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Did you know that Marion Davies dropped out of school to become a chorus girl, and that she may or may not have had an affair with Charlie Chaplin? Marion Davies was a Golden Age film star whose legacy has been tainted by an affair she had with media mogul William Randolph Hearst. William was the inspiration for the titular character in Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. The film included a character that was inspired by Marion Davies, and many didn’t find it to be a very flattering depiction. There were several things that caused Marion’s celebrity status to dwindle over the course of her career, but her depiction in Citizen Kane is generally considered to be the biggest. According to the late Orson Welles himself, Marion could’ve become a much more fondly remembered star if it weren’t for William Randolph Hearst.
▬Contents of this video▬ 00:00 - Intro 00:22 - How Marion Davies Met William Randolph Hearst 01:39 - William Made Marion a Star, But This Had Caveats 04:28 - Orson Welles Felt Bad About His Impact on Marion 05:48 - Marion Overcame a Stutter to Be a Star 06:49 - William Randolph Hearst Never Divorced His Wife 07:56 - Marion Finally Married After William’s Death 08:14 - Outro
Marion was the youngest of five children born to a lawyer and a housekeeper. The children were pushed to excel in school, but Marion ended up dropping out to become a chorus girl. It was during her days working on Broadway as a chorus girl in the Ziegfeld Follies that the future star first caught the attention of media mogul William Randolph Hearst. William became enamored with the actress, but he was married. The two quickly started up an affair.
William wanted to make Marion a star, so he bought a movie studio and started casting her in pictures. The audience loved Marion but became skeptical of how much William was spamming her in the press. After making her first appearance on the big screen in the early 1920s, Marion remained a notable star for two decades before the release of 1941’s Citizen Kane struck a big blow to her career.
Citizen Kane was a critique of William Randolph Hearst, but it inadvertently criticized Marion Davies, as well. According to filmmaker Orson Welles, Marion could’ve been a much bigger star if it weren’t for her association with the controversial media mogul. Join Facts Verse as we explore how Marion Davies had more to offer than just her body.
Marion Davies Had More to Offer Than Just Her Body
By: Facts Verse Title: Marion Davies Had More to Offer Than Just Her Body Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0Qp3WOjj1k
