Yes, this silent film is memorable for its story about a young actress who "graduates" from earthy comedies to more sophisticated dramas. And the acting is more than adequate, for its time. Legendary Marion Davies portrays Peggy, whose head is turned by money, stardom, and station.
But what makes this film a treasure for me is the glimpses it provides into the inner workings of the film studios of its day. This is due to its film-within-a-film story. As the director in the film (Vidor playing himself) directs (Davies playing) Peggy playing a film role, the viewer gets to see film set-up, the cameras rolling, the crew behind the cameras, the sets, the action of the film from a different perspective, and even geese wranglers.
By capturing these behind-the-scene scenes, "Show People" preserves a historical slice of nascent cinema techniques. Soon the talkies would arrive and transform the art of cinema.
But what makes this film a treasure for me is the glimpses it provides into the inner workings of the film studios of its day. This is due to its film-within-a-film story. As the director in the film (Vidor playing himself) directs (Davies playing) Peggy playing a film role, the viewer gets to see film set-up, the cameras rolling, the crew behind the cameras, the sets, the action of the film from a different perspective, and even geese wranglers.
By capturing these behind-the-scene scenes, "Show People" preserves a historical slice of nascent cinema techniques. Soon the talkies would arrive and transform the art of cinema.