Show People (1928)

King Vidor's "Show People"

In 1928, King Vidor agreed to shoot a comedy as a vehicle for Marion Davies. This agreement was made in accordance that Cosmopolitan Pictures supervise the film. Cosmopolitan Pictures, a subsidiary of MGM, was controlled by influential newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst. Vidor made three films with Marion Davies that showcased her comedic talents. The most popular and commercially successful of these was Show People. Show People would go on to be Marion Davies's most successful pictures she had ever been apart of. 

The film seems to be a very simple and light comedy and tells the story of an actress who comes to Hollywood to find stardom. The actress, Peggy Pepper, has been said to have been inspired by the career of Gloria Swanson. Peggy Pepper arrives in Hollywood with her father from Georgia. Peggy's naivety is ever apparent as she doesn't seem to know the standards of making a Hollywood film as she walks in front of camera while a scene is taking place. After being placed in a comedy, she fails at deliver and takes the performances too personally - even crying about getting sprayed with seltzer water. She is told by one of her fellow actors to "take it on the chin." After getting the hang of her comedic roles, she begins to pursue more dramatic roles, believing them to be higher forms of art. After taking on more dramatic roles, Peggy Pepper changes her name to Patricia Pepoire and becomes a certified Hollywood star. Because of her status, she cuts off ties with her comedy troupe. Before getting married to ensure her stardom, she is visited by Billy, her old friend in the comedy troupe, who sprays seltzer water on her once again, reminding her the silliness of being an actor and performer. 

Because of the films' 'screwball-comedy' style, the film doesn't seem to contain harrowing depths of meaning. However, Vidor does seem to use the comedic stylings to poke fun at stuffy Hollywood architypes and allows the viewer (and his Hollywood comrades) to glimpse the façade and remind us of the silliness involved with putting yourself in front of the camera.

One important thing that did come from Show People was the showcasing of Marion Davies's comedic talents. Her performance was so memorable that Lucille Ball was heavily influenced by Davies and this performance specifically. Ball's facial techniques and comic behaviors from her popular 1950's sitcom I Love Lucy seem to heavily resemble Davies' in Show People.