Review of Marianne

Marianne (I) (1929)
7/10
Marion Davies Diversion
29 January 2011
Pretty cute filmy with Marion Davies as a French mademoisette on a farm who has adventures with, and becomes the adored mascot of some dough-boys at the end of World War I. As for the plot, well, who cares about the plot, except that it provides for some vaudeville performing, and joking, and singing, and lovemaking patter between her and a soldier. High points include Davies' mangling of the English language, her impersonation of a French officer to get her American sweetie out of the guardhouse, and the musical number during the celebration on the eve of the Americans' departure. In spite of the general lightness and playfulness of tone, the picture also manages to fit in some pathos and nobility and self-sacrifice when Marianne and the American part company in favor of her fiancé, returned blind after four years' absence in the war. Sometimes it's dated, sometimes it's silly, and sometimes it doesn't work so well; but it is all the time Marion Davies, and her presence in any film makes it worth watching, no matter how bad it is; one of the few actresses it's possible to say that about.
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