Marion Davies

Born: 1897-01-03

From Wikipedia Marion Davies (January 3, 1897 – September 22, 1961) was an American film actress, producer, screenwriter, and philanthropist. Davies was already building a solid reputation as a film comedienne when newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, with whom she had begun a romantic relationship, took over management of her career. Hearst financed Davies' pictures, promoted her heavily through his newspapers and Hearst Newsreels, and pressured studios to cast her in historical dramas for which she was ill-suited. For this reason, Davies is better remembered today as Hearst's mistress and the hostess of many lavish events for the Hollywood elite. In particular, her name is linked with the 1924 scandal aboard Hearst's yacht where one of his guests, film producer Thomas Ince, became ill. Despite the legend surrounding Ince's death, likely from alcohol consumption, he did not die on the Hearst yacht. The producer died a few days later in the arms of his wife. In the film Citizen Kane (1941), the title character's wife—an untalented singer whom he tries to promote—was widely assumed to be based on Davies. But many commentators, including Citizen Kane writer/director Orson Welles himself, have defended Davies' record as a gifted actress, to whom Hearst's patronage did more harm than good. She retired from the screen in 1937, choosing to devote herself to Hearst and charitable work. In Hearst's declining years, Davies provided financial as well as emotional support until his death in 1951. She married for the first time eleven weeks after his death, a marriage which lasted until Davies died of stomach cancer in 1961 at the age of 64.


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Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Released: 1925-12-25

Erstwhile childhood friends, Judah Ben-Hur and Messala meet again as adults, this time with...

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The Pilgrim

as Congregation Member (uncredited)
Released: 1923-02-19

The Tramp is an escaped convict who is mistaken as a pastor in a small town church.

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The Patsy

as Patricia Harrington
Released: 1928-04-22

An awkward teenager hopelessly in love with her older sister's boyfriend tries to make him...

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Marianne

as Marianne
Released: 1929-08-24

At the conclusion of World War I, a French girl is romanced by an American doughboy even though...

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That's Entertainment! III

as (archive footage)
Released: 1994-07-01

Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From The Hollywood Revue of...

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Blondie of the Follies

as Blondie McClune
Released: 1932-09-01

New York City tenement dwelling neighbors Blondie and Lottie are longtime best friends. When...

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Show People

as Peggy Pepper
Released: 1928-11-20

Hollywood hopeful Peggy Pepper arrives at a major studio, from Georgia, to become a great...

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Operator 13

as Gail Loveless
Released: 1934-06-08

American Civil War, 1862. After the disaster of the Second Battle of Bull Run, Major Allen,...

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The Burden of Proof

as Elaine Brooks
Released: 1918-09-21

Elaine Brooks marries Robert Ames, a junior member of the Department of Justice. Mrs. Durand, a...

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The Red Mill

as Tina
Released: 1927-01-29

A servant girl plays matchmaker for the local burgomaster's daughter while setting her own...

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Little Old New York

as Patricia O'Day
Released: 1923-08-01

An Irish girl comes to America disguised as a boy to claim a fortune left to her brother who has...

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Tillie the Toiler

as Tillie Jones
Released: 1927-06-05

Tillie is a secretary always dressed in the height of fashion who tries to capture a millionaire...

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Pirate Party on Catalina Isle

as Marion Davies
Released: 1935-11-20

Various Hollywood performers put on a pirate-themed variety show on Catalina Island, with a...

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Beauty's Worth

as Prudence Cole
Released: 1922-05-14

Prudence Cole is an unsophisticated Quaker girl being raised by her two aunts. Prudence is...

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Five and Ten

as Jennifer Rarick
Released: 1931-06-13

John owns the largest chain of five and ten cent stores in the country. He moves his family to...

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Hollywood: The Dream Factory

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1972-01-10

A documentary about the glorious history of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and its decline leading...

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Zander the Great

as Mamie Smith
Released: 1925-05-01

Mamie, an orphan girl who was abused in the orphanage, is taken in by Mrs. Caldwell, a kindly...

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Yolanda

as Princess Mary / Yolanda
Released: 1924-09-15

The backdrop is fifteenth century France, and Charles, Duke of Burgundy has promised his...

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When Knighthood Was in Flower

as Mary Tudor
Released: 1922-09-15

Mary Tudor falls in love with a new arrival to court, Charles Brandon. She convinces her brother...

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The Battle Over Citizen Kane

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1996-01-29

Documentary about the battle between Orson Welles and William Randolph Hearst over Welles'...

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Not So Dumb

as Dulcy
Released: 1930-02-02

Not-so-smart chatterbox Dulcy Parker does and says all the wrong things, but they right...

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The Hollywood Revue of 1929

as Self
Released: 1929-11-23

An all-star revue featuring MGM contract players.

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Lights of Old Broadway

as Fely / Anne
Released: 1925-10-31

Adapted from the play The Merry Wives of Gotham, twin sisters are separated at birth - one of...

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Cain and Mabel

as Mabel O'Dare
Released: 1936-09-26

A chorus girl and a heavyweight boxer are paired romantically as a publicity stunt.

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Polly of the Circus

as Polly Fisher
Released: 1932-02-27

When Polly Fisher, a circus aerialist, is hurt while performing, she is taken to the house of a...

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Hearts Divided

as Betsy Patterson
Released: 1936-06-20

Napoleon Bonaparte's younger brother, visiting the United States, falls madly in love with a...

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Citizen Hearst

as Self (archival footage)
Released: 2021-09-27

Explore the life of William Randolph Hearst, the pioneering media mogul and inspiration for...

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The Belle of New York

as Violet Gray
Released: 1919-03-26

An old inventor is robbed of his inventions by an unscrupulous rich man. When the inventor dies,...

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A Dream Comes True

as Herself (uncredited)
Released: 1935-12-31

A promotional short to hype the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935).

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Going Hollywood

as Sylvia Bruce
Released: 1933-12-22

The film tells the story of Sylvia, a French teacher at an all-girl school, who wants to find...

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Runaway Romany

as Romany
Released: 1917-12-23

Press agent "Inky" Ames, in a quandary to publicize showgirl Anitra St. Clair, convinces her to...

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The Dark Star

as Rue Carew
Released: 1919-08-03

A fabulous jewel known as the 'Dark Star' is stolen; a pastor's daughter gets involved, falling...

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The Cardboard Lover

as Sally
Released: 1928-09-02

A ditzy American girl visiting Monte Carlo is hired by a tennis champ to be his "cardboard...

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The Big Parade of Comedy

as Tina in 'The Red Mill' (archive footage)
Released: 1964-09-02

Film clips highlight the funniest scenes and brightest comic stars in MGM's history.

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The Florodora Girl

as Daisy Dell
Released: 1930-05-31

A chorus girl gets bad advice from her fellow chorines in handling a rich suitor who assumes she...

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Beverly of Graustark

as Beverly Calhoun
Released: 1926-04-18

Beverly Calhoun impersonates the Prince of Graustark to claim his birthright while he recovers...

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The Bachelor Father

as Antoinette "Tony" Flagg
Released: 1931-01-10

Lonely in his English country estate, Sir Basil decides to gather his grown (albeit...

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Page Miss Glory

as Loretta
Released: 1935-09-07

A country girl goes to the city and gets a job in a posh hotel, and winds up becoming an instant...

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Hedda Hopper's Hollywood

as Self
Released: 1960-01-10

A look at the past, present and future of Hollywood as seen through the eyes of the movie columnist.

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The Restless Sex

as Stephanie
Released: 1920-11-12

A love triangle drama, based on a novel by Robert W. Chambers, who is better-known for weird...

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A Trip to Paramountown

as Self
Released: 1922-07-10

Documentary short film depicting the filmmaking activity at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood,...

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The Christmas Party

as Herself
Released: 1931-12-17

In this holiday short, Jackie Cooper wants to throw a Christmas party for his friends on his...

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The Bride's Play

as Enid of Cashell / Aileen Barrett
Released: 1922-01-22

A sweet-natured young Irish woman is courted by a romantic poet and a local country gentleman....

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It's a Wise Child

as Joyce Stanton
Released: 1931-04-10

In this comedy, a conservative family becomes alarmed when they begin believing their daughter...

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The Fair Co-Ed

as Marion
Released: 1927-10-22

Marion go off to college where she joins the basketball team to be near the coach, Bob. She...

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Ever Since Eve

as Marge Winton
Released: 1937-07-15

Madge Winton (Marion Davies), a beautiful secretary, makes herself look homely in order to avoid...

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Enchantment

as Ethel Hoyt
Released: 1921-10-29

The frothy experiences of a vain little flapper. Her father induces an actor friend to become a...

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Captured on Film: The True Story of Marion Davies

as (archive footage)
Released: 2001-02-14

Blonde, beautiful and talented, Marion Davies was the first and funniest screwball comedienne....

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April Folly

as April Poole
Released: 1920-03-20

April Poole (Davies), a young writer in love with publisher Kerry Sarle (Tearle), visits the...

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Behind the Scenes of Cain and Mabel

as Herself
Released: 1936-01-01

A behind-the-scenes look at the massive preparation in the production of Cosmopolitan's lavish...

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Quality Street

as Phoebe Throssel
Released: 1927-11-01

A fresh young beauty becomes an old maid waiting for her suitor to return from the Napoleonic...

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Getting Mary Married

as Mary Bussard
Released: 1919-04-19

Early feature from American cinema pioneer Allan Dwan, starring Marion Davies

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Adam and Eva

as Eva King
Released: 1923-02-11

An extravagant girl reforms when her father goes bust.

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Peg o' My Heart

as Margaret 'Peg' O'Connell
Released: 1933-05-26

Peg and her father live a simple life in an Irish fishing village. One day Sir Gerald arrives at...

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Cecilia of the Pink Roses

as Cecilia
Released: 1918-06-02

Cecilia is a spunky Irish girl from a struggling family, faced with the imminent death of her...

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The Young Diana

as Diana May
Released: 1922-08-27

Mr. May wants his daughter Diana to marry into society. The man he wishes her to wed is a...

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Buried Treasure

as Pauline Vandermuellen
Released: 1921-04-09

Strung around the idea of reincarnation, this film goes back in time to the days of the Spanish...

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Janice Meredith

as Janice Meredith
Released: 1924-12-08

It is 1774, the eve of the American War of Independence. Janice comes from a Tory household. She...

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The Wife of the Centaur

as Cameo in chorus line
Released: 1924-12-01

Jeffrey Dwyer is a writer and a poet who wrestles with the conflicts between his idealism and...

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The Cinema Murder

as Elizabeth Dalston
Released: 1919-12-14

A 1919 movie directed by George D. Baker.

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