The Gazebo (1959)

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Myra Coppel (story) and
Alec Coppel (story) ...

Release Date:

16 December 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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. |

Plot Keywords:

Pigeon | Live Television | Hitchcock | Corpse | Stress

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

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	...	Lieutenant Joe Jenkins
Martin Landau	...	The Duke aka A. Wellington Broos
Robert Ellenstein	...	Ben
Dick Wessel	...	Louis the Louse (as Richard Wessel)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:16

Company:

Avon Productions (II)

Goofs:

Continuity: Elliot Nash haphazardly buries the attaché case with Dan Shelby, but when The Duke and Louis the Louse dig up Shelby a few days later, Dan is holding the attaché very tight in his left hand.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Jo (1971)

Soundtrack:

Something Called Love

excellent

I can't say too many good things about this extremely well done black comedy. The casting is first-rate, with Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds, and Carl Reiner. Glenn Ford is an underrated actor with a real flair for comedy, as shown here. Also of note is the fine bit by the venerable character actor John McGiver as Thorpe, the contractor. The plot keeps you going and the comic action never slips. I like also the decision to film it in black and white; it just looks right. As it is a wide-screen production, catching it in letterbox helps. A not-well-known film that is a nice comic surprise!