The Great Gabbo (1929): cast, story & where to watch
1929 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1929, The Great Gabbo is a drama, romance and music film directed by James Cruze, running about 94 minutes. “Hated by all-his real soul spoke through the lips of a lifeless dummy” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. The Great Gabbo stars Erich von Stroheim as Gabbo, Betty Compson as Mary, Donald Douglas as Frank and Marjorie Kane as Babe, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, The Great Gabbo has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, YouTube TV and MGM Plus and rent or buy it from Amazon Video and FlixFling. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Great Gabbo page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Great Gabbo tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Great Gabbo (1929)?
- In US, The Great Gabbo is available to stream on MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel and YouTube TV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video and FlixFling. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Great Gabbo worth watching?
- The Great Gabbo holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, romance and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Great Gabbo?
- The Great Gabbo stars Erich von Stroheim, Betty Compson, Donald Douglas, Marjorie Kane and Earl Burtnett.
- When was The Great Gabbo released?
- The Great Gabbo was released in 1929, with a runtime of about 94 minutes.