Gizmo! (1977)

Compilation of man inventing strange contraptions in the 30's through 50's.

Director:

Howard Smith

Writers:

Kathleen Cox (narration written by), Nicholas Hollander (narration written by),

Stars:

Milt Moss

Cast

Credited cast:
Milt Moss	...	Narrator

Storyline

A documentary about some of the thousands of inventions that did things we never thought needed doing, or in ways we never considered doing them. A respectful, yet humorous tribute to the inventors whose vision, however far-reaching, was just a little off the mark.

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Plot Keywords:

invention | new york city | skyscraper | archival footage | manhattan new york city | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Documentary

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1982 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Gizmo - melkein neroja

Company Credits

Production Co:

High Wire Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Much of the newsreel footage, originally shot without sound, has dialogue dubbed in. A lip reader was hired to figure out what the people were saying in the newsreels, and actors lip-synched the lines.

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Quotes

Cecil: In the year of 1914, in the month of February, I was coming home from school. And my hands got very cold, and you see and I had no mittens. And I began, of course, pressing them together to get them warm, and that wouldn't do. And pretty soon I began squeezing them, and I was surprised to think I could make a few different sounds. Well then I begin playing everyday, and pretty soon I could play Yankee Doodle clear through. And that was the only tune I could play for three whole years. And next ...

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Connections

Referenced in Filmens vidundelige verden (1978)

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Soundtracks

"Pieces Of Dreams"
Written by Joe DiSabato

User Reviews

Should be re-named "Marching To A Different Drummer"

GIZMO is a wild documentary about the eccentric inventors and entertainers who only wanted to make the world a more interesting place. Among some of the lunatic inventions shown here are talking grandfather clocks, a bicycle that can scale houses, caps to keep swimmers' beards dry and cars that appear to drive backwards. Then you have the public entertainers who show they have the talent to do odd things such as bend hardware with their teeth, do carpentry with their tounge, tightrope across Times Square.

Added to this, the bulk of the footage is from before World War II, so these visonaries address the camera in an ernest, polite manner that adds much to this film. A great piece for the family.