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6.4/10
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A political hack becomes President during the height of the Depression and undergoes a metamorphosis into an incorruptible statesman after a near-fatal accident.A political hack becomes President during the height of the Depression and undergoes a metamorphosis into an incorruptible statesman after a near-fatal accident.A political hack becomes President during the height of the Depression and undergoes a metamorphosis into an incorruptible statesman after a near-fatal accident.
Samuel S. Hinds
- Dr. H.L. Eastman
- (as Samuel Hinds)
Claire Du Brey
- Nurse
- (as Claire DuBrey)
Oscar Apfel
- German Delegate to Debt Conference
- (uncredited)
Mischa Auer
- Mr. Thieson
- (uncredited)
Max Barwyn
- German Officer
- (uncredited)
Jack Baxley
- Unemployed Marcher
- (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
- White House Press Correspondent
- (uncredited)
Margaret Bert
- Nurse Bert
- (uncredited)
B.F. Blinn
- Politician
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe protest march of the "army of the unemployed" in the story was no doubt a reference to the protest march of the "Bonus Army" in 1932, where veterans of WWI marched on Congress to demand payment of promised bonuses. They were attacked with tanks and tear gas by the U.S. Army led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur on orders of President Herbert Hoover. William Randolph Hearst, who railed against that action in his newpapers, saw to it that the President in this film helped the people. Meanwhile, Louis B. Mayer, a staunch Republican, delayed the movie until Hoover was out of office.
- GoofsThrough out the whole movie Walter Huston's hair is combed differently in one continuous scene after another. It's obvious many of the cuts back to him are from different takes.
- Quotes
Jimmy Vetter: I got a speech.
Hon. Judson Hammond - The President of the United States: A speech? Let's hear it.
Jimmy Vetter: I love my uncle Judd because he's going to cure the Depression and make everybody rich.
- Alternate versionsIn 1995, the Madrid Filmoteca screened both the American version and the little-seen European version of Gabriel Over the White House. In the European version, Hammond is seen to go just that much further into fascism. It also features a significantly altered ending. In the American version, Hammond is nobly struck down at the end, whereas in the European version, Pendie actually chooses NOT to save him, because she sees what he has become.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Great Depression (1993)
- SoundtracksSymphony No. 1 in C minor Op. 68 IV. Adagio
(1876) (uncredited)
Music by Johannes Brahms
A fourth movement theme is played during the opening credits
The same theme is used often as a leitmotif suggesting Archangel Gabriel's presence
Featured review
I remember having seen this movie when I was very young, and it impressed me then as propaganda for President Roosevelt's New Deal. Now I know better, and have read something about its real history. William Randolph Hearst had become an FDR fan, and had this picture made by his Cosmopolitan productions, affiliated with MGM, in order to express what he hoped the new President would do. MGM's boss, Louis B. Mayer, a staunch Republican, shelved the picture until after the Roosevelt inauguration. Now we can see that what Hearst expected FDR to do by dictatorial means, the President achieved as a real believer in Democracy. The picture is intelligent; Walter Huston's performance, brilliant, as well as the supporting work by Karen Morley and Franchot Tone (was this his movie debut?). The direction by Gregory LaCava, exceptional, as he managed to make the audience believe in such far-fetched and unbelievable sequences as the "war" against racketeers with courts martial included, but he could not avoid the allusions to the Archangel Gabriel sounding ridiculous. Anyhow this a curious motion picture, and probably the most politically inclined ever made by a major Hollywood studio. But the fascistic leanings of Hearst could not be hidden, not even by a producer as liberal in politics as Walter Wanger.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- El despertar de una nación
- Filming locations
- Palos Verdes Estates, California, USA(Lee Highway to Arlington Cemetery)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 26 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Gabriel Over the White House (1933) officially released in India in English?
Answer