Marion Davies

Marion Davies plays twins separated at birth in this Monta Bell directed comedy-drama: one raised in a wealthy Dutch family, the other in the tenements, who grows up to be a musical-comedy star. The film uses the dual role to contrast old-money respectability with the rough energy of the immigrant streets, and the two worlds collide when the twins fall for the same man. Davies, a gifted comedienne whose talents were often overshadowed by her relationship with William Randolph Hearst, gets to show her range. The film includes early Technicolor and Handschiegl color sequences. Published in 1925, it is in the public domain in the United States.

Drama · Romance · Comedy · Silent

King Vidor's affectionate comedy about a small-town girl who comes to Hollywood to become a dramatic star and ends up a hit in slapstick instead. Marion Davies plays Peggy Pepper, and the role is a quiet argument for her real talent: she was a gifted comedienne whose reputation was buried under the myth that William Randolph Hearst's patronage was the only reason she worked. Vidor fills the film with cameos from real stars of the era, including Charlie Chaplin playing himself in a single scene, and stages gags that gently mock the machinery of stardom. The film was made at the very end of the silent era and is one of the best records of how a studio lot actually functioned. The 1928 film entered the United States public domain on January 1, 2024.

Comedy · Romance · Silent

The headstrong Princess Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII, is betrothed to the aged King of France but falls for the dashing Captain Charles Brandon, and risks throne and life to follow her heart. Marion Davies stars in this lavish Hearst-produced silent costume romance. The film entered the public domain through non-renewal.

Romance · History · Adventure