MartinHafer 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".

Neil Doyle In no way can I be persuaded to think that MARION DAVIES was a brilliant comedienne. She delivers her lines in flat fashion, making everyone aware that she is acting--as if that in itself is supposed to be funny. Truth is, she was better in silents where we were not subjected to her strident speaking voice and the affected mannerisms on display in her later films.I go with the N.Y. Times reviewer who said: "Some of it is funny, some of it isn't, and a lot of it is speed and noise." For sheer speed and noise you can have PAT O'BRIEN, spouting all his dialog like a machine gun spitting out lines faster than the speed of sound. You can have ALLEN JENKINS being his lovable but dumb self, saddled with some of the film's sillier moments but at least drawing a chuckle. Or you can sympathize with MARY ASTOR who is supposed to be daffy about FRANK McHUGH--and that too is good for a laugh. And then we have poor DICK POWELL, trying to make something out of a thankless supporting role as Marion's true love.It's all done in the furious fashion typical of these screwball comedies from the '30s--only this one hasn't got enough wit in the script to please any discriminating viewer.For Davies fans only. Before it's over, you get the feeling you've seen it all before.

bkoganbing After William Randolph Hearst took his Cosmopolitan Pictures off the MGM lot and onto Warner Brothers, Marion Davies for her first film was given the title role in Page Miss Glory. The film is based on a Broadway play that ran only 63 performances during the 1934-1935 season.Press Agents Pat O'Brien and Frank McHugh concoct a phony beauty by taking facial features from several known movie stars to create the perfect American beauty. When asked to produce her, our intrepid duo is stuck, but when hotel chambermaid Marion Davies comes in to make up the room, it seems like a prayer has been answered.O'Brien and McHugh are playing roles that they've both done dozens of times alone and together at Warner Brothers in the Thirties. I think Pat O'Brien pulled more cinematic cons than any other player on record. Davies has some very funny moments and I know she wished she could have done more films like this one.Dick Powell plays a Charles Lindbergh like aviator with a nice tenor voice who sings the song Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote for the film Page Miss Glory. It's done during a dream sequence when Davies still thinking like a chambermaid, imagines herself being swept up romantically by Powell.Page Miss Glory is one of Marion Davies better sound features and still worth seeing today.

jayms Like "Front Page Woman," this is a comedy I'd never heard of and only discovered because of TCM. Fast paced dialogue played with relentless Looney Tunes energy make this a sharp spoof of media manipulation and public gullibility that holds up well nearly 70 years later. Marion Davies inhabits her slow witted small town girl thrust into the limelight. Dick Powell parodies himself as the Hero of the Air who falls in love with her picture and proposes before they've ever met. Pat O'Brien and Frank McHugh share a wonderful rapport as the con artists behind it all. Only Mary Astor seems wasted as she has little to do though she does it with elan. Treads similar territory to `Nothing Sacred' or more recent offerings like `Simone' and `Wag the Dog.' Highly recommended.