Product Details

• Actors: George K. Arthur, Sidney Bracey, Charles Chaplin, Lew Cody, Albert Conti
• Directors: King Vidor
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 82 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301976169
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,354 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If You Only Watch One Silent Movie- Make This the One!, March 8, 2000

By 

Sandy McLendon (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Show People [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Anyone who loves film should see this one! This is that great rarity- a silent movie loved by people who don't like silent movies. It's a comedy about Hollywood, the people who work in it, and its effect on their personal lives. Marion Davies and Billy Haines are two youngsters who crash into movies; she becomes a lah-de-dah dramatic star, he gets stuck in Keystone-style slapstick. Their personal lives nearly come apart as Davies tries to live up to her studio image, and as Haines tries to get her to maintain a sense of proportion about the Hollywood scene. As Hollywood veterans, both actors knew the subject very well- they both had images terribly at odds with their personal lives. Their acting in the film ranges from the liveliest slapstick imaginable to a glowing, loving friendship that couldn't possibly be acting at all. The look at 1928 Hollywood is a delight; we're shown everything from Hollywood Boulevard to the inside of M-G-M itself. Three bits are not to be missed: Davies' lampoon of Gloria Swanson at her hoitiest and toitiest, director King Vidor's cameo as himself,and the famous shot of Davies having lunch in the M-G-M commissary. As the camera pans around the circular table, we get to see a million dollars worth of 1928 movie talent, from Douglas Fairbanks to Mae Murray, to Dane and Arthur. If you only watch one silent in your whole movie-going career, this should be it. You'll come away with a great sense of how much all the participants in this film adored their work, and Hollywood, and each other- their love for what they were doing is fresh and undimmed, three-quarters of a century later. If you haven't seen 'Show People', you just aren't serious about film!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Times may change, but the silents never do, July 2, 2000

By 

James Hiller (Beaverton, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Show People [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you are a fan of silent movies, or just interested in one, I highly recommend "Show People" as a great example of the finest in that genre. Starring the beautiful Marion Davies, and the equally loveable and handsome William Haines, these two charmers set out to weave a tale of love, hijinks, and a gentle ribbing of the business that made them both great.

Much has bene written about Marion Davies' inability to climb to the heavens as a star, but one can seriously debate that after watching her acting excellence and comedic timing in "Show People". The innocent-girl-turned-big-star may not be very originial, but her portrayal of that girl is timeless.

Not to mention the both endearing and funny William Haines playing his usual character. As the biggest star at MGM the previous year, he gladly let Marion take center stage in this piece, but turns in a bravo performance none-the-less.

Silent movies have been almost forgotten, and I daresay, an appreciation of them is quite lacking. But just watch "Show People" and try not to laugh, and feel empathy for all of these grand characters. I doubt many of our top movie stars today could pull off such a feat!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Total delight that gets better with time, April 23, 2002

By 

Simon Davis (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Show People [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Show People" is an experience not to be missed. Even if you are not a fan of silent cinema you could not help but be won over by this production. It has the unique distinction of being one of the very rare examples of both Marion Davies and William Haines work on video. I have never seen any of the other films of either artist but I'm sold on them after purchasing my copy of "Show People"

Marion Davies is a revelation in the lead role of Georgia born Peggy Pepper who arrives with her pushy father to "crash Hollywood" and become a "great dramatic actress" only to find herself dumped into slapstick comedies where she spends her days being sprayed with water and throwing custard pies!!

For too long Marion was kept a prisoner of William Randolph Hearst's effort to turn her into a dramatic queen of the movies when in reality she was a superb commedianne. "Show People" showcases her in a superb role ideally suited to her comic talents and she runs away with the film. The classic "audition" scene is absolutely priceless where she is asked to display different "emotions" like sadness, anger etc while raising a hankerchief up and down from her face .It still convulses me every time I see it. For that scene alone the film is worth seeing.

The great William Haines, while taking a back seat quite rightly to Marion in this instance, is also wonderful in his role of the slap stick star who firstly helps Marion and then finds her "going Hollywood" and looking down on him and his craft. He displays a great cheeky quality as well as a pensive other side to his nature which is just perfect for the role.

The film gives us as modern viewers a unique look into the Hollywood of the 1920's. I love the scenes showing how the director led the acting of the principals while filming was going on and the wonderful comic bits that are similiar to Keystone Cops really make you feel a sentimental pang for those far off days of filmmaking.The film has many scenes displaying remarkable Hollywood landmarks and its wonderful to see how MGM looked in the late 20's. Many distinguished actors and actresses make cameo appearances including John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks and in a very funny little scene Charlie Chaplin asks for Marion's autograph with her not knowing who this little man is!!

Marion gets to run the gamut of emotions in this production and has a marvellous time spoofing everthing from the Hollywood pecking order to vamping it up and doing a beautiful send up of class "A" drama queen Gloria Swanson. The scenes after Marion becomes a great dramatic actress are really interesting when she is teamed with a "Latin Lover" type popular in this era in Hollywood. The actor in question is a dead ringer for another of my favorite performers Ramon Novarro and he is terrific as the stuck up Ladies man who very much believes his own publicity!

All in all "Show People" is a memorable viewing experience that I would recommend to anyone. I believe, from what I know of her as an individual, that this role really showed the fun person that Marion was in real life. No wonder then that she was loved by practically everyone in Hollywood for all her great qualities, her warmth and her great capacity for friendship. Enjoy!