Gabriel Over the White House Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Gabriel Over the White House Blu-ray Movie Review

No checks, no balances, no problem.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III February 6, 2025

A film that could only have been made in the pre-Code era, Gregory La Cava's Gabriel Over the White House might be the most unique catalog deep cut from Warner Archive in quite some time. This prescient political drama stars Walter Huston -- yes, father of famed director John -- as newly-elected President Judson "Judd" Hammond, a spineless party stooge whose near-death experience prompts a swift change to his moral compass. Instead of a milquetoast hack, he's now a determined man of the people who ushers in a bold new era of sweeping policy changes made on his own terms rather than by dutifully following the rule of law. I'll let that statement stand on its own, of course.

White light, white supremacy.

A cautionary tale about both unchecked power and the dangerous union of church and state, Gabriel Over the While House is as sharp and uncompromising as first-time viewers might be expecting, and perhaps even more so. Our story begins with the introduction of its key focal point, as President Hammond -- who's been elected by a landslide during perhaps the darkest era of The Great Depression -- had grandstanded his way to public approval but is now woefully ineffectual in office, ignoring important news updates (and the plight of starving Americans) to play with his nephew, seemingly content to breeze through four more years of "business as usual" along party lines. Hammond's confidants are few and include current Secretary Hartley Beekman and mistress-turned-assistant Pendie Molloy (Karen Morley); his other colleagues are "yes men" who agree with his attempts to squash national threats such as popular "Army of the Unemployed" leader John Bronson (David Landau) and racketeer Nick Diamond (C. Henry Gordon).

This doesn't last long. An afternoon joyride with his Presidential entourage ends horrifically, with reckless Hammond behind the wheel of a limo that crashes after approaching 100mph on a back road. The nation and his own cabinet are stunned as Hammond lies in a coma for two weeks; that is, until a heavenly visit -- indicated by nothing more than a harp flourish and an off-screen lighting change -- snaps the President out of it. The press and public don't know it yet, but Hammond is quite literally a new man now: he speaks with force, moves with speed, and ignores bureaucratic red tape to enforce swift and sudden action. Hammond chugs full steam ahead to almost single-handedly address the nation's problems, with the end goal being a peace treaty signed by the world's leaders... or else.

Enforced global harmony sounds great until we remember oops, that's fascism. But it's just one of many reasons why Gabriel Over the White House still stands as an absolutely singular production even when seen through a modern lens. Hammond's temporary suspension of Congress? The dismissal of his own cabinet? His declaration of martial law and firing-squad execution of "domestic terrorists" after rushed trials in a military court? These scenarios quite simply hit different in 2025 and possibly beyond, much in the same way a once-satirical film like Network no longer seems far-fetched. While it's not exactly a flawless production and has clear trouble lacing some of its narrative threads, the plot and performances present in Gabriel Over the White House -- which feels a lot like a sci-fi fever dream -- are more than enough to consider this a once-forgotten gem from that short seven-year stretch between the fade of silent film and the beginning of the Hays Code. It's a relic for sure, but one that was absolutely worth digging up.

Warner Archive's welcome and well-timed new Blu-ray actually marks the film's second resurrection on home video, replacing their own 2009 DVD with a new transfer sourced from best-available preservation elements. Add in lossless audio and a few bits of pre-show entertainment and you've got solid high-def treatment for a deserving deep cut.

NOTE: Long-time fans of Gabriel Over the White House -- at least those aware of its connections to FDR's first term and William Randolph Hearst -- likely know of the film's alternate ending, which was reportedly created for European distribution. This is the domestic version, of course, and only includes the closing moments as originally shot.

Gabriel Over the White House Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sourced from best-available preservation elements, Warner Archive's solid 1080p transfer of Gabriel Over the White House shows a few inevitable seams along the way but, as usual, this is overwhelmingly great work from the boutique label. Image detail is rarely eye-popping yet quite crisp at times thanks to the regular presence of organic film grain, while some scenes vary in thickness and visual fidelity due to the presumed inclusion of rough stock footage or possible newsreel clips during parades and other public gatherings. Black levels mostly hold steady but occasionally show signs of flicker, while a few occasional hiccups such as missing frames or potentially unrepairable damage can also be spotted along the way; these are all uniformly acceptable under the circumstances. I don't have Warner Archive's 2009 DVD on hand for comparison and, while it received positive marks back in the day according to several trusted review outlets, there's no way it can begin to compete with this newer and fresher restoration. Capably encoded with more than a few genuine visual highlights, it's a pleasing presentation that die-hard fans will certainly appreciate.

Gabriel Over the White House Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner Archive's DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix holds steady while also falling victim to a bit of age-related wear-and-tear, which can again be forgiven thanks to the boutique label's solid track record. Dialogue is largely clear and easily understood though obviously somewhat thin on the high end; the same goes for the original score by William Axt, a prolific film composer best known for his musical contributions to W. S. Van Dyke's The Thin Man, released just over a year later. Occasional hiss is present, as is some unusually harsh damage during the fateful "Army of the Unemployed" march, but were again likely unrepairable or left alone to avoid compromising the dynamic range. On the whole, this split-channel mono track sounds decently in-line with what one might expect out of a film from this era.

One small footnote: Die-hard fans could probably tell me if it's always been this way, but at 30:29 there's a brief audio drop-out that removes the word "damned." Again, this anomaly is likely part of the source material.

Gabriel Over the White House Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with vintage poster-themed cover artwork and no inserts. No film-themed bonus features are included, but we do get a trio of era-specific Looney Tunes shorts instead.

• Bosko in Person (7:33) - This 1933 short stars the original LT mascot Bosko and his sweetheart Honey, both appearing in a Vaudeville-style act for a (mostly) appreciative audience. It looks to have been decently restored in comparison to the version seen on WB's 2008 Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 6 DVD set.

• Buddy's Beer Garden (7:15) - The second appearance of Looney Tunes' next major player after Bosko (but before Beans the Cat), this 1933 short follows the title character hard at work in a German beer garden. It's another one where the animation exceeds the story by a country mile, but still worth a look.

• The Dish Ran Away With the Spoon (7:31) - Technically it's a Merrie Melodies short, but this obviously music-driven 1933 adventure follows the strange goings-on inside "Ye Olde Bake Shoppe" after hours.

Gabriel Over the White House Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Gregory La Cava's Gabriel Over the White House is an absolutely bonkers pre-Code political drama with a committed performance from Walter Huston, solid direction, a few creative editing tricks, and of course a story that must be seen to be believed. Warner Archive's welcome Blu-ray replaces their well-received 2009 DVD with a solid new 4K-sourced restoration, lossless audio, and a handful of supportive pre-show cartoons to round out the package nicely. This one's unquestionably Recommended to die-hard fans but it's probably worth a blind buy for newcomers too.