| ~The Patsy~ 1928 |
| ~Plot Synopsis~ |
Next to "Show People," The Patsy may well be Marion Davies' best silent vehicle. Based on a hit
Broadway play, this modern Cinderella story casts Davies as Patsy Harrington, the drudge of her
social-climbing family. Secretly in love with Tony Anderson (Orville Caldwell), the boyfriend of her
irresponsible but irresistible sister Grace (Jane Winton), Patsy yearns to be a "personality girl." Rather
than cultivate her looks, she decides to become the "intellectual" of her family, which outrages her
mother (Marie Dressler) who believes that beauty and brains don't mix. Meanwhile, the fickle Grace
begins cheating on Tony with a millionaire named Bill (Lawrence Gray). For Tony's sake, the "new" Patsy
throws herself at Grace's new beau, hoping to break up the romance. The whole affair ends, predictably
but hilariously with Tony falling in love with Patsy! Best scene: sitting by a mirror, Davies impersonates
Lillian Gish, Mae Murray and Pola Negri -- which reportedly infuriated Murray and Negri but delighted
Gish.
Plot Synopsis by Hal Erickson, AllMovie.com
Broadway play, this modern Cinderella story casts Davies as Patsy Harrington, the drudge of her
social-climbing family. Secretly in love with Tony Anderson (Orville Caldwell), the boyfriend of her
irresponsible but irresistible sister Grace (Jane Winton), Patsy yearns to be a "personality girl." Rather
than cultivate her looks, she decides to become the "intellectual" of her family, which outrages her
mother (Marie Dressler) who believes that beauty and brains don't mix. Meanwhile, the fickle Grace
begins cheating on Tony with a millionaire named Bill (Lawrence Gray). For Tony's sake, the "new" Patsy
throws herself at Grace's new beau, hoping to break up the romance. The whole affair ends, predictably
but hilariously with Tony falling in love with Patsy! Best scene: sitting by a mirror, Davies impersonates
Lillian Gish, Mae Murray and Pola Negri -- which reportedly infuriated Murray and Negri but delighted
Gish.
Plot Synopsis by Hal Erickson, AllMovie.com
| Directed by: King Vidor Written by: Agnes Christine Johnston - writer Ralph Spence - titles Based on the play by Barry Conners. |
| ~Cast~ Marion Davies ... Patricia Harrington Orville Caldwell ... Tony Anderson Marie Dressler ... Ma Harrington Lawrence Gray ... Billy Caldwell Dell Henderson ... Pa Harrington Jane Winton ... Grace Harrington William H. O'Brien ... Waiter (uncredited) |
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| Remaining Credits~ Produced by: Cosmopolitan Productions (for) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Produced by: Marion Davies, William Randolph Hearst and King Vidor Music by: Vivek Maddala Cinematography by: John F. Seitz Film Editing by: Hugh Wynn Art Direction by: Cedric Gibbons Costume Design by: Gilbert Clark Orchestrator: Richard Bronskill Conductor: Vivek Maddala Length: 8 Reels Runtime: 78 Minutes Released: March 10, 1928 |