Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

MissSimonetta Thank God that Marion Davies's talent has been given its due at last: rarer is the person who stands up and says she was the talent-less mistress of a powerful man. Show People (1928) might be her greatest vehicle and it is a good picture to show to silent cinema neophytes. Its blend of good humor and satire on the Hollywood machine make it still entertaining and relevant in regards to American celebrity culture.Marion Davies is sympathetic, sexy, and side-splitting, especially with her later parody of actress Mae Marsh, known for her bee-stung lips. William Haines is a good match for her as the love interest, a Mack Sennett style comedian. And silent film geeks will dig all the cameos from the stars of the day, including Charlie Chaplin, John Gilbert, and Douglas Fairbanks.A fun film. Check it out everyone.

henway5-1 We'll never really know if the influence of newspaper, real estate and mining tycoon William Randolph Hearst helped the love of his life in her ambitions, or effectively put the kibosh on the career of Marion Davies. Marion, herself, laid out her dilemma in her as-told-to memoir "The Times We Had," claiming that Hearst's heavy-handed promotion of her didn't exactly endear her to the public, and that it created expectations of her so high that it would lead to disappointment. (That book of recollections also confirmed the belief of some that Hearst controlled every aspect of her films, even dialog and direction.) And so there will always be the question: would Marion Davies have won more respect among critics and appreciation of the public without her benefactor constantly horning in? Marion was not particularly deft in drama, but in the area of comedy, there is no question she was one of cinema's most adroit, effortless and effective comediennes. A perfect example is "Show People." Here, Marion gets to do what she does best: poke fun at her contemporaries (in particular, Mae Murray of the bee-stung lips), Hollywood, film-making, and herself. The story is simple. Lovely, perky blond Peggy Pepper of Georgia arrives in Hollywood with dreams of being a great dramatic actress. She meets a Mack Sennett-type comedy clown named Billy Boone, who gets her a job throwing pies and taking blasts of seltzer "on the chin" in popular comic shorts. This leads to Peggy Pepper's ascension to over-acted, schmaltzy "high art" films, in which her new billing is Patricia Pepoire. And with her new status as a serious dramatic actress come aspirations (delusions, perhaps) of royalty. Here, Marion really socks it to silent superstar Mae Murray as well as her real-life friend Gloria Swanson, in razor-sharp parody. In a co-starring but secondary role is William Haines as Peggy's helper and love interest. Haines is wonderful as the typical over-the-top baggy-pants movie comic of that wonderful silent era. Mostly forgotten now, Haines was enormously popular at the time (1928), handsome, likable and athletic, but would soon be a casualty of both the switch to talkies, as well as personal discord with MGM boss Louis B. Mayer. Those viewers who are unfamiliar with Davies' work will get an true sample of her worth, and Davies fans who haven't seen "Show People" will get confirmation that aside from being beautiful, she was, when given excellent scripts and direction, one of filmdom's most talented comediennes, Hearst or no Hearst.

dglink King Vidor's amusing and affectionate look at Hollywood, "Show People," features the under-appreciated Marion Davies and was arguably the finest film of William Haines's career. Peggy Pepper (Davies) arrives in Hollywood determined to become a serious dramatic actress in artistic films. However, she happens on slapstick star Billy Boone (Haines) and gets her start with a seltzer bottle and custard pie in low-grade comedies. Audiences who loved and were first introduced to silent film through last year's Oscar winner, "The Artist," will likely enjoy "Show People," a genuine classic from the late 1920's, when silent cinema reached its peak.Both stars offer naturalistic performances, and viewers expecting the "grand style" of emoting associated with silent movies will be disappointed. Vidor has restrained Haines, who could be campy and flamboyant at times. Although Haines perfectly captures Billy Boone's light-hearted side and his slapstick is worthy of Keystone, Haines also displays feeling and depth during his dramatic scenes. Davies is good throughout, although she is most effective when clowning; her series of emotions displayed at the studio's employment office is priceless. A bevy of silent stars appear in cameos, which will delight those familiar with the era; however, even those who recognize Douglas Fairbanks, John Gilbert, and William S. Hart may wonder, "Who was Elinor Glyn?" King Vidor also appears as himself, and Marion Davies offers her own inside joke.Consistent with films produced at MGM in the final years before sound, "Show People" has excellent direction, beautiful photography, and fine performances. This classic gem offers opportunities to discover the talents of Marion Davies and William Haines, whose films have sadly faded from public memory, and the skillful direction of King Vidor, whose other silent classics "The Crowd" and "The Big Parade" need to be restored and reissued on DVD. Perhaps the success of "The Artist" will stimulate new interest in silent film and more demand for these great films.

drednm Updated from a previous comment. The great and underrated Marion Davies shows her comedic stuff in this late (1928) silent comedy that also showcases the wonderful William Haines. Davies plays a hick from Georgia who crashes Hollywood with help from Haines, a bit player in crude comedies. They appear together in cheap comedies until Marion is "discovered" and becomes a big dramatic star.Among the greats scenes are Marion's introduction to films (where she gets a big surprise), Marion's departure from the comedy troupe, and Marion's wedding-day comeuppance. A great lampoon on Hollywood and its pretensions. Davies & Haines are a wonderful team, and the guest shots from the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, William S. Hart, John Gilbert, Elinor Glyn, Norma Talmadge, Mae Murray, Rod LaRocque, Leatrice Joy, Dorothy Sebastian, Estelle Taylor, Louella Parsons, Renee Adoree, Aileen Pringle, Lew Cody, King Vidor, and Marion Davies (you have to see it) are a hoot. A must for any serious film buff or for anyone interested in the still-maligned Marion Davies! Dell Henderson plays the father. Harry Gribbon is the comedy director, Polly Moran is a maid. Paul Ralli is the slimy leading man.SHOW PEOPLE was said to have used the career of Gloria Swanson as its model (I think Mae Murray is closer). Davies and Swanson were friends. But this film's story does parallel the rise of Swanson from one-reel Mack Sennett comedies with Charlie Chaplin to STAR in Cecil B. DeMille films of the late teens and early 20s.Davies and Haines were huge MGM stars and friends. Odd that MGM never teamed them up in a talkie. They're great together! A sweet romance and delightful spoof of early Hollywood. Gloria Swanson, Greta Garbo, Bebe Daniels, Pola Negri, Mary Pickford, Harold Lloyd, Alla Nazimova are mentioned but do not appear.There are two versions of this silent classic on DVD. One has the original synchronized score (which features the song "Crossroads") and a British version by Kevin Brownlow (which features a new score by Carl Davis). Marion Davies and William Haines are great in this film, not to be missed!