Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies

As most fans of Louise Brooks are aware, Brooks was well acquainted with the silent film star Marion Davies. Brooks spent time at the famed Hearst Castle, and also visited Davies at her beachfront estate. Brooks also knew Marion Davies' niece, Pepi Lederer. This circle of friendship is sketched in "Marion Davies Niece," one of the essays in Brooks' own book, Lulu in Hollywood. 

In some ways, Brooks' and Davies' stories are similar. Powerful men plucked both from the Ziegfeld Follies, and thrust each into the movies. Davies was ambitious. Brooks, less so. Nevertheless, both struggled to define themselves, to lead the lives they wanted to live, and to be in charge of their own destinies. Both also, to a degree, fought to overcome a legend which was imposed on their latter lives.

I mention all this because just out is Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies, a promising new biography by Lara Gabrielle published by the University of California Press. Long in the works, this new biography is a book every silent film buff will want to read. I just recently received a copy, and can't wait to get started. This is my kind of biography, thoroughly researched and full of footnotes!

Here is the publisher supplied description: "From Marion Davies's humble days in Brooklyn to her rise to fame alongside press baron William Randolph Hearst, the public life story of the film star plays like a modern fairy tale shaped by gossip columnists, fan magazines, biopics, and documentaries. Yet the real Marion Davies remained largely hidden from view, as she was wary of interviews and trusted few with her true life story. In Captain of Her Soul, Lara Gabrielle pulls back layers of myth to show a complex and fiercely independent woman, ahead of her time, who carved her own path."

"Through meticulous research, unprecedented access to archives around the world, and interviews with those who knew Davies, Captain of Her Soul counters the public story. This book reveals a woman who navigated disability and social stigma to rise to the top of a young Hollywood dominated by powerful men. Davies took charge of her own career, negotiating with studio heads and establishing herself as a top-tier comedienne, but her proudest achievement was her philanthropy and advocacy for children. This biography brings Davies out of the shadows cast by the Hearst legacy, shedding light on a dynamic woman who lived life on her own terms and declared that she was "the captain of her soul."

If you happened to see the outstanding documentary on William Randolph Hearst broadcast on PBS last year, then you were also likely intrigued by the role this diminutive film star played in the life of the millionaire publishing tycoon. Lara Gabrielle spoke in that documentary, and has a lot to say about this plucky film star who always tried to live life on her own terms (despite living in the shadow of a giant of a man, Hearst). Did she succeed? Was she the captain of her soul? What price did she pay? Read Lara Gabrielle's new biography to find out!

Here is a piece that just appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle. Here are some of the pre-pub notices:

"Lara Gabrielle finally buries the canard that Marion Davies was anything like Orson Welles's Susan Alexander from Citizen Kane. With hard-earned access to Davies's family and friends, Gabrielle has created a deeply sourced, delightfully told story of a rich, complicated life. With Captain of Her Soul, we finally meet Marion Davies as her own woman—talented, funny, generous, and a wonderful friend."—Cari Beauchamp, author of Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Powerful Women of Early Hollywood

"Gabrielle has unearthed a treasure trove of previously unpublished material that provides valuable new insights into Marion Davies's storied life and career."—Leonard Maltin, film critic and historian

 

 "Actor Marion Davies (1897–1961) may have lived ‘a life shrouded in mystery, rumor, and half-truths,’ but she was witty, talented, and loyal, according to this sparkling debut from film historian Gabrielle. . . . a breezy, colorful saga of Old Hollywood, full of showbiz picaresque, glamorous parties at Hearst’s San Simeon castle, and a touching romance between two flawed, magnetic personalities. Film buffs will want to check this one out." ― Publishers Weekly

"[A] scrupulously researched biography of American actress Davies (1897–1961), who was for a long time better known as the mistress of tabloid publisher William Randolph Hearst. . . . For fans of old-Hollywood lore and classic movies, especially those starring Marion Davies." ― Library Journal

 

 

If you have never seen a Marion Davies film, then you are missing out. The Patsy (1928) and Show People (1928) are each outstanding. Davies is charming and funny in both films, each of which I consider classics and must-see viewing. Those are two of my favorites, though others like, Little Old New York (1923) and Zander the Great (1925) and Beverly of Graustark (1926), are also very good. I have seen each and like them all. Check them out, and then read Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies.

 

This blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2022. Further use prohibited.