The Florodora Girl

"Floradora Girl" is an early sound picture that starred Marion Davies and a little known Lawrence Gray. Both had been leads in silent films and had some success transitioning to sound. But his career faded fast as many new male actors were getting established in sound pictures. Davies' career also faded fast, but that was mostly because of her personal life. She wasn't a great actress, but a good one in several films. It depended on the material she got, and a few years into sound pictures, she wasn't getting the scripts that many new and up-and-coming actresses were getting.

The plot for this film isn't exceptional, but Davies is okay as Daisy. The cast is sizable, but except for a couple supporting actors, there are few familiar faces in this cast. What lifts this film some, is its very good portrayal of some period things of history. The setting is supposed to be in the 1890s. Of special interest to sports fans are scenes of a football game that show players with minimum equipment, and a couple of very unusual plays, including, the wedge.

There is some humor - the funniest scene being efforts by a crowd of people to resuscitate Daisy (Davies) after she faked drowning to be rescued by Jack (Gray). Except for the scenes of turn of the 20th century things of interest, there isn't a lot to recommend this film as above average run-of-the-mill.

While not one of her most entertaining outings, "The Florodora Girl" has much to recommend it, especially in its musical interludes which a provide a feast of 1890's songs. Just about all these are well rendered by Miss Davies and chorus. Mr Gray, "who sings better than he talks" (as Mordaunt Hall aptly commented), has only the one number and irritatingly not only fails to join in singing the climactic, real Florodora hit, "Tell Me, Pretty Maiden", but actually louses it up. This is the way of the plot which tends to hamper the movie at every turn of its routine screws.

Some poorly contrived humorous interludes with over-enthusiastic Walter Catlett, and Harry Beaumont's rather routine, static and uninspired direction do little to help; but fortunately the movie offers plenty of visual compensations by way of its lavish sets and costumes, in addition to the aural appeal of its music score.

Marion Davies is quite good in her 3rd talkie, THE FLORODORA GIRL, playing one of the 1890s stage sensations. While the other girls are raking in jewelry and marrying wealthy men, Davies can't quite figure out the game and waits for Mr. Right. He appears in the person of society man, Jack Vibart (Lawrence Gray), but he has a terrible reputation as a womanizer and is engaged to a socialite. The girls decide to teach Davies how to play the game to rake in the loot, but she really doesn't want to scam Vibart. Turns out he is a fortune hunter since his family is broke. Can the lovers united? Several plot devices later, there is a happy, 2-strip Technicolor ending, possibly the only color footage Davies appears in.

Nice film, accurate depiction of 1890s America. This film again proves the wonderful comedic talents of Marion Davies and draws from her early days on Broadway as a Ziegfeld Girl and musical star. She's marvelous, and so is Gray.

Good supporting cast with Ilka Chase, Sam Hardy, George Chandler, Jed Prouty, Nance O'Neil, Vivian Oakland, Walter Catlett, Maude Turner Gordon, Anita Louise, and Louis John Bartels.

Best scenes include Davies all dolled up in a makeshift gown from the theater's costume department, crashing a society ball and the color finale, which finally shows the musical routine that had the theater world agog: "Tell Me, Pretty Maiden." Sweet, innocent film, and very well done. Davies and Gray had starred together in the silent classic, THE PATSY, as well as Davies' starring talkie debut in MARIANNE.

The late 1890's are lovingly reconstructed, with wonderful costumes and nice sets. Very good script. Marion Davies as a chorus girl who doesn't want to be a rich man's toy has lots of chances to show her stuff. There is only one Floradora dance routine and it is quite calm. The final scenes are in two color Technicolor.

This is an interesting historical drama from the 1930's. It is set in 1890's about an unlucky Floradora girl named Daisy. In New York at the Floradora club, all of the chorus girls seem to be having the great fortune of snagging and marrying wealthy men, except the naive Daisy Dell played by Marion Davies. Her fellow dancers help her catch the eye of wealthy Jack Vibart (Lawrence Gray), using their "tricks"...think cramp in the water tricks.

The story goes beyond Daisy and Jack's initial romance as Jack looses his family's money, they break of their wedding...

The story is ok, but the real reason to watch this Marion Davies film is for the historical depictions...like the early automobile, beachside antics of the time...including a resuscitation, a football game in which wealthy attendees watch from their cars or carts, an amazing country picnic with a tree swing large enough for two and the Floradora performances themselves.

Maybe a must see for fans of either Marion Davies or the 1890's. I did enjoy that Jack's mother didn't have the typical disapproving role.