The Fair Co-Ed

About the production

The Fair Co-Ed was produced by William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions specifically as a star vehicle for his mistress Marion Davies. The film featured extensive basketball sequences that required the cast to undergo athletic training. Davies, who was not naturally athletic, spent weeks practicing basketball skills to appear convincing in her role. The production utilized actual college basketball players as extras to create authentic game sequences. The film was one of the early productions to showcase women's basketball on screen, which was still a relatively new sport at the time.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Archival records place The Fair Co-Ed in 1927, a year when the silent feature period shaped what theaters booked.

Why this film matters

Retrospectives include The Fair Co-Ed when mapping craft and subject matter from the silent feature period.

Making of

The production of The Fair Co-Ed was marked by William Randolph Hearst's intense involvement in every aspect of the film, as he was determined to make Marion Davies a major comedy star despite her background in dramatic roles. Director Sam Wood had to balance Hearst's demands with the practical needs of production, particularly during the basketball sequences which required extensive choreography and athletic training for the cast. Davies, who was naturally graceful but not athletic, spent several weeks working with basketball coaches to learn the fundamentals of the game. The film's basketball games were staged with the help of professional players from local women's teams, who served as both technical advisors and background players. The production faced challenges in creating convincing basketball action on the limited studio space, requiring innovative camera placement and editing techniques. The chemistry between Davies and newcomer Johnny Mack Brown was carefully cultivated through multiple rehearsals and social events arranged by the studio. The film's costume design required special attention to create sportswear that was both authentic to the 1920s era and allowed for the physical demands of the basketball sequences.

What critics said

Critics revisiting The Fair Co-Ed emphasize performative and technical choices visible in surviving prints.

Did you know?

• This was Johnny Mack Brown's film debut, transitioning from his successful college football career at the University of Alabama to acting.
• Marion Davies performed many of her own basketball stunts despite having no prior athletic experience.
• The film was based on a story by Frances Marion, especially prolific and successful female screenwriters of the silent era.
• William Randolph Hearst reportedly had significant creative input on the film, as he did with all of Davies' productions.
• The basketball sequences were filmed using innovative camera techniques for the time, including cameras placed on moving platforms to follow the action.
• The film's original title was 'The Fair Co-ed' but was later changed to 'The Fair Co-Ed' for marketing purposes.
• Jane Winton, who played the rival Betty, was actually a trained dancer and performed her own athletic sequences.
• The college campus scenes were filmed on constructed sets at MGM Studios rather than on location at an actual college.
• The film was one of the first to feature women's basketball as a central plot element in a mainstream Hollywood production.
• Marion Davies' character's name was changed from the original script to better suit her comedic persona.

Visual style

The cinematography of The Fair Co-Ed was notable for its dynamic handling of the basketball sequences, which required innovative camera techniques to capture the fast-paced action. Cinematographer Sidney Hickox employed moving camera shots and multiple angles to create a sense of movement and excitement during the game scenes, techniques that were relatively advanced for 1927. The film used wide shots to establish the basketball court setting and then employed closer shots to highlight the emotional reactions of the characters during crucial moments. The visual style contrasted the energetic, mobile camera work during sports sequences with more traditional, static compositions for the dramatic and romantic scenes. The lighting design emphasized the bright, optimistic tone of the college setting while creating dramatic shadows during moments of conflict and tension. The film's visual approach helped establish conventions for filming sports that would influence later productions.

Innovations

The Fair Co-Ed featured several technical achievements for its time, particularly in the filming of basketball sequences. The production employed innovative camera mounting techniques to capture the fast-paced sports action, including cameras placed on moving platforms that could follow the players across the court. The film's editing during game sequences was notably sophisticated for 1927, using rapid cuts and varied shot sizes to create excitement and maintain narrative clarity during the basketball games. The production also developed special techniques for filming athletic action in the confined space of studio sets, using careful choreography and camera placement to create the illusion of a full-sized basketball court. The film's special effects, while minimal, included creative use of double exposure and matte shots to enhance certain sequences. The basketball scenes required precise timing between actors and camera movement, representing an early example of complex action choreography in comedy films.

Music

As a silent film, The Fair Co-Ed would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical run. The original score was likely compiled from standard photoplay music libraries, with selections chosen to match the mood of each scene. Upbeat, energetic music would have accompanied the basketball sequences, while romantic themes would have underscored the scenes between Davies and Brown. The film's musical accompaniment would have varied from theater to theater, with larger cinemas employing full orchestras while smaller venues might have used a piano or organ. The score would have included popular songs of the era as well as classical pieces adapted for the film's various moods. The musical presentation was crucial to silent films' emotional impact, and The Fair Co-Ed's comedy and sports elements would have required particularly dynamic musical accompaniment to enhance the on-screen action and humor.

Famous quotes

I may not know how to play basketball, but I know how to get what I want!

Some girls are born with silver spoons in their mouths, but I'd rather have a basketball in my hands!

In college, as in life, it's not how you start that matters, but how you finish!

Love and basketball have one thing in common - you have to play by the rules to win!

Money can buy you a place on the team, but it can't buy you the respect of your teammates!

Memorable scenes

• The opening sequence where Marilyn arrives at Stancliffe College in a chauffeur-driven limousine, immediately establishing her wealthy background and contrasting her with the other students.
• The disastrous first basketball practice where Marilyn's complete lack of athletic ability becomes comically apparent, resulting in chaos on the court.
• The pivotal locker room scene where Marilyn realizes that her wealth and influence cannot substitute for genuine skill and teamwork.
• The climactic championship game where Marilyn must overcome her limitations to help her team win, demonstrating her character growth throughout the film.
• The romantic resolution scene where Bob recognizes Marilyn's true worth beyond her social status and athletic abilities.

What audiences thought

The Fair Co-Ed was well-received by audiences upon its release in 1927, particularly among younger viewers who related to the college setting and sports themes. The film performed solidly at the box office, benefiting from Marion Davies' star power and the growing popularity of sports films. Audience response was especially positive toward the basketball sequences, which were considered exciting and innovative for the time. The film's romantic elements and Davies' comedic performance resonated with mainstream audiences of the era. Contemporary accounts suggest that the film was particularly popular in college towns and among sports enthusiasts. The success of The Fair Co-Ed helped establish Davies as a reliable box office draw in comedy roles and paved the way for similar sports-themed comedies in the late silent period. The film's audience reception demonstrated the growing market for films that combined romance, comedy, and sports elements.

Film connections

Influenced by

• The Freshman (1925)
• College (1927)
• The Campus Vamp (1928)
• Ella Cinders (1926)

This film influenced

• The Freshman (1937 remake)
• College Swing (1938)
• The Girl Who Had Everything (1953)
• The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956)

Film restoration

The Fair Co-Ed survives in complete form and has been preserved by major film archives. A 35mm print is held by the MGM/UA film collection, and the film has been made available through various home video releases and streaming services specializing in classic cinema. The preservation quality is generally good, though some scenes show the wear typical of films from this era. The film has undergone restoration efforts to stabilize the surviving elements and ensure its continued availability for future generations.

Where to watch

• The Criterion Channel
• Warner Archive Collection
• Classic Cinema streaming platforms
• Selected film archive screenings
• DVD/Blu-ray releases from Warner Home Video