''Show People'' is a 1928 American synchronized

sound In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the br ...

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor ( ; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process. The film was a starring vehicle for actress Marion Davies and actor William Haines and included notable cameo appearances by many of the film personalities of the day, including stars

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is considered o ...

(who appears twice),

Douglas Fairbanks Douglas Elton Fairbanks Sr. (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor and filmmaker best known for being the first actor to play the masked Vigilante Zorro and other swashbuckler film, swashbu ...

, William S. Hart and John Gilbert, and writer Elinor Glyn. Vidor also appears in a cameo as himself, as does Davies (to a decidedly unimpressed reaction by herself in character as Peggy Pepper). The film is a lighthearted look at

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

at the end of the silent film era (it was released the year after breakthrough talking picture ''

The Jazz Singer ''The Jazz Singer'' is a 1927 American part-talkie musical drama film directed by Alan Crosland and produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the first feature-length motion picture with both synchronized recorded music and lip-synchronous ...

''), and is considered Davies' best role. ''Show People'' features no audible dialog but was released with a Movietone soundtrack with a synchronized musical score and sound effects. The film was re-released in the 1980s, with a new orchestral score by

Carl Davis Carl Davis (October 28, 1936 – August 3, 2023) was an American-born British conductor and composer. He wrote music for more than 100 television programmes, notably the landmark ITV series '' The World at War'' (1973) and BBC's '' Pride and P ...

. In 2003, ''Show People'' was selected for preservation in the United States

National Film Registry The National Film Registry (NFR) is the United States National Film Preservation Board's (NFPB) collection of films selected for preservation (library and archival science), preservation, each selected for its cultural, historical, and aestheti ...

by the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". It is currently available on DVD on-demand as part of the

Warner Archive The Warner Archive Collection is a home video division for releasing classic and cult films from Warner Bros.' library. It started as a manufactured-on-demand (MOD) DVD series by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 23, 2009, with the int ...

collection. In February 2020, the film was shown at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, as part of a retrospective dedicated to King Vidor's career.

Plot

Peggy Pepper wants to be an actress in motion pictures, so her father drives her across the country from their home in

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

. After some initial disillusionment, Peggy meets Billy Boone in a studio commissary; he tells her to show up at his set if she wants work. Peggy goes and gets sprayed with

seltzer water Carbonated water is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas, either artificially injected under pressure, or occurring due to natural geological processes. Carbonation causes small bubbles to form, giving the water an effervescent qualit ...

at her first entrance. At first, she is shocked and dismayed to find she is doing

slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as ...

comedy in low-budget "Comet" productions, but she decides to "take it on the chin". When the film is previewed for test audiences, Peggy becomes an instant success. Soon enough, Peggy is signed to a contract by the prestigious "High Arts" studio, and leaves behind Billy and the comedy troupe. She arrives for a screen test at the High Arts Studio, where the director instructs her to pretend that her lover is dying. However, she is unable to cry on cue. The director then suggests for her to pretend you're in love with someone at the "crossroads of your lives." She successfully cries and the director and the crew break for lunch. Peggy's co-star André Telfair tries to comfort her, telling her she has graduated from "cheap comedy" and must develop a new star persona among the "elite" in Hollywood. Peggy agrees, and reinvents herself as "Patricia Pepoire", a descendant of

Robert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a general officers in the Confederate States Army, Confederate general during the American Civil War, who was appointed the General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate ...

. Eventually, Peggy becomes a serious dramatic actress. Billy phones her at her mansion, inviting her for over dinner. She declines however as she's going on a date with André. While Peggy and André are shooting scenes for their film, Billy and the "Comet" comedy troupe arrive on location to film scenes for their picture. During a set-up for Peggy and André's next scene, Billy approaches Peggy. When she introduces André, Billy recognizes him as Andy, a former waiter who served him spaghetti. Offended, Peggy calls Billy a "cheap clown" and returns to shoot her scene. While having a luncheon banquet, Peggy is summoned to the producer's office, where she is handed telegrams from theater bookers, all of whom deride her dramatic performances. Feeling she has lost popularity with audiences, the producer suggests Peggy return to her old screen persona but she declines. Sometime later, Peggy is engaged to be married to André. On the day of her wedding, Billy pleads for her to not continue and remember the old days. Billy sprays another spritz of seltzer in her face, and when André walks in, Peggy accidentally throws a custard pie at him. Billy walks out, and Peggy, having been brought to her senses, decides to cancel the wedding. While filming a

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

picture, and with

as director, Billy performs as a soldier. He is then stunned to believe Peggy is his co-star, and with the script written for him to kiss her, the two kiss passionately.

Music

This film featured a theme song entitled "Cross Roads" which was composed by William Axt, David Mendoza and Raymond Klages.

Cast

* Marion Davies as Peggy Pepper * William Haines as Billy Boone *

Dell Henderson George Adelbert "Dell" Henderson (July 5, 1877 – December 2, 1956) was a Canadian-American actor, film director, director, and writer. He began his long and prolific film career in the early days of silent film. Biography Born in the southwest ...

as General Marmaduke Oldfish Pepper * Paul Ralli as Andre Telfair *

Tenen Holtz Tenen Holtz (born Alex Elihu Tenenholtz; February 17, 1887 – July 1, 1971) was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 60 films between 1926 and 1961. Biography Holtz was born in Ozeran, Volhynia district, now in Ukraine, and came to th ...

as casting director * Harry Gribbon as Jim, comedy director * Kalla Pasha as comic chef *

Sidney Bracey Sidney Bracey (born Sidney Bracy; 18 December 1877 – 5 August 1942) was an Australian-born American actor. Born into an acting family, he began a stage career in Australia, on Broadway and in Britain usually as leading men in musicals and ...

as dramatic director * Polly Moran as Peggy's maid *

Albert Conti Albert Maroica Blasius Franz Maria, ''Ritter'' Conti von Cedassamare (29 January 1887 – 18 January 1967), commonly known as Albert Conti, was an Austrian Americans, Austrian-American actor. He was a member of the noble Kaboga family. Biograph ...

as producer * Ray Cooke as director's assistant (uncredited) * Lillian Lawrence as comedy player at banquet (uncredited) * Dorothy Vernon as comedy player at banquet (uncredited) *

Pat Harmon Plummer Hull Harman (February 3, 1886 – November 26, 1958), known professionally as Pat Harmon, was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1920 and 1947. In 1935, Harmon was the victim of a violent assault whic ...

as studio Gateman (uncredited) *

Bert Roach Egbert Roach (August 21, 1891 – February 16, 1971) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 320 films between 1914 and 1951. He was born in Washington, D.C., and died in Los Angeles, California, age 79. Selected filmography * ...

as heavyset man in casting agency (uncredited) *

John Lowell John Lowell (June 17, 1743 – May 6, 1802) was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation, a judge of the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture under the Articles of Confederation, a United States district judge of the United States Distric ...

as Director (uncredited) * C. Aubrey Smith as Extra at Movie Preview (uncredited) *

Rolfe Sedan Rolfe Sedan (born Edward Sedan; January 20, 1896 – September 15, 1982) was an American character actor, best known for appearing in bit parts, often uncredited, usually portraying clerks, train conductors, postmen, cooks, waiters, etc. Ea ...

as portrait photographer (uncredited) * Coy Watson as messenger boy (uncredited) *

Bess Flowers Bess Flowers (November 23, 1898 – July 28, 1984) was an American actress best known for her work as an extra in hundreds of films. She was known as "The Queen of the Hollywood Extras," appearing in more than 350 feature films and numerous ...

as undetermined role (uncredited) Uncredited cameos * Renée Adorée – at banquet *

George K. Arthur Arthur George Brest (27 January 1899 – 30 May 1985), known professionally as George K. Arthur, was an English actor and producer, born in Aberdeen, Scotland,. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1919 and 1935, and is best known as t ...

– at banquet * Eleanor Boardman – clip from '' Bardelys the Magnificent'' *

– outside movie theater * Lew Cody – at High Art Studios * Karl Dane – at banquet * Marion Davies – cameo as herself in addition to starring as Peggy *

– at banquet * John Gilbert – outside film studio, in clip from '' Bardelys the Magnificent'', at banquet * Elinor Glyn – at High Art Studios * William S. Hart – at banquet *

Leatrice Joy Leatrice Joy (born Leatrice Johanna Zeidler; November 7, 1893 – May 13, 1985) was an American actress most prolific during the silent film era. Early life Joy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to dentist Edward Joseph Zeidler. She at ...

– at banquet * Rod La Rocque – at banquet *

Robert Z. Leonard Robert Zigler Leonard (October 7, 1889 – August 27, 1968) was an American film director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. Biography He was born in Chicago, Illinois. At one time, he was married to Silent film, silent star Mae Murray with t ...

– at High Art Studios in the car scene/parking lot scene *

Mae Murray Mae Murray (born Marie Adrienne Koenig; May 10, 1885 – March 23, 1965) was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "Th ...

– at banquet *

Louella Parsons Louella Rose Oettinger, (August 6, 1881 – December 9, 1972) known by the pen name Louella Parsons, was an American gossip columnist and a screenwriter. At her peak, her columns were read by 20 million people in 700 newspapers worldwide. She ...

– at banquet * Aileen Pringle – at banquet *

Dorothy Sebastian Dorothy Sebastian (born Stella Dorothy Sabiston; April 26, 1903The book ''Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory'' gives Sebastian's date of birth as April 26, 1907. – April 8, 1957) was an American film and stage actress. Ear ...

– at banquet *

Norma Talmadge Norma Marie Talmadge (May 2, 1894 – December 24, 1957) was an American actress and film producer of the silent film, silent era. A major box-office draw for more than a decade, her career reached a peak in the early 1920s, when she ranked among ...

– at banquet * Estelle Taylor – at banquet * Claire Windsor – at banquet

Production

''Show People'' offers a comic look at 1920s Hollywood and stardom. The main character of Peggy Pepper, who becomes the self-important dramatic star, Patricia Pepoire, was based on the careers of silent divas

Gloria Swanson Gloria Mae Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most famously for h ...

and

. When asked, Davies supposedly told Murray the character was based on Swanson. Davies also told Swanson the character was based on Murray, but Swanson did not care since she had no inclination to see the film. As such, the film is a comic romp for Davies.

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive. She was recognized by ''Time (magazine), Time'' in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for h ...

repeatedly cited Davies as a major comedic influence, and Ball's subsequent facial techniques and comic behaviors evident in ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning six seasons. The series starred Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz, along with Vivian ...

'' are quite apparent in Davies' performance in this film. The character of Andre Paul Ralli was seen at the time as being a satire of John Gilbert. The film has a remarkable number of cameo appearances from some of the top stars of the day, including

, William S. Hart,

, Lew Cody, Eleanor Boardman, and others. Many agreed to appear out of friendship with Davies, Hearst, and director Vidor, and the positive publicity value of cooperating with Hearst and MGM also played a factor. Both Marion Davies and

also made cameo appearances as themselves. In one of the film's more famous sequences, the script originally called for Davies to get hit in the face with a pie after being tricked appearing in a slapstick comedy movie. William Randolph Hearst objected to this, fearing for Marion Davies' dignity, and as a compromise, the scene was changed (without Hearst's knowledge) to have Davies get hit in the face with spray from a seltzer bottle. Vidor had wanted James Murray for the role of Billy Boone, but he was unavailable. Davies jumped at the chance to cast close friend William Haines in the role and agreed to Haines's receiving billing above the title with her. This was the only silent film in which Davies shared star billing. Once again, the reviews raved about Davies' comedic touch, and the film was a huge hit at the box office. Lorusso, Edward (2017) ''The Silent Films of Marion Davies'', CreateSpace, pp. 159-162. The closing scene on the set of a war movie may be a nod to King Vidor's '' The Big Parade'', a smash hit made in 1925, but more closely resembles the Davies film ''

Marianne Marianne () has been the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, as a personification of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason, as well as a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty. Marianne is displayed i ...

''.

References

External links