A few years back, IMDb pages for Marion Davies movies were flooded by a wave of scores of 10 for all of her movies. I have no idea who or why this was done, but as a result all of her movies have incredibly high scores--even her terrible ones (and, unfortunately, many of her sound films are pretty bad). So although this film currently has a very respectable score, understand it is because of some sort of effort to artificially inflate every Davies film...all of them. For example, this film (which by any sane standard is only mediocre) has scores of 10 for 51% of its votes, whereas "Gone With the Wind" only has 37%! And, if you were to check, this 51% is a higher percentage of 10s than the vast majority of the Top 100 films on IMDb!! Something screwy is afoot with the voting!
The style of "Paging Miss Glory" is very similar to several other Pat O'Brien films--"Boy Meets Girl" and "The Front Page". That's because in each of these O'Brien plays a schemer who delivers lines like a machine gun! He's 100% energy--like a guy on crack! And, if the material is very good (like in "The Front Page"), it works wonderfully. Unfortunately, this film's only asset is this energy, as underneath all the hysteria and frenetic action, the movie just isn't that good--much of it because the story makes little sense--especially the hysteria that results from a publicity stunt.
The film begins with O'Brien and his partner, Frank McHugh, broke and running up a huge hotel bill (like "Room Service"). But O'Brien is a promoter--and he knows he'll come up with some idea that will dig them out of their situation. Out of the blue he gets an inspiration--McHugh will make a composite photo made up of all the best parts of the great beauties and enter it in a photo contest (sort of like a primitive version of PhotoShop!). Well, without knowing it, they have created a picture that just coincidentally looks like the chambermaid (Davies). So, when they win they need to be able to present this fictional lady to the press--especially since O'Brien plans on milking it for all it's worth. In the process, the plan picks up a goofball aviator (Dick Powell), a crusading reporter (Lyle Talbot), and a group of mobsters (including Barton MacLane and Allan Jenkins). In addition, Mary Astor is along for the ride--making the film have a very strong cast of familiar faces.
The problem is that none of the film makes any sense even if it is occasionally entertaining. Plus, in all deference to the Davies ballot-stuffers, she is the worst actor in this movie. Mostly, Marion just stands around and gawks at the camera. In addition, and I know this will sound mean, but by now she is 39 and frankly not THAT attractive to be playing such a glamorous part. As a result of this film and other turkeys during the mid to late 1930s (such as "Cain and Mabel"), Miss Davies retired soon after "Paging Miss Glory".
The style of "Paging Miss Glory" is very similar to several other Pat O'Brien films--"Boy Meets Girl" and "The Front Page". That's because in each of these O'Brien plays a schemer who delivers lines like a machine gun! He's 100% energy--like a guy on crack! And, if the material is very good (like in "The Front Page"), it works wonderfully. Unfortunately, this film's only asset is this energy, as underneath all the hysteria and frenetic action, the movie just isn't that good--much of it because the story makes little sense--especially the hysteria that results from a publicity stunt.
The film begins with O'Brien and his partner, Frank McHugh, broke and running up a huge hotel bill (like "Room Service"). But O'Brien is a promoter--and he knows he'll come up with some idea that will dig them out of their situation. Out of the blue he gets an inspiration--McHugh will make a composite photo made up of all the best parts of the great beauties and enter it in a photo contest (sort of like a primitive version of PhotoShop!). Well, without knowing it, they have created a picture that just coincidentally looks like the chambermaid (Davies). So, when they win they need to be able to present this fictional lady to the press--especially since O'Brien plans on milking it for all it's worth. In the process, the plan picks up a goofball aviator (Dick Powell), a crusading reporter (Lyle Talbot), and a group of mobsters (including Barton MacLane and Allan Jenkins). In addition, Mary Astor is along for the ride--making the film have a very strong cast of familiar faces.
The problem is that none of the film makes any sense even if it is occasionally entertaining. Plus, in all deference to the Davies ballot-stuffers, she is the worst actor in this movie. Mostly, Marion just stands around and gawks at the camera. In addition, and I know this will sound mean, but by now she is 39 and frankly not THAT attractive to be playing such a glamorous part. As a result of this film and other turkeys during the mid to late 1930s (such as "Cain and Mabel"), Miss Davies retired soon after "Paging Miss Glory".