Show People

Show People is a 1928 silent film starring Marion Davies (best remembered as William Randolph Hearst's mistress and the inspiration for the Susan Alexander character in Citizen Kane) and directed by King Vidor. The film is a lighthearted comic satire of Hollywood movie making at the end of the silent film era. Davies stars as Peggy Pepper, a wide-eyed innocent Georgia hillbilly who comes to Hollywood to make it big as a dramatic actress. Instead, by chance, she winds up starring in slapstick comedies. She falls in love with her co-star Billy Boone, played by William Haines, but when she gets her big break and makes the transition to drama, their romance is threatened.

Show People was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2003. When analysts of Citizen Kane talk about how the real Marion Davies was actually a gifted comic actress, this is the film they're most likely to mention.


 * At the Crossroads: These exact words are used to describe Peggy and Billy's diverging paths.
 * Bad Bad Acting: Peggy's presentation of the dramatic moods when auditioning for an acting job.
 * The Cameo: Filled with celebrity cameos from stars of the day, from the minor (Karl Dane) to the huge (Charlie Chaplin).
 * Celebrity Paradox: Marion Davies, in addition to starring as Peggy, makes a cameo appearance as Marion Davies. Peggy is unimpressed.
 * The musicians playing mood music to help Peggy Pepper with her performance are the same musicians whom Marion Davies hired to play mood music to help her with her performances.
 * Creator Cameo: Director King Vidor appears in the last scene as himself.
 * Director Allusion: In the final scene King Vidor is directing a World War One film. This was three years after Vidor's triumphant smash hit World War One film, The Big Parade.
 * Enforced Method Acting: In-universe. Assistants slice onions for Peggy when she can't cry on command.
 * Hollywood California
 * No Celebrities Were Harmed: Peggy Pepper is a blend of silent film stars Gloria Swanson and Mae Murray. Her weird lip pucker is an imitation of Murray. Gloria Swanson, like Peggy, got her start in slapstick (Mack Sennett's Keystone Studio) before transitioning to grand costume dramas. Both Murray and Swanson married European noblemen; Murray's husband passed himself off as a prince just as "Count" Andre does in the film. Andre's appearance and mannerisms are an obvious parody of silent film heartthrob John Gilbert; this did not stop Gilbert from making two cameos in the movie.
 * Old Shame: In-universe example; after Peggy makes the move to dramatic roles she is embarrassed about her early career in slapstick comedy.
 * Pie in the Face: But not for Peggy (see above).
 * Stage Names: In-universe example. When Peggy Pepper becomes a dramatic actress she changes her name to Patricia Pepoire.
 * Wedding Day
 * What Happened to the Mouse?: Peggy's father, Col. Marmaduke Pepper, is prominently featured in the beginning of the movie but disappears later, not even showing up for Peggy's wedding day.