The Gazebo (1959)

TV writer Elliott Nash buries a blackmailer under the new gazebo in his suburban backyard. But the nervous man can't let the body rest there.

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

George Wells (screen play), Alec Coppel (play)

Stars:

Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds, Carl Reiner

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Glenn Ford	...	Elliott Nash
Debbie Reynolds	...	Nell Nash
Carl Reiner	...	Harlow Edison
John McGiver	...	Sam Thorpe
Mabel Albertson	...	Miss Chandler
Doro Merande	...	Matilda
Bert Freed	...	Lt. Joe Jenkins
Martin Landau	...	The Duke
Robert Ellenstein	...	Ben
Dick Wessel	...	Louis the Louse (as Richard Wessel)
Herman	...	Herman the Pigeon

Storyline

Television writer and director Elliott Nash and his wife Nell have a happy marriage. One day a blackmailer informs Elliott that he has nude photos of his wife Nell, taken when she was only 18 years old. The blackmailer, a certain Dan Shelby, threatens to ruin Nell's reputation and her Broadway stage career if Elliott refuses to pay a ransom. Elliott agrees to pay the blackmailer but the demands increase and Elliott becomes a nervous wreck and a workaholic in his attempt to earn more money for the blackmailer. Elliott even considers selling his house in order to raise the 25 thousand dollars the blackmailer demands. Nell is unaware of the blackmail scheme and often worries about Elliott's state of mind. In desperation, Elliott decides to lure the blackmailer to Elliott's home for a large final payment and kill him. But Elliott is no killer and his planning for the imminent premeditated murder is amateurish at best.

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Plot Keywords:

connecticut | hidden corpse | based on play | gazebo | blackmail | 

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Taglines:

MURDER CAN BE FUN! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sin talento para matar

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,218,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,860,000, 31 December 1960

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,310,000, 31 December 1960

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avon Productions (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Remade in France as "Jo" in 1971, starring Louis de Funes.

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Goofs

When The Nash's first get home and Harlow is waiting for them, Elliot Nash makes a drink and hands it to Harlow. When he accepts the drink the glass is full, however when he gets to the sofa the glass is more than 1/2 empty.

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Quotes

The Duke: Your husband knocked him off!
Nell Nash: Don't be silly! My husband's the kind of man who takes cheese from mouse traps so the mice don't get hurt!
The Duke: I didn't say he knocked off a mouse, I said he knocked off Joe!

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Connections

Remade as Jo (1971)

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Soundtracks

Something Called Love
Written by Walter Kent and Walton Farrar
Performed by Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)
[Nell performs the song in her show]

User Reviews

Good Fun

7 out of 10

Fun time filler involving Ford and his attempts at murdering a blackmailer and then burying the body underneath a newly constructed gazebo.

Nothing profoundly exceptional here, but it is genuinely and consistently offbeat. There are some good laughs and a couple of uniquely comical moments. Ford and his rather timid delivery really carries the picture. In many ways he was much better at comedy than drama and this film not only proves it, but takes full advantage of it. The very nervous way he proceeds with the murder is a real riot alone. The very high strung way he tries to direct a live on air broadcast, that is shown at the beginning of the film, is not only funny but completely on target.

Their are a lot of twists and turns here and they all become much quicker in pace near the end. None of it is predictable. The best sequence may actually be the one involving a pigeon named Herman. Also don't miss the comment by the police chief at the very end as he is leaving the house.

Reiner adds good energy in support playing a lawyer that never stops deliberating. Character actor McGiver is pretty good also playing against type. Usually he plays very stuffy type characters who enjoy pontificating. Here he plays a gruff laborer who speaks sparingly.