The Great Gabbo (1929)

The Great Gabbo (1929)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019946/

Directed by
James Cruze
Erich von Stroheim (uncredited)

Writing credits
Ben Hecht story "The Rival Dummy"
Hugh Herbert continuity
Hugh Herbert dialogue

"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."

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• the
• great
• gabbo
• 1929
• classic
• movies

[briedude]

Why is it being shown in letterbox? It wasn't filmed that way. NOt blaming the poster, I just hate it when they letterbox old movies and smash it down chopping off the top & bottom.

[5feethigh]

usually the movies are shot in 16:9 aspect ratio (panoramic)- it gives a better perspective depth. the smashing is made for tv screenings which used to be at 4:3 ratio. so they're chopping the sides.

youtube is also using 4:3 ratio

(roughly 320x240)

considering this, letterbox is the way to go :)

I really don't know any technical details for Gabbo though..

[bunnylakesrighthere]

briedude is of course correct--they weren't making movies widescreen in 1929. that is why half of his head is missing--the picture is missing. not all movies have the same ratio, and for the record, none are shot in 16:9. that is the ratio of your widescreen tv, which is a compromise between the various widescreen aspect ratios films *are* shot in. the ratio gabbo was actually filmed in should fit comfortably in a normal tv 4:3 frame.

[5feethigh]

briedude is right about this particular case, but you're absolutely wrong about the wide screen history.

I'm using the 16:9 as a general term defining the wide format.

they were filming in such formats in 1930.

check 'the bat whispers'.

---------------

[...] Powers discovered that all of those aspects would fit within a 1.77:1 outer rectangle and when over-lapped, all shared a common 1.77:1 inner rectangle. Hence, any of the "common 5" can be neatly cropped or matted to fill a 16:9 screen.

[karnovrpg]

Who's "Gabbo"?

[5feethigh]

have you read the description?

[zaygezunt]

Of course he wasn't a ventriloquist, he was a an actor and a genius. Hollywood destroyed one of its greatest talents, don't mock him now. He did some huge work in the silent era that shaped modern film - honor him!

[GameStation3]

Gabbo! Gabbo! GABBO!!!

[HargroveFilms1]

Erich Von Stroheim was a great director of the silent era and actor in sound movies. Best known as Max in Sunset Boulevard.

[mar3589com]

Erich von Stroheim, Donald Douglas and Betty Compson were the stars of this movie

[SpearfulDeath]

thumbs up if your watchin this 2011

[TheNumber1TailsFan]

is this a horror movie with a killer doll?

[DarkLightPrince]

@ChobThomas in a cosmic sort of way yes except that Arthur is sane and doesn't let his dummy control him.

[skajmi]

isn´t it Erich von Stroheim??

[WSenator1]

@zaygezunt - He was also the butler in the great "Sunset Boulevard" with Gloria Swanson and William Holden.

[ChobThomas]

Is that Arthur Crandall?

[Cresantstar]

i dont know why imdb state Helen Kane is in the movie becuse ive watched most of it & i have not seen her