Biography
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.
Acted in 52
2000s
- 2001
Captured on Film: The True Story of Marion Davies
(archive footage)
1990s
- 1995
The Casting Couch
Movie
- 1994
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1960s
- 1964
The Big Parade of Comedy
Tina in 'The Red Mill' (archive footage)
1930s
- 1937
Ever Since Eve
Marge Winton
- 1936
Cain and Mabel
Mabel O'Dare
Hearts Divided
Betsy Patterson
- 1935
Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
Marion Davies
Page Miss Glory
Loretta
- 1934
- 1933
Going Hollywood
Sylvia Bruce
Peg o' My Heart
Margaret 'Peg' O'Connell
- 1932
Blondie of the Follies
Blondie McClune
Polly of the Circus
Polly Fisher
- 1931
Five and Ten
Jennifer Rarick
It's a Wise Child
Joyce Stanton
The Bachelor Father
Antoinette "Tony" Flagg
- 1930
Not So Dumb
Dulcy
1920s
- 1929
- 1928
The Cardboard Lover
Sally
The Patsy
Patricia Harrington
- 1927
Quality Street
Phoebe Throssel
The Fair Co-Ed
Marion
Tillie the Toiler
Tillie Jones
The Red Mill
Tina
- 1926
Beverly of Graustark
Beverly Calhoun
- 1925
Lights of Old Broadway
Fely / Anne
Zander the Great
Mamie Smith
- 1924
Janice Meredith
Janice Meredith
The Wife of the Centaur
Cameo in chorus line
Yolanda
Princess Mary / Yolanda
- 1923
The Pilgrim
Congregation Member (uncredited)
Adam and Eva
Eva King
- 1922
When Knighthood Was in Flower
Mary Tudor
The Young Diana
Diana May
Beauty's Worth
Prudence Cole
The Bride's Play
Enid of Cashell / Aileen Barrett
- 1921
Enchantment
Ethel Hoyt
Buried Treasure
Pauline Vandermuellen
- 1920
The Restless Sex
Stephanie
April Folly
April Poole
1910s
- 1919
The Cinema Murder
Elizabeth Dalston
The Dark Star
Rue Carew
Getting Mary Married
Mary Bussard
The Belle of New York
Violet Gray
- 1918
The Burden of Proof
Elaine Brooks
Cecilia of the Pink Roses
Cecilia
- 1917
Runaway Romany
Romany
Produced 14
1930s
- 1936
Hearts Divided
Producer
- 1935
Page Miss Glory
Producer
- 1932
Blondie of the Follies
Producer
- 1931
It's a Wise Child
Producer
The Bachelor Father
Producer
- 1930
Not So Dumb
Producer
1920s
- 1928
The Cardboard Lover
Executive Producer
The Patsy
Producer
- 1927
Quality Street
Producer
- 1920
April Folly
Producer
1910s
- 1919
Getting Mary Married
Producer
The Belle of New York
Producer
- 1918
Cecilia of the Pink Roses
Producer
Wrote 2
1950s
- 1954
Meet the Family
Original Story
1910s
- 1917
Runaway Romany
Writer
Appearances14
2020s
- 2021
Citizen Hearst
Self (archival footage) · 2 episodes
2010s
- 2015
Leslie Howard: The Man Who Gave a Damn
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2003
Murders of Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1996
The Battle Over Citizen Kane
Self (archive footage)
- 1991
The Complete 'Citizen Kane'
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1980
Hollywood
Self (archive footage, uncredited) · 1 episode
1970s
- 1972
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
1960s
- 1960
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Self
1930s
- 1936
Behind the Scenes of Cain and Mabel
Self
- 1935
A Dream Comes True
Herself (uncredited)
- 1931
The Christmas Party
Herself
1920s
- 1929
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
Self
- 1922
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12
Self
A Trip to Paramountown
Self