Much-maligned Marion Davies (as Patricia "Pat" Harrington) always gets the tail end of the chicken when her family sits down for Sunday dinner. With mother Marie Dressler brow-beating sympathetic husband Dell Henderson (as Henry) into submission, Ms. Davies is treated as her family's "Cinderella". Davies' younger and sexier looking sister Jane Winton (as Grace) garners most of Ms. Dressler's attention, although Mr. Henderson tries to encourage Davies to make a play for sister Winton's boyfriend, Orville Caldwell (as Tony Anderson).
Thankfully, MGM and William Randolph Hearst obtained the services of King Vidor to direct this Barry Conners comedy for their often pigeonholed star; and, she makes it shine. Davies' hilarious, dead-on impersonations of Mae Murray, Lillian Gish, and Pola Negri are excellent. Although he isn't her main suitor in this picture, frequent co-star Lawrence Gray (as Billy Caldwell) was one of Davies' better foils (along with William Haines). Appearing this time as a handsome speed-boating playboy, Mr. Gray has a great scene with Ms. Dressler and the cast; pretending to be a waiter, Gray ends up serving Dressler a celery stalk in her cleavage. Dressler who quips, "Don't you know it's bad manners to be polite to a waiter," is marvelous.
******* The Patsy (4/22/28) King Vidor ~ Marion Davies, Marie Dressler, Lawrence Gray, Dell Henderson
Thankfully, MGM and William Randolph Hearst obtained the services of King Vidor to direct this Barry Conners comedy for their often pigeonholed star; and, she makes it shine. Davies' hilarious, dead-on impersonations of Mae Murray, Lillian Gish, and Pola Negri are excellent. Although he isn't her main suitor in this picture, frequent co-star Lawrence Gray (as Billy Caldwell) was one of Davies' better foils (along with William Haines). Appearing this time as a handsome speed-boating playboy, Mr. Gray has a great scene with Ms. Dressler and the cast; pretending to be a waiter, Gray ends up serving Dressler a celery stalk in her cleavage. Dressler who quips, "Don't you know it's bad manners to be polite to a waiter," is marvelous.
******* The Patsy (4/22/28) King Vidor ~ Marion Davies, Marie Dressler, Lawrence Gray, Dell Henderson