The Gaucho
About The Gaucho
A girl survives a fall from a cliff in the Argentine Andes and is treated as a healer. A shrine, then a city, grows on the spot, filled with gold left by pilgrims. Ruiz, a general, takes the city, seizes the gold, and shuts the shrine. The Gaucho, an outlaw leader, arrives with his men. Lupe Vélez plays the Mountain Girl who rides with him.
Cast & crew
More about The Gaucho
Douglas Fairbanks produced and wrote the story under the name Elton Thomas. Lotta Woods worked on the scenario. United Artists distributed it. Shooting began in late May 1927. The New York premiere was November 21, 1927; the general release was January 1, 1928.
Themes
Reviews
Fairbanks biographer Jeffrey Vance described the film as darker than Fairbanks's earlier adventures, with the usual boyish tone set aside.
Look
Tony Gaudio was director of photography, with Abe Scholtz as associate photographer.
Music
Arthur Kay wrote an original score. He is uncredited on the film.
Preservation
A 35mm positive survives in the Raymond Rohauer collection held by Cohen Media Group. Silent Era lists the film as public domain in the United States.
Notes
- The full title on the film is Douglas Fairbanks as The Gaucho.
- Mary Pickford appears as the Virgin Mary. Footage of that scene was shot in Technicolor Process 2 and left out of the finished film.
- Eve Southern plays the Girl of the Shrine. Joan Barclay, billed as Geraine Greear, plays her as a child.
- Gustav von Seyffertitz plays Ruiz. Nigel De Brulier plays the Padre. Albert MacQuarrie plays the victim of the Black Doom.
- AFI times a release print at 102 minutes (9,358 feet) and dates the Los Angeles opening to December 10, 1927.
- William Nolan edited. Arthur Kay wrote the music and was not credited on screen.
- A print is in the Raymond Rohauer collection, now with Cohen Media Group.
Scenes
- The girl survives the fall and a shrine is raised on the spot.
- Mary Pickford appears as the Virgin Mary.
- Ruiz orders a scaffold built in the public square.
Quotes
I'll have him slashed to ribbons in the Public Square!
Teach me to pray.
