User Reviews

"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.

There's a bit of truth to this kooky episode. If you're old enough, you certainly recall a time when there was NO cable and all of us kids had to watch lots of old movies --including silent films! My Gawd! PBS back in the day used to have silent film festivals, so Gloria Swanson became a tv star! Of course, she was very active on television, having appeared, prior to this episode, on MY THREE SONS and, even, BURKE'S LAW. Why not? Here, the Clampetts think she's broke, actually auctioning off her house to charity! This is fun stuff and you can tell Swanson is having a good time, doing silent movie schtick with Jed, replete with 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 story, naturally. Look for Milton Frome (a regular bad guy on SUPERMAN) at odds with Drysdale. This is a popular episode with a lot of memories, and probably inspired by some real-life Hollywood stories as there were big stars who actually did fall on hard times. Played for laughs here and Granny, without fail, leading the charge to help a Beverly Hills idol in distress. To note, the best dressed award goes to Jane Hathaway (Nancy Kulp), stylish in a business white suit, dressed to impress. November 1966 episode. This has been a Filmways Presentation!