Belly Talkers on AllMovie

This upbeat documentary offers viewers a look into the art and history of ventriloquism, or "belly talking," as it was called in ancient Egypt. Filmmaker Sandra Luckow is herself a ventriloquist and used her childhood dummy Juanito to express thoughts and feelings she herself was too shy to speak. In addition to look at some of the 20th century's great voice throwers, the film also looks in on those who use it for more than performing. Examples include a child psychologist who uses dummy's to reach patients, those who work the trade shows, and others who use the gift to spread religious propaganda. Finally the film examines the popular notion that ventriloquists tend to be schizophrenic.