Marion Davies is cute and pretty funny in this film about a young southern woman who goes to Hollywood with her father to be in movies. Naturally they expect to just waltz right in to the life of celebrity. She meets an actor from goofy comedies in the commissary (William Haines) and after getting a leg up from him, soon surpasses him. King Vidor keeps things moving along and between the touches of humor, romance, and behind the scenes Hollywood, it's an entertaining film. There are several cameos that are fun to see, including John Gilbert, Charlie Chaplin, and Douglas Fairbanks, who is so bronzed he might even give George Hamilton a run for his money. Perhaps the funniest is when the young woman (Davies the actor) sees Marion Davies (the real life celebrity), and I liked the footage of King Vidor directing as well. However, my favorite sequence was when the other "troupe on location" come running along wearing gag outfits, like the guy who makes it look like a duck in a harness is pulling him on top of a barrel with wheels. I'm not sure the romance completely works and Davies goes to her imitation of Mae Murray to feign celebrity a few too many times (the one with the upper lip haughtily pulled back to reveal her teeth), but the film doesn't overstay its welcome at just 79 minutes. This would be a good one to double feature with The Patsy, made in the same year by the same director/star.
Review of Show People
