The Great Gabbo

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The Great Gabbo
Greatgabbb.jpg
Original theatrical poster for the film
Directed by James Cruze
Erich von Stroheim (uncredited)
Produced by Nat Cordish (executive producer)
James Cruze (producer)
Henry D. Meyer (executive producer)
Written by Ben Hecht (story "The Rival Dummy")
Hugh Herbert (continuity)
Hugh Herbert (dialogue)
Starring Erich von Stroheim
Betty Compson
Donald Douglas
Music by Howard Jackson (musical arrangement)
Songs:
Lynn Cowan
Paul Titsworth
Donald McNamee
King Zany
Cinematography Ira H. Morgan
Distributed by Sono Art-World Wide Pictures
Release date(s) 12 September 1929
Running time 94 minutes
Country USA
Language German, English

The Great Gabbo (1929) is an American early sound film musical drama film directed by James Cruze, based on a story ("The Rival Dummy") by Ben Hecht and starring Erich von Stroheim and Betty Compson.

As originally released by Sono Art-World Wide Pictures, the film featured sequences in Multicolor. The current prints, restored by the Library of Congress and released by Kino International on DVD, are only in black and white.

Contents

Plot summary[edit]

The movie follows brilliant ventriloquist "The Great Gabbo" (Stroheim) who, as he spirals down into madness, increasingly uses his dummy "Otto" as his only means of self-expression—an artist driven insane by his work. Gabbo's gimmick is his astonishing ability to make Otto talk—and even sing—while Gabbo himself smokes, drinks and eats. Gabbo's girlfriend and assistant (Betty Compson) loves him, but is driven to another performer (Donald Douglas) by Gabbo's deteriorating personality.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Though not a musical, the stark drama is oddly juxtaposed with the somewhat overblown and gauche musical sequences, especially "Every Now and Then", "I'm in Love with You", "The New Dance Step", "Caught in a Web of Love", and the now-lost color number "The Ga-Ga Bird". The "Web of Love" sequence is occasionally shown on Classic Arts Showcase. Footage of the dance sequences was re-used with different music in The Girl from Calgary (1932).

The public domain version available on Internet Archive runs 68 minutes, while the original film ran 92 minutes. The title sequence mentions "Color sequences by Multicolor" however those color sequences are now lost. Multicolor, based on the earlier Prizmacolor process, went out of business in 1932, and its assets were bought by Cinecolor.

Influence[edit]

The film's basic plot and themes would later be resurrected many times, most famously in the British film Dead of Night (1945), two episodes of the popular television series The Twilight Zone ("The Dummy," Season 3, Episode 33 and "Caesar and Me," Season 5, Episode 148); and the 1978 Anthony Hopkins film Magic. An episode of The Simpsons, "Krusty Gets Kancelled," also featured a ventriloquist's dummy by the name of Gabbo. The Batman villain Ventriloquist (and his dummy Scarface) are arguably based on the Great Gabbo as well, also depicting the madness that comes from one person living two personas, in Capcom's game "PW:AA And justice for all" Ben has been based entirely on Great Gabbo as well.

Soundtrack[edit]

  • "Every Now and Then"
Sung by Marjorie Kane and Donald Douglas
  • "I'm In Love With You"
Sung by Betty Compson and Donald Douglas
Written by Lynn Cowan and Paul Titsworth
  • "That New Step"
Sung by Marjorie Kane and chorus
Written by Lynn Cowan and Paul Titsworth
  • "I'm Laughing"
Sung by Otto the dummy and Erich von Stroheim
Written by King Zany and Donald McNamee
  • "Ickey (Lollipop Song)"
Sung by Otto the dummy, with Erich von Stroheim
  • "Web Of Love"
Sung by Betty Compson and Donald Douglas
Written by Lynn Cowan and Paul Titsworth

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Selected Ben Hecht works
Director
Screenwriter
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