Captain of Her Soul

June 27, 2022
Actor Marion Davies (1897–1961) may have lived “a life shrouded in mystery, rumor, and half-truths,” but she was witty, talented, and loyal, according to this sparkling debut from film historian Gabrielle. The author recaps Davies’s rise from Broadway chorus girl to top-billed MGM star in the 1920s, thanks in part to her lover William Randolph Hearst’s lavish financing, production, and promotion of her movies (his headline writers, for instance, pronounced When Knighthood Was in Flower “the greatest picture ever filmed”). Oft maligned­­—incorrectly, Gabrielle notes—as the model for Citizen Kane character Susan Alexander (a talentless opera-diva wife), Davies, in Gabrielle’s telling, was a talented actor and comedian whose gifts were often wasted in the stodgy costume dramas that Hearst preferred. She was also ebullient (despite alcoholic rages later in life) and generous; far from a rich man’s helpless dependent, she asserted herself against the maniacally controlling Hearst and even offered him $1 million of her own money to rescue his bankrupt company during the Depression. Gabrielle’s narrative is a breezy, colorful saga of Old Hollywood, full of showbiz picaresque, glamorous parties at Hearst’s San Simeon castle, and a touching romance between two flawed, magnetic personalities. Film buffs will want to check this one out. Photos.

August 1, 2022

Marion Davies expert Gabrielle spent nine years on this scrupulously researched biography of American actress Davies (1897-1961), who was for a long time better known as the mistress of tabloid publisher William Randolph Hearst. Davies and Hearst's 30-plus-year relationship has been the subject of novels, films, and documentaries. She and "W.R." threw extravagant parties at his palatial estate and her Hollywood mansion, hobnobbing with the stars and politicos of the day. Gabrielle presents a more well-rounded picture of Davies. Though sometimes verging on hagiography, this work discusses her success in silent films, her transition to sound pictures despite a persistent stutter; her generosity to friends, family, and several charities (she even bailed out Hearst when his company nearly went bankrupt); and her business savvy. Gabrielle also addresses Davies's alcoholism and an unhappy marriage after Hearst's death. While she also crisply dismisses rumors about a Hearst/Davies love child passed off as a "niece" and a suspicious death on Hearst's yacht--readers may not be convinced. VERDICT For fans of old-Hollywood lore and classic movies, especially those starring Marion Davies. With notes, bibliography, filmography, and just enough photos to send readers to the internet in search of more images of Davies and her milieu.--Liz French

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