Gabriel Over the White House (1933)

92% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(244 ratings)

In 1933, at the height of the bleakness and desperation of the Depression, MGM released this genuine curiosity piece -- directed by comedy (!) director Gregory La Cava -- concerning a Warren G. Harding-like partisan hand-shaker President of the United States who, after seeing a vision, revokes the… More In 1933, at the height of the bleakness and desperation of the Depression, MGM released this genuine curiosity piece -- directed by comedy (!) director Gregory La Cava -- concerning a Warren G. Harding-like partisan hand-shaker President of the United States who, after seeing a vision, revokes the Constitution, becomes a reigning dictator, and solves all of the nation's problems. Walter Huston plays Judson Hammond, recently elected President of the United States, who treats his elected office as a joke and acts as a dispenser of Party favors. But after an automobile accident, he sees the Archangel Gabriel, who inspires him to declare himself dictator. His first line of business after his conversion is to fire his Cabinet. This leads to impeachment proceedings, but Hammond enters the Senate chamber and takes over the Congress. He then tackles unemployment by meeting with John Bronson (David Landau), the leader of masses of marching unemployed men. When gangster Nick Diamond (Henry C. Gordon) and his goons assassinate Bronson, Hammond uses his brown-shirted storm troopers to blast their way into Diamond's headquarters and blow him away. The President then intimidates the leaders of countries that owe money to the United States to pay their debts then forces them to disarm and pledge world peace. Hammond rapidly becomes the most popular fascist President in United States history. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Gregory La Cava
Written By: Carey Wilson, Bertram Bloch
Genres: Drama, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1933 Wide
On DVD: Apr 28, 1993

Critic Reviews

Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
Gregory La Cava's 1933 New Deal fantasy is one of the strangest political films to escape the studios.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A unique and somewhat daffy Depression-era comedy New Deal fantasy film.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A classic example of pre-code Hollywood getting away with all kinds of depression-era madness.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Of all the crackpot political films to come out of Hollywood ... this is surely the crackpottest, and must really be seen to be believed.
Martin Scribbs, Mixed Reviews
Gabriel Over the White House encourages its viewers to live the fantasy of the philosopher-king, but never counts the costs of such a regime.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Fascinating, original, definitely ahead of its time fantasy.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A most interesting fantasy, dated and quaint by today's standards, but most interesting for its time. The idea of a president warring on the underworld and executing criminals has some appeal.
Boo Allen, Denton Record Chronicle (TX)
Strange film that sees Huston as U.S. president who feels he's being visited by the angel Gabriel. More than topical considering the current prez' religious preoccupations.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
An odd, earnest comedy with soapbox leanings.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Odd, slightly disconcerting Gregory La Cava film that's more interesting than good

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

beyond bizarre. walter huston as the president asserts his constitutional authority to become dictator of the u.s. after a near-death experience. he fires everyone and uses federal troops to combat the depression and gangsters. there's even a driveby shooting at the white… More
beyond bizarre. walter huston as the president asserts his constitutional authority to become dictator of the u.s. after a near-death experience. he fires everyone and uses federal troops to combat the depression and gangsters. there's even a driveby shooting at the white house! produced by william randolph hearst the same year hitler came to power, it soon became controversial for obvious reasons and wasn't seen for many years. it's an interesting piece of propaganda and still a little bit frightening
cody f

This is a strange but enjoyable film. Walter Huston becomes president during the Great Depression and he approaches the depression without urgency, but then he is in a car accident and is close to death. He recovers suddenly as a different person and starts to run the country as a… More
This is a strange but enjoyable film. Walter Huston becomes president during the Great Depression and he approaches the depression without urgency, but then he is in a car accident and is close to death. He recovers suddenly as a different person and starts to run the country as a dictator and fights the economy and gangsters.He bullies his cabinet, congress, and foreign leaders if they don't do as he says. It's hinted that the angel Gabriel has possessed him. This film showed what he was doing as positive and what the country needed, but the film was pulled when Hitler came to power and was doing exactly what Huston was doing. Huston is very good and the film is interesting. It's just a little crazy and it has a scene where gangsters do a drive by on the White House. Never seen that before.
Marion R

One of the more interesting films I have seen of late, but it feels very long. The subject matter is interesting, but watching the film is not.