Why was Marion Davies The Biggest Gold Digger in Hollywood?

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📍 Marion Davies was an American actress and producer. Check out this biography to learn about her childhood.
Marion Davies is an American actress and producer, best known for her comic roles in silent films such as "The Patsy" and "Show People". As a producer, she has made films such as "Mary Mary Married," "Pollyanna of the Circus," "A Wise Child" and "Father Bachelor." Although Davies' successful acting career spanned more than two decades, Davies was more popular for his 34-year relationship with famed newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst. After his retirement, Davies focused on charitable activities. In 1952, he donated $1.9 million to establish a children's clinic in Los Angeles. Over the years, many famous actresses have starred as Marion Davies in popular films. Actress Melanie Griffith received a "Primetime Emmy Award" for her portrayal of Davies in the 1999 historical drama RKO 281.
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Outro Music: • Chill Retro Funky Jazz...

[@stephaniepersin4145]

Marion actually loved Hurst, and when he was down and out, helped him out financially and stayed with him for the rest of her life and only married someone else when he died. She isn’t some freak but the norm. You could say the same about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis who married JFK and a billionaire.

[@aaronrogers4533]

when he died she gave every thing she got from him back to his estate bc she was the one with money at the end, she had a movie career before him, and they met when she was 15 and he was 50, however i dont think the relationship started at that point

[@Hummingbirds2023]

I really liked Marion Davies, she was good to Hearst and he to her. What more can you possibly want in a relationship. Rest In Peace Marion!

[@lillibet7432]

She sold everything he left to her (including Hearst Castle) back to his family…for one dollar. She must have really loved him.

[@turnofevent8094]

You added a nice touch to the story, people make up gossip and then it becomes truth, she was a fine actress. Very attractive.

[@michaelpisani5962]

She gave Hearst over $1 million of HER own money when he was broke.

[@mackermaldrill2656]

Along with Boardwalk and the Reading Railroad.

[@jameskorner6611]

She didnt even blink an eye he needed it she give it no strings attached thanks for posting thus

[@jameskorner6611]

Thanks for posting your info M Pisani

[@roberthenleynola]

Her name was pronounced "Davees," not like "Davis." Also, Hedda Hopper did not work for William Randolph Hearst. Ever. He employed her rival, Louella Parsons.

[@turnofevent8094]

Robert Henley yes you are correct.

[@JamesVaughan]

"Davis" is the pronunciation in Britain. Since Davies is actually a British name (Welsh, generally), "Davis" would be the correct pronunciation. Americans just like to be different.

[@jayscheffer]

@@JamesVaughan It is how Marion Davies wanted it to be pronounced. Respect. "Davees". I was born and raised in Hollywood. My Grandmother was her lighting stand in. She was funny as hell, and very charming.

[@carlfrano6384]

@@JamesVaughan And she was American and she used the American pronunciation. Why are people attempting to justify the wrong pronunciation?

[@pattimaeda6097]

He’s English - they mispronounce a lot: “aluminum” and “schedule” and “privacy”

[@scotnick59]

She was so cute in BLONDIE OF THE FOLLIES

[@noman6041]

'DayVIS?' It's pronounced 'DayVEEZ'.

[@denisedavidson3823]

Marion stood by Hearst when he went bankrupt. She sold jewelry, etc to raise money and put it towards his debt. She didn't run away when times got tough.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Early in the 20th century, a real heroine, the real Annie Oakley had to forfeit most of her far more deserved career fortune in over twenty lawsuits fighting Hearst's many despicably scurrilous libels of her in his newspaper syndicates.

[@kve1247]

It was rumored that she & Hearst had a daughter🤔

[@cocoaorange1]

My mom stated that too.

[@pammorris8097]

Her name was Davies NOT Davis!!!

[@dawnelder9046]

I have seenna number of her movies and she was a wonderful actress. I would like to point out that while never married, because his wife would not give him a divorce, they had a long, loving relationship. So many stars of the time went threw half a dozen marriages or more. Personally I respect one long term good relationship or many bad marriages.

[@Ckom-Tunes]

‘Rosebud’ was Hearst’s pet name for a (very private) part of Miss Davies’ anatomy. The real dig Wells took at Hearst comes in the first scene-Kane/Hearst dies with Rosebud on his lips…think about it. Edit: She may be called a gold digger by some but she was indeed talented and proved to be one of the only people who stood by Hearst when things started to fall apart. In my opinion she’s not perfect but who is? She was a devoted partner who didn’t flake-out when the good times ended-what more can a guy ask for.

[@petersurdo4984]

You ask who is Marion Davis? Good question. This is about Marion Davies.

[@blorac9869]

May they rest in peace! Enjoyed, TYVM!

[@dy9278]

Who said a gold digger isn't a talented professional ?

[@DSheartlady]

never knew what she looked like she was very pretty and dont change the music i like it

[@frazzledhaloz3184]

This was a great peek in what goes on behind the scenes! Thank you!

[@TubeHeiress]

Her last name is pronounced Davees and is spelled Davies.

[@aurora.a6645]

She wasn't a 'beautyì but she had charm and was generous with anybody. Not bad!

[@angelamagruder5911]

Its sad all her effort and hard work does not really get the notice with the recognition she deserved to get while living,so sad,but thats life it happens😣😞😕!!!

[@shellybaby5th]

Terrible title! When Hearst was having money trouble, Ms. Davies sold her jewelry to help him.

[@patrickregan3302]

She was one of the first celebrities called movie stars. She once gave him a million $ of her own money to bail him out of some scam/jam. No different than any ordinary girl hoping for a well to do husband…. “Peg o me Heart!” What a cutie!!!!!!! Watch that one U’ll c!!!!! € ~ ;,”

[@roselyncampisi822]

She is beautiful!

[@redsquirrel6529]

The pronunciation of Davis will depend on the speaker & where they are from... ie UK or USA. However, since it's origin is Welsh (UK) it is pronounced DaVIS, if it's spelt Davies then it is DaVEEZ. But as I say if your from UK you will say it the Welsh way & if from USA then in the American way. Its what makes all all different and special xxx

[@kathyo9420]

I loathe the term gold digger. She knew what she was getting into when she hooked up with Hearst. He thought he helped her career but he damaged it terribly. Her niece , who Marion practically raised, committed suicide when it was discovered she was a lesbian. She gave up a child. She endured and sacrificed a lot. Gold digger diminishes her. She deserves respect.

[@mackermaldrill2656]

I loath Gary "Baba Booey" Dell'Abate.

[@gloriamontgomery6900]

She was a wonderful comic actress.

[@michaelthomas9049]

Miss Davies was a delight.. She did what she had to do of those times.

[@Someonesaidthis]

Well, she wasn’t stupid. She was a talented comedic actress.

[@lesliefitzgerald2354]

I never saw her perform, but she was a beauty, that's for sure...

[@nickelliott1174]

There have always been men who were sexual predators as well as women who used sex to get ahead. Some falsely accused, some not, we must evaluate the evidence to the best of our abilities. In cases this old you must decide for yourself and remember opinions will differ.

[@deborahgallery8912]

I watched Mank and I felt Marion Davies got a rotten reputation because of Orson Welles. I wanted to learn more about Marion Davies at the end of the film.

[@libranpoet]

I love your videos. I was the long-time president of the Eddie Cantor Appreciation Society and close friends with his youngest daughter for over twenty years before she passed at 90 nearly 4 years ago. I'd love to see an entry on Claudette Colbert, if you haven't already released one.

[@altanaeliza]

She has something magnetic about her, also a good comedienne

[@lisamilani3824]

Rosebud was hearsts sled as a boy

[@deborahgallery8912]

No the Rosebud sled was fictional character Charles Foster Kane's childhood sled from the film Citizen Kane. Unfortunately because Orson Welles and Herman Mankiewicz had put in the script of Citizen Kane the rosebud reference it was a rumour that circulated about it being Hearsts pet name for Marion's genitalia.

[@georgerodriquez7744]

My husband and I were born in BROOKLYN. Alot of famous people were born there.i would tell my husband what happened to use.he would tell me maybe they ran out of stamp machine. But am half BROOKLYN and the rest from The Bronx.

[@bobp2389]

I've tried to watch Citizen Kane many times over the years - as I remember never captured my attention - then I kept hearing how this was a great film. But how can a film be good with a false and wrong depiction of Marion Davies. I saw Marianne years ago and again recently and this made me check the facts - not only is Davies a great actress but a good woman. She was an actress, great mimic, impersonator - and treated people well. Marianne was great in Marianne as a silent film then a talkie overcoming a studder 1929.

[@hopedunkel2298]

"Hearst come, Hearst served" summed up being a mistress.

[@michaelmcgee8543]

I'm hopeing that one day her Lights of old broadway and beverly of Grunschart is restored since both whole feature exist and their color seuqnces.

[@RobertFells]

Lights of New York has been restored and is on DVD.

[@michaelmcgee8543]

@@RobertFells are you sure? Remember lights of old broad way there are two copies of the film Marion's version the color scenes are faded the other print great shape but a few frames less. This would have to be a difficult restoration . Did you see how difficult the buster Keaton movie color sequence was .Better than nothing.

[@RobertFells]

@@michaelmcgee8543 I think we are referring to the same film. I should have said Marion Davies LIGHTS OF OLD BROADWAY that has recently been issued by KINO in Blu-ray, restored with the Technicolor scenes. Are you referring to this KINO Blu-ray?

[@alec2726]

What a great video! You may judge even only by the comments below. About Marion Davies, I think that she was beautiful, great and very special. That's life!

[@lindseycarribean5113]

And possibly one of the first in the industry ?

[@jeanbonhacher6016]

From what I read in the comment her name is pronounced Davee apparently, just like Ray Davies of the Kinks

[@lindseycarribean5113]

So the Hearst Dynasty.

[@cocoaorange1]

I read she was part Greek. I watched the 80's or 90's biopic starring Virginia Madsen and Robert Mitchum. It was pretty good. I have seen a few of her silents. I also saw the Cat's Meow from 2001. Kristin Dunst played her.

[@robertdoherty2001]

Could not tolerate hearing her name mispronounced time and time again.

[@judithmitchell4667]

Fascinating video if only you hadn't pronounced the subject's name incorrectly every single time. Her name was never Davis. Her name was spelled Davies and always pronounced DAY VEEZ. Come on now - really! It's the subject you're talking about. Surely you looked up how to pronounce her name.

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

Why did you keep saying "Davis", when her name was shown as "Davies" ?? Am I the only one who noticed???

[@JamesVaughan]

"Davis" is the pronunciation in the UK. Since Davies is a British name originally, "Davis" is actually correct.

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

@@JamesVaughan Thank you James for setting me straight.

[@bobp2389]

I still view Citizen Kane as the Trash of History - wrong depiction of Marion Davies. I view Davies as the Greatest Actress in History even though Silent to Talkie Transition. She apparently knew Civil War Era Actress Sarah Barnhardt - and I feel many actresses of the later 30's and 40's emulated Davies...even more modern actresses who adopted traits of acting and impersonating men. Davies was a Super Star in two eras - even the Silent Era when more recognition was given to the likes of Greta Garbo, Mary Pickford, and others...they overlooked Marion Davies due to the garbage movie Citizen Kane, and it bewilders me how TCM seems to talk about Citizen Kane in positive terms. I tried to watch many times - and had to turn off the movie. I'll have to get motivated to watch the movie in full to get the whole picture - but I think Marion Davies will be viewed better in the next 10 years - an actress, and she can sing, dance, imitate, mimic, and she was a moral and was a woman of compassion who helped people - and she even helped Hearst during his financial crisis often overlooked by critics.

[@rosemaryfranzese317]

The editing on your videos is chronic, often your observations are parroted several times. On the plus side there is some really good information in this video. You did however refer to Marion as a starlet when actually she was a star. You did set the record straight on Thomas Ince’s death. Orson Welles did say he regretted the treatment of Marion Davies in Citizen Caine, sadly he did not say it often enough or loud enough nor do I believe he was totally sincere

[@chewie1869]

Her last name is pronounced “Davees”.

[@carbon8ng]

Her last name is pronounced DAVEES not Davis....

[@drednm]

read THE SILENT FILMS OF MARION DAVIES

[@Alexandra-vp1gm]

She was 19 when Groomed by Hurst...what about that??

[@jackierobinson-hicks3879]

Wow

[@annettefournier9655]

34 year affair? More like the heart of his heart.

[@realpurpleplay]

Miss Davies was American, not British or Welsh. She never mispronounced her name as Davis. How annoying to hear it spoken incorrectly all the way through this video!

[@jayscheffer]

Drove me insane!

[@arnepianocanada]

Pronunciation AGAIN! Why put superb effort into a program, then mispronounce its subject's name!?? "Davees", not Davis. *So disrespectful* - did you not learn from the CandEEce Bergen disaster?

[@catlover34fl]

Marion DAVIES pronounced DAYVEES.

[@carlfrano6384]

Day-veez is the correct pronunciation.

[@JamesVaughan]

Nope. "Davis" and "Davies" can be pronounced the same way.

[@carlfrano6384]

@@JamesVaughan But Davis is not how she pronounced.

[@JamesVaughan]

@@carlfrano6384 Which proves she didn’t know how to pronounce her own name.

[@carlfrano6384]

@@JamesVaughan ha!

[@Booka60]

Really awful leader title

[@russellcampbell9198]

Davees not Davis. Hate to be nitpicker but ...

[@keithcallaway9327]

I dont think davies was a gold digger, does it make any sense for someone who is already rich and famous and have her own pile of gold to be sniffing around for someone elses gold? And davies never chased after the tired old man. IF anything it was the other way around. Davies was ALWAYS being chased after by men young and old alike, especially charley chaplin. Chaplin followed davies around like a love sick puppy. And in 1924 it apparently all came to a head on the hearst yacht. I know that its easy to lean towards the camp that believe davies to be a money chaser, but marion davies proved them all wrong when she gave back all of the jewels hearst had giving her for past 30 years. So if marion davies was a gold digger can we all agree that she was the gold digger with a heart of gold?

[@Sandi-ke9mi]

She wasn’t. Gold digger is such an offensive word. Like you’re condemning her for making the most of the opportunities she got. And she really loved Hearst, a hard man to love, imo.

[@hydrolito]

Did she marry a husband with a gold mine?

[@garrettdavis6500]

She was extremely beautiful in her youth. I love candy, & I've got a thirsty sweet-tooth.

[@davedee4382]

This woman is sadly, forgotten! She was a great talent. She was respected. She had a huge career. Professional grifter, Orson Welles made her out to be a talentless gold digger. The lazy slob spent his life bumming money off of people and shooting lots film which accumulated into a mountain of unfinished projects. He wrote very little of Kane. He wanted the films author to take his name off the script and put his own ( Welles) on. It was an innovative film, but nevertheless bombed at the box office. Welles was never part of a complete or successful project after that. He was a simple magician. He was a self promoter. He ate himself to death. Don’t tell me that it didn’t do well due to lack of exposure. Audiences disliked it. Yes it was innovative but Welles had little to do with that.

[@stephaniepersin4145]

It’s sad that vintage Hollywood is mostly forgotten as they had great screenwriters/stories and people who knew how to act.

[@trent3872]

Hearst threatened any theater that was gonna show Kane. Citizen Kane is probably the greatest movie ever made, definitely in the top 5. Stop lying.

[@deborahgallery8912]

Hearst stopped the film being played in theatres. That's why it didn't do well.

[@martywithceleste4444]

It's DAVIES (pronounced DAY-VEES), NOT DAVIS!!!

[@auapplemac1976]

Not too found of the way she's portrayed here.This video puts too much weight on Citizen Kane causing the end of her career. Davis's last film was in 1937 several years before Citizen Kane and she had a proven track record as a successful film star form decades. She was older at that point and could no longer play the cute, funny roles she performed when she was younger. She never stuttered in her films, but did have a slight lisp that didn't seem to get in her way in talkies. She baled Hurst when he got into financial trouble by selling her possessions.

[@davedee4382]

DavIES!!! Not DavIS!

[@binkydonna]

Her name is pronounced DAY-veez.

[@lindseycarribean5113]

Age, don't you want to change the music ? Personally, I'm tired of it.