This is a very, very rare film. While my family is generally very patient, they began screaming at me to "turn off that garbage" as I was watching OPERATOR 13. Part of this was because they had just suffered through another Marion Davies film, GOING Hollywood--a truly dumb film from start to finish. The other reason was when Marion appeared in OPERATOR 13 in Black-face ( a "clever" disguise so blonde Marion could go behind enemy lines and spy during the Civil War), my wife and oldest daughter were so offended and irritated with the insensitivity and stupidity of the film that they demanded I turn it off! Well, I watched a bit more but found the film so utterly dumb as well that I eventually agreed. So, I must admit that I never finished this bad film.
So why, then, would I bother to review this film even though I didn't complete it? Well there are two reasons. First, it being so offensive and dumb is something I think others should know so that they are forewarned. Second, because there is currently some sort of cult out there that worships Marion Davies.
It's true...it's like a cult in many ways! In the last couple years, some group of people who worship at the alter of Miss Davies have gone onto IMDb to give every film she ever made ratings of 10. While I will agree that she made some lovely films (such as SHOW PEOPLE) she also made a lot of turkeys--particularly later in her career. Yet, inexplicably, all of her films are rated HIGHER than most of the films in the IMDb top 250. The only reason they don't dominate this list is because there aren't enough votes for her movies (yet) to make it to the list--you need a certain minimum number of votes. This is true even for her films that lost tons of money and critics hated (such as CAIN AND MABEL).
As for this phenomenon and OPERATOR 13, almost 55% of the scores it has received are 10s--even with this disgusting and inexcusable Black-face segment. In contrast, GONE WITH THE WIND (39%) and BEN HUR (1959--29%) have a much lower percentage of 10s What is wrong with these people?! Do they LIKE seeing racist films with stupid plots?! Uggh. You have been forewarned! By the way, shortly after the film begins, there is a crowd scene as President Lincoln looks down on the crowd. Oddly, the men in the crowd are all wearing Fedora-style hats (circa 1930s) and one has a straw hat! A bit sloppy, huh? Sure sounds like it merits a 10!
So why, then, would I bother to review this film even though I didn't complete it? Well there are two reasons. First, it being so offensive and dumb is something I think others should know so that they are forewarned. Second, because there is currently some sort of cult out there that worships Marion Davies.
It's true...it's like a cult in many ways! In the last couple years, some group of people who worship at the alter of Miss Davies have gone onto IMDb to give every film she ever made ratings of 10. While I will agree that she made some lovely films (such as SHOW PEOPLE) she also made a lot of turkeys--particularly later in her career. Yet, inexplicably, all of her films are rated HIGHER than most of the films in the IMDb top 250. The only reason they don't dominate this list is because there aren't enough votes for her movies (yet) to make it to the list--you need a certain minimum number of votes. This is true even for her films that lost tons of money and critics hated (such as CAIN AND MABEL).
As for this phenomenon and OPERATOR 13, almost 55% of the scores it has received are 10s--even with this disgusting and inexcusable Black-face segment. In contrast, GONE WITH THE WIND (39%) and BEN HUR (1959--29%) have a much lower percentage of 10s What is wrong with these people?! Do they LIKE seeing racist films with stupid plots?! Uggh. You have been forewarned! By the way, shortly after the film begins, there is a crowd scene as President Lincoln looks down on the crowd. Oddly, the men in the crowd are all wearing Fedora-style hats (circa 1930s) and one has a straw hat! A bit sloppy, huh? Sure sounds like it merits a 10!