going mad.

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Plot Keywords:

dummy | ventriloquist | love | wooden dummy | dancer | 

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

German English

Release Date:

12 September 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der große Gabbo

Company Credits

Production Co:

James Cruze Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White Color (Multicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The dummy Otto was a hand carved basswood Frank Marshall figure. The same man who designed Edgar Bergen's famous characters Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mary: Oh, I see a move. Look - eight on the nine, and then your King comes up, and that plays a Queen.
Gabbo: Will you leave these cards alone? You think you can show me something?

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Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Krusty Gets Kancelled (1993)

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Soundtracks

"That New Step"
(uncredited)
Written by Lynn Cowan and Paul Titsworth
Performed by Marjorie Kane and chorus
Also performed as part of the finale

User Reviews

Insane Fun

This film is very unique. It crosses a horror story about a mad ventriloquist with an early-talkie musical revue. Erich Von Stroheim chews up the scenery as he takes his lady-love (Betty Compson) for granted while interacting primarily with Otto, his wooden dummy. The musical interludes are eye-popping, particularly the "Web of Love" number which features chorus girls dressed as insects, complete with fright-wigs. Betty Compson does a good job as Mary, the lady-love of Gabbos' who finds happiness with another. Also in the cast is Marjorie "Babe" Kane, a carbon-copy of her more famous sister Helen Kane, who figures in several of the musical numbers. This film was not considered successful at the time of it's release, but it still is a lot of fun to watch today. The Library of Congress restoration of this film looks and sounds great, even if the original "Multicolor" is absent. Most people who like this film dislike the many musical numbers included. However, I feel they add to the Ziegfeld-type atmosphere the story is trying to represent. The songs themselves are quite good, and one must also remember that in the fall of 1929, when this film was released, musicals were all the rage. The huge success of MGM's "The Broadway Melody" made it standard for any film that hoped to be a success to include at least some music. This of course would backfire when, about a year after "Gabbo's" release, the public would stay away from musicals like the plague, due to overexposure. It's amazing that this production, which looks like some money was spent on it, was made by Sono-Art-Worldwide, a company which, in a few years would become Monogram Pictures after a merger with Rayart. One of Monogram's 1933 films, "The Girl From Calgary", would interpolate dance footage from "The Great Gabbo", underscored by some different music. Even the audience reaction footage would be used.