The Gloria Swanson Story

10 Stars for us movie buffs.

There's a bit of truth to this goofy episode. If you're old enough, you can recall a time when there was NO cable and all of us kids had to watch lots of old movies -- including silent films! PBS back in the day had silent film festivals, so Gloria Swanson became a star all over again. She was very active on television, having appeared, prior to this episode, on MY THREE SONS, many other shows.

Here, the Clampetts think she's FLAT BROKE, but in reality, auctioning off her house to charity so she can move back east. You can tell Gloria Swanson is having some fun, also doing silent movie schtick with Jed, and with old fashion captions. Crafty Mr. Drysdale (who dyes his hair jet black to look like a silent screen leading man?) tries to get some money out of the deal, naturally.

Look for Milton Frome (famous bad guy on SUPERMAN) at odds with Drysdale. A popular episode that could be linked to some real-life Hollywood stories. About a year earlier, silent screen star Mae Murray was found all alone and with little money. The headlines got her safely into the Film Actors Retirement Home.

Granny, without fail, leads the charge to help a Beverly Hills celeb in distress. Note, the best dressed award goes to Miss Jane (Nancy Kulp), stylish in a business white suit, dressed to impress. We love Miss Jane.

Best of SEASON 5. Remastered color CBS dvd box set. According to Amazon, seasons 6 to 9 will be remastered on blu ray and released 2027. Thanks to CATCHY TV and METV for running every single episode.

"The Gloria Swanson Story" is one of the best ever BEVERLY HILLBILLIES episodes and one of the very best "movie star guesting on a hit sitcom" appearances. Through a newspaper article, the Clampetts learn one of the favorite silent stars, Gloria Swanson, is having an auction of most of her estate. What they don't know is she is moving east and the auction is for charity - they think Gloria has hit upon hard times and is down to her last dollar. When they learn Gloria lives not far away from their estate, they decide to visit the film icon and when they see her virtually empty home and meet the ever-glamorous star (apparently not noticing she is just a bit older now than in those beloved silents from the 1920's that still draw around-the-block crowds at the picture show back home in Bugtussle) they hit upon an idea to restore Gloria's finances - a comeback in movies - a SILENT movie that is.

La Swanson remains every inch the glamorous star here and looks like a million bucks in attractive fashions and while much of her time "as herself" requires her to merely be chic and charming, in the silent movie spoof "Passion's Plaything" she deliciously sends up her image of the siren of the DeMille era. Silent movie fans should especially cherish this satiric yet loving look at the early days of movies and for the chance to see Gloria in color and looking fabulous at 67. Just think if only the Clampetts had been in Beverly Hills back in 1950 - Norma Desmond could have made that Salome picture LOL!

Everything works to perfection in this amazing episode. Gloria Swanson is the great heroine of the Clampett family and the town of Bugtussle. She is selling her house and has her belongings auctioned for charity. As usual, America's family didn't quite get the memo and they think she's in dire straits. Thankfully for us as hilarity ensues. Not to worry, the Clampetts have a plan which takes the joviality up to amazing heights. Gloria Swanson with great comedic timing of her own plays wonderfully in acknowledging the Clampetts good but misplaced intentions.