techniques and comic behaviors evident in I Love Lucy are quite apparent in Davies' performance in this film. The character of Andre Paul Ralli was seen at the time as being a satire of John Gilbert. The film has a remarkable number of cameo appearances from some of the top stars of the day, including Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, William S. Hart, Norma Talmadge, Leatrice Joy, Lew Cody, Eleanor Boardman, and others. Many agreed to appear out of friendship with Davies, Hearst, and director Vidor, and the positive publicity value of cooperating with Hearst and MGM also played a factor. Both Marion Davies and King Vidor also made cameo appearances as themselves. In one of the film's more famous sequences, the script originally called for Davies to get hit in the face with a pie after being tricked appearing in a slapstick comedy movie. William Randolph Hearst objected to this, fearing for Marion Davies' dignity, and as a compromise, the scene was changed (without Hearst's knowledge) to have Davies get hit in the face with spray from a seltzer bottle. Vidor had wanted James Murray for the role of Billy Boone, but he was unavailable. Davies jumped at the chance to cast close friend William Haines in the role and agreed to Haines' receiving billing above the title with her. This was the only silent film in which Davies shared star billing. Once again, the reviews raved about Davies' comedic touch, and the film was a huge hit at the box office. The closing scene on the set of a war movie may be a nod to King Vidor's The Big Parade, a smash hit made in 1925, but more closely resembles the Davies film Marianne. See also List of United States comedy films Hollywood Souls for Sale A Trip to Paramountown References External links Show People at the silentera database Show People at Virtual History 1928 films 1928 comedy films Silent American comedy films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films about actors Films about Hollywood, Los Angeles Films directed by King Vidor Films produced by Irving Thalberg Films set in Los Angeles Films set in studio lots Films shot in Los Angeles United States National Film Registry films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Transitional sound comedy films Early sound films 1920s American films