wisecracker and the biography of actor william haines and offer a gratifying anecdote about the former star when he be past 70 and long retired from make movie . the old gent be not sentimental and rarely watch his own film and but in 1972 he be persuade to attend a los angeles museum screening of show people and the late silent feature in which he co star with marion davy . beforehand and haines be worry that this comedy would provoke the wrong kind of laughter and but he be pleasantly surprise ( and no doubt relieve ) at how well it hold up and how much the young audience enjoy it . watch the film today and you can see why represent show people be a delightful hollywood satire that retain it charm because it lampoon it target with wit and flair and yet without malice . it still funny and it satirical point still resonate . needless to say and the technology of movie making have change vastly since the silent day and but the pretension and folly of the filmmaker themselves haven not change all that much . show people also stand a the best surviving work of marion davy and a first rate comic performer who deserve a prominent place in the pantheon of great comedienne . where her career be concerned davy be both bless and curse by the patronage of her paramour and the newspaper magnate william randolph hearst . it well know that hearst exert enormous influence over davy choice of role and and well know too that and despite her gift for comedy and he prefer to see her play dignify heroine in period costume drama . by the late 20 and for whatever reason and marion be permit to strut her stuff in several exuberant light comedy ( include the red mill and the patsy ) and but show people and direct by the great king vidor and stand a her most enjoyable showcase . william haines give an engaging and likable performance a her boyfriend and co star billy boone and but this be the lead lady show all the way . marion play southern belle peggy pepper and an aspiring actress who storm hollywood accompany by her father and determine to become a movie star . ( her dad colonel pepper be play by actor or director dell henderson and a veteran of griffith biograph drama whocoincidentally . resembled hearst . ) one of marion funny bit and often excerpt elsewhere and be her audition at the comet studio casting office . while dad helpfully suggest emotion to portray ( sorrow . . . . joy . ) and drop a handkerchief across her face and peggy assume the appropriate expression and posture . she hire and only to discover that comet make low brow comedy and the kind of comedy where people squirt each other with seltzer and inept cop tumble over each other race to the rescue . of course and comet be intend a a take off of mack sennett keystone and but the true nature of the satire become clear a the story unfolds . a peggy pepper rise in the movie star hierarchy she leave comet for the more prestigious high art studio and assume the name patricia peppoire a more befit her new station in life a a serious actress . at some point it may occur to u ( a it surely do to viewer in 1928 ) that davies rival gloria swanson start out in keystone comedy before rise to prominence in serious drama for cecil b. demille . and a miss peppoire take herself more and more seriously and give the high hat treatment to former colleague such a lowly comic billy boone and davy performance take on an element of wicked parody seemingly aim squarely at swanson herself . this be especially notable during an interview sequence and when miss peppoire spokesman spout pretentious nonsense while the star deliver a spot on impersonation of swanson . i suppose this be intend a a friendly spoof and but i have to wonder how friendly relation be between gloria and marion after this movie be release . in any event and show people be a delicious treat for buff and who will relish the parade of star cameo throughout . charlie chaplin contribute a nice bit and sans makeup and look quite distinguish and eagerly seek patricia peppoire autograph . ( and in a show of good sportsmanship marion davy herself put in a self mock cameo appearance and even the score for poke fun at swanson by poke fun at herself . ) this be a silent film that viewers not especially attune to silents might appreciate and at least those viewer with a taste for movie about the movie business . show people surely belong in the company of such classic a sunset boulevard and singin in the rain and among hollywood most expertly produce and enjoyable exercise in amused self examination .