Customer Reviews

Show People [VHS]

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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!

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!

"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!

Out of the entire film legacy that Marion Davies left this is the best one out of all her films and it's also her best performance. Directed by the great King Vidor who directed other classics like THE CROWD (1928) and DUEL IN THE SUN (1946) this brilliant comedy is about a southern girl (Marion Davies) who travels with her father to Hollywood to make it in the film business and the scene in which she auditions to make it into the studio is a riot! She makes it in and eventually makes it big and she also finds a love interest. But for the sake of her career she has to give him up for a big but egotistical hollywood leading man in order to further her career. Then she has to decide which is more important, her career or the man she loves. And while she is deciding mayham insues. Mayham also insues when she is trying to make it to the top. It includes plenty of slapstick humor and it also pokes fun at the way Hollywood was back then with it's big shot stars and pompous studio boses but it's all in good fun and is never truely offensive. This movie is tenderley and comically directed and Marion Davies gets to show what a brilliant comedian she was. It's a shame she is so underrated nowadays. I recommend this movie so that you may see what a talent Marion Davies was. This movie is one of the greatest comedies and of the greatest silent movies ever. Also look for fun cameos of silent movie stars like Dougals Fairbanks Sr. and many others and also look for the director, King Vidor in the last part of the movie. He is the one playing the director.

Show People is a wonderful film, and a must see for any William Haines fan. Its too bad that more of his films are not available, perhaps someday that will change (Little Annie Rooney and Brown of Harvard are the only 2 that I have found, out of his nearly 20 films).

Show People shows Hollywood as it was in 1928, and how the studios worked, with the actor doing his/her own makeup, and all the different studios of the time. William Haines was MGM's top male star by 1930, amazing how others can try to destroy and make people forget the wonderful work they can do. Marion Davies was a good friend of William Haines, often invited to San Simone for many a party, and they were close confidants. No wonder there chemistry worked so well in this show.

Poking fun at some other stars and a good satire on how silent films were (Marion's toothy grin, and Williams false mustache are 2 good examples), but is also a great example of good acting when actors couldnt say how they felt, but had to express it. This would be a great film studies show.

It is my hope that "The Girl Said No" , "Way Out West" , "Wallingford" , "Slide, Kelly, Slide" and many others will someday soon become available. I really would like to hear his booming voice, being one of the few silent stars who transfered well to talkies.

Show People is one of the last great films from the silent era; and I just couldn't take my eyes off the screen. WE get great action, drama, romance and comedy even in some places where I didn't expect there to be a funny line or two. The cinematography is excellent and the choreography reflects great forethought. The plot moves along at a very good pace; I wasn't ever bored and the on screen romance between Marion Davies and William Haines worked very well despite the fact that they weren't in love at all in real life! The casting was also very well done and the banquet luncheon scene with so many stars of the day is terrific. The quality of the print could have been a little better in a few spots but this is not a huge concern.

When the action starts, we quickly meet Colonel Pepper (Dell Henderson) and his daughter Peggy (Marion Davies) who have traveled by car from Georgia so that the Colonel can put his daughter Peggy in the movies. At first they don't exactly get very far, but it's not too long before they bump into Billy Boone (William Haines), a relatively small time actor who makes slapstick films while enjoying his work. Billy thinks he can help Peggy get into movies; and he's right--until, that is, Peggy realizes that she'll only be doing slapstick instead of "art" on the dramatic screen.

With time Peggy gets noticed by Charlie Chaplin (who has a brief cameo as himself in this film) and after that she gets a request to show up at High Art Studios where she is signed to a lucrative contract. Trouble is, they won't take Billy and Billy must part with Peggy even though by now they are true sweethearts. Peggy also meets the fake "Count" Andre (Paul Ralli); and Andre is not such a great influence on Peggy in certain ways.

Of course, from here the plot can go just about anywhere. Just what happens between Andre and Peggy; and what if Billy decides to pursue Peggy despite Andre being a part of her new life at High Art Studios? Will Peggy's father be satisfied with the way her career is going--and what happens to Peggy herself as time passes? No spoilers--watch and find out!

Show People is one of the best silent films I've ever seen and probably ever will see. I highly recommend this film for anyone interested in silent film (if they haven't seen this already) and of course fans of Marion Davies and other actors in this film will be delighted with it.

1928 is in many ways a "lost year" in motion pictures. Just as some of the finest films of the silent era were being made in every genre, sound was coming in and - while reaping great profits at the box office - was setting the art of filmmaking back about five years as the film industry struggled with the new technology.

"Show People" is one of the great silent era comedies. The film shows that William Haines had comic skills beyond his usual formula of the obnoxious overconfident guy who turns everyone against him, learns his lesson, and then redeems himself by winning the football game, the polo game, etc. This movie is also exhibit A for illustrating that Marion Davies was no Susan Alexander Kane. She had excellent comic instincts and timing. This film starts out as the Beverly Hillbillies-like adventure of Peggy Pepper (Marion Davies) and her father, General Marmaduke Oldfish Pepper, fresh from the old South. General Pepper has decided that he will let some lucky movie studio executive hire his daughter as an actress. While at the studio commissary, the Peppers run into Billy Boone (William Haines), a slapstick comedian. He gets Peggy an acting job. She's unhappy when she finds out it is slapstick, but she perseveres. Eventually she is discovered by a large studio and she and Billy part ways as she begins to take on dramatic roles. Soon the new-found fame goes to her head, and she is about to lose her public and gain a royal title when she decides to marry her new leading man, whom she doesn't really love, when Billy reenters her life and uses his slapstick skills to get "the real Peggy" back to her senses.

One of the things MGM frequently does in its late silent-era films and in its early sound-era films is feature shots of how filmmaking was done at MGM circa 1930. This film is one of those, as we get Charlie Chaplin trying to get Peggy's autograph, an abundance of cameos of MGM players during that era including director King Vidor himself, and even a cameo of Marion Davies as Peggy seeing Marion Davies as Marion Davies arriving at work on the lot. Peggy grimaces and mentions that she doesn't care for her. Truly a delight from start to finish, this is a silent that is most worthy of a DVD treatment.

One of the greatest experiences I have ever had as a filmgoer was watching Show People at the Alex Theater in Glendale on the big screen with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra playing. King Vidor's family was there as well. It is also one of the most funniest movies ever made. This movie is worthy of comparisons to Chaplin.

Marion Davies plays a Lucille Ball like character and William Haines plays her goodhearted boyfriend in this wonderful little gem. I have seen this fim about a dozen times and have always enjoyed it. The print is excellent - no scratches or graininess.