Marion Davies plays a naive young woman who travels to Hollywood to be a actress in serious movies, but instead ends up getting splashed in the face with seltzer water and chased around in slapstick comedies. While making these films she makes a loyal group of friends, including William Haines who is secretly in love with her. Soon though, she gets a chance at becoming a serious actress. She does so and becomes a big star, which for some reason causes her to purse her lips up like a rabbit and turn her back on her friends. You can probably guess what happens next.
King Vidor's SHOW PEOPLE is a treasure. The story might sound serious, but it's actually very funny. Marion Davies' performance is totally charming, the pace is quick, the story has a modern feel to it, the cameos are impressive and the behind-the-scenes feel to the whole thing is fascinating. I enjoyed it so much that I actually watched it twice! Although I do wish that the script had been beefed up a bit. A longer time spent showing her working in the low-budget comedies would have helped.
But it is what it is and I was smiling from beginning to end. And that scene where Marion Davies' character sees the real life Marion Davies is absolutely adorable. Highly recommended for fans of silent movies.
Great scene where Marion Davies' character sees the real life Marion Davies
and doesn't approve...
