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Show People | 
| Actors: George K. Arthur, Sidney Bracey, Charles Chaplin, Lew Cody, Albert Conti
Studio: MGM (Warner)
Category: Video
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 3870
Format: Ntsc
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 82
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6301976169
UPC: 027616153937
EAN: 9786301976169
ASIN: 6301976169
Theatrical Release Date: November 11, 1928
Release Date: September 1, 1998
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
One of the best comedies of the silent era January 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
William Haines and Marion Davies at there finest August 18, 2004
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
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.
Total delight that gets better with time April 24, 2002
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
"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!
Marion Davies' Best! July 17, 2001
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
A great comedy May 8, 2001
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
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.
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