Saturday, January 22, 2022

THE ODD OR EVEN BLOGATHON: The Patsy, 1928

 

Rebecca at Taking Up Room and Gill at RealWeegieMidget Reviews are hosting The Odd or Even Blogathon from January 20th to the 23rd. It was a lot of fun to have a flip of the coin settle the topic for the contributors.  Day 1   Day 2   Day 3   Day 4   



Ma Harrington played by Marie Dressler has no favourites between her two daughters. Grace played by glamourous Jane Winton is the favourite for wearing the best clothes, attending the best functions, and moving up the social ladder. The pair have set their sights on handsome young real estate executive Tony Anderson played by Orville Caldwell. 

Patricia or "Pat" played by Marion Davies is the favourite when it comes to having someone to treat as a second-class citizen, who does all the work and takes all the grief from the other females in the family. Pat also has her sights set on handsome young real estate executive Tony Anderson. He's a sweet guy and Pat's knight in shining armour.


Marion Davies, Dell Henderson, Jane Winton, Marie Dressler

Pat: "Why do I always get the part of a chicken that goes over the fence last?"

The one person in Pat's corner is Pa Harrington played by Dell Henderson. Pa understands exactly how Pat feels.

Pa to Ma: "Maybe you don't believe it, but I've had a pain in the neck ever since we were married."


Orville Caldwell, Marion Davies

Pat confesses to Tony her unrequited affection for a man who doesn't know she exists. Tony, attempting to be kind advises her to "get a personality." Pat feels she does have a personality but tries some self-help books to improve hers. The title that makes an impression is What to Say and When to Say It. She memorizes the pithy bon mots and throws them at her family with no context. Ma is convinced that Pat is off her rocker as there is insanity on her father's side of the family.

Pa to Pat: "Let Ma keep on thinking you're a bit cuckoo and you can do anything you want to."


Lawrence Gray, Marion Davies, Jane Winton

Pat follows Pa's advice and has a lot of fun doing so. Grace is also having a lot of fun stepping out on Tony with local playboy Billy Caldwell played by Lawrence Gray. Pat also uses Billy as part of her plan thanks to Pa's recounting of a movie plot that impressed him. 

Pa to Pat: "I saw the slickest movie last night and the girl in it sure knew her onions."

Initially, the romances between both the older (Ma and Pa) and younger (Pat and Tony, Grace and everybody) generations don't exactly work out as anticipated, but this is a romantic comedy and I will leave it to you as to who gets their way when the dust settles.

The cast is uniformly expert at the comedy craft, making The Patsy a delight. Marion's character of "Pat" is a pro-active Cinderella who engages our sympathies. Orville Caldwell's "Tony" is such a sincere dope that you can't help but like him. Lawrence Gray's "Billy" has a goofy sense of humour that takes the sting out of his trying to steal his pal's gal. Jane Winton's "Grace" is nobody's fool except maybe her own. Dell Henderson's "Pa" displays a resigned dry wit that is quite captivating. Marie Dressler's tyranny as "Ma" could be overwhelming if played by an actress with lesser comedy chops.   

Barry Connors' play The Patsy had a successful 245 performance Broadway run in the 1925/1926 season. Ralph Spence (Cracked Nuts, Peach O'Reno) adapted the play for the screen. The movie features many amusing intertitles that seem to match the pace of the popular Jazz Age play.


Marion Davies (or is it Lillian Gish?!) with King Vidor

King Vidor and Marion Davis collaborated on three comedies, The Patsy and Show People in 1928 and Not So Dumb, 1930. Their screen work shows that the pair had a most simpatico sense of humour and working relationship. Show People, like The Patsy, gave Marion a chance to display her wonderful ability to imitate other actresses of the era with unerring precision. The two films also teamed Marion most felicitously with Dell Henderson.

Of note:


Claiborne Foster starred as "Pat" in The Patsy during its successful Broadway run.









20 comments:

  1. Thanks for bringing this interesting little film to the blogathon and your lovely self too. This does sound interesting as I'm keen to see more of this leading lady after reading about her as a character in The Cat's Meow, a Peter Bogdanovich film. Have you seen it? Anyway, thanks again for joining it really wouldnt be the same without you xxx

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    1. Thank you.

      The Cat's Meow was fun and interesting. If not a completely accurate retelling of events, Bogdanovich's affinity for old hollywood gives us much to enjoy.

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  2. I think I have seen The Patsy before. I just know that this is going to be one of those times when I think I'll be seeing the film for the first time, only to discover about five minutes in that I have seen it before. The quotes you add to your article sound so humorously familiar. Well, it will be time well spent either way!

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    1. It will be fun to revisit. That is such a feeling to be watching something and then you start anticipating the dialogue and scenes. I then wrack my brain trying to remember where and when I saw the movie.

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  3. I haven't seen The Patsy before, but it sounds like something I would enjoy! I adore Marion Davies and she was always at her best in comedies. It does sound like a lot of fun!

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    1. Most definitely a go-to movie when you are looking for fun.

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  4. I ADORE this film. I had the chance to see it on the big screen, and it was one of the best movie-going experiences. Marion Davis is such a gifted comedienne, and her impersonations of fellow actresses is delightful.

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    1. I am envious of your big screen experience. It is amazing how much more you catch in that environment.

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  5. I had never seen The Patsy, but would welcome a chance to see more of Marion Davies. Many folks over the years have assumed that the untalented Susan Alexander Kane in Citizen Kane was based on Davies. I believe even Welles said that wasn't true, but I suspect some damage was done to her reputation (even though she was no longer acting when CK was released).

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    1. The expediency of story didn't seem to worry Orson too much at that time. Movies like The Patsy will do much to resotre Marion's reputation.

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  6. Seeing Marion Davies is always a delight. I enjoy The Patsy, but I prefer Show People, a film I think it a true masterpiece. As always, great review!
    Greetings!
    Le

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    1. Thank you so much. Both movies are among Marion's best and we are lucky to have them available to us.

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  7. I want to mention the passing of YVETTE MIMIEUX last week. She had just turned 80 on Jan. 8. (She was born in 1942, exactly seven years after ELVIS.) I have seen at least nine movies that she was in (counting TV-Movies). I really liked her in LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA with OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND as her mother. One time I mentioned her TV-Movie OBSESSIVE LOVE that she also wrote and co-produced. She played a soap fan that begins an affair with a married soap star. The woman is disturbed and confuses the actor with his character. One of your comments was "Wow!" P.S. I mentioned that on your post about CHARADE because Yvette was once married to director STANLEY DONAN. CLASSIC TV FAN

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    1. I had forgotten about Yvette's marriage to Donen. My first association with the attractive and talented actress was a two-part (I believe) episode of Dr. Kildare. I remember my mom watching it. Funny how the mind works, isn't it?

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  8. This sounds like a cute one, Paddy. I keep reading of the brilliance of Marion Davies but haven't yet been treated to one of her films. You've reminded me to remedy this soon.

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    1. I think Marion will have a new fan once you have the opportunity to see her work.

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  9. I love this film and Marion Davies is awesome! It would be interesting to read the original play and see how much overlap there is between it and the movie. Thanks again for joining the blogathon with this great review. :-)

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    1. I think it would be excellent to compare the two scripts. It is such a peppy piece.

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  10. I loved Marion in "Show People" as Peggy Pepper, can't wait to see her in this one. Thanks for the heads up.

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    1. Marion is a hoot and you can't help routing for her.

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