Cavalcade (1933)

A cavalcade of English life from New Year's Eve 1899 until 1933 seen through the eyes of well-to-do Londoners Jane and Robert Marryot. Amongst events touching their family are the Boer War,... See full summary »

Director:

Frank Lloyd

Writers:

Noel Coward (play), Reginald Berkeley (screenplay),

Stars:

Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook, Una O'Connor

Won 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Diana Wynyard	...	Jane Marryot
Clive Brook	...	Robert Marryot
Una O'Connor	...	Ellen Bridges
Herbert Mundin	...	Alfred Bridges
Beryl Mercer	...	Cook
Irene Browne	...	Margaret Harris
Tempe Pigott	...	Mrs. Snapper
Merle Tottenham	...	Annie
Frank Lawton	...	Joe Marryot
Ursula Jeans	...	Fanny Bridges
Margaret Lindsay	...	Edith Harris
John Warburton	...	Edward Marryot
Billy Bevan	...	George Grainger
Desmond Roberts	...	Ronnie James
Dickie Henderson	...	Master Edward (as Dick Henderson Jr.)

Storyline

A cavalcade of English life from New Year's Eve 1899 until 1933 seen through the eyes of well-to-do Londoners Jane and Robert Marryot. Amongst events touching their family are the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, the sinking of the Titanic and the Great War.

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Plot Keywords:

titanic | new year's eve | new year | boer war | death | 

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Taglines:

A love that suffered and rose triumphant above the crushing events of this modern age! The march of time measured by a mother's heart!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cabalgata

Filming Locations:

Fox Movietone City, Westwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,180,280 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the film premiered in New York City on January 5 1933, it did not go into general theatrical release until April 15.

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Goofs

The Titanic's port of registry was Liverpool, not Southampton.

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Quotes

Jane Marryot: There should never be any good reason for neglecting someone that you love.

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Connections

Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Das Lied der Deutschen"
(1797) (uncredited)
aka "Deutschland Über Alles"
Music by Joseph Haydn (1797)
Lyrics by August Heinrich Hoffman von Fallersleben (1841)

User Reviews

See this film now, as we enter a new century.

This is an extraordinary film, from a play by Noel Coward. Starting on New Years Eve in 1899, the film goes on an emotional ride through 33 years of British history - ending on New Years Eve 1932. Through the lives of the members of one household (and two families one upper class, the other their servants)we visit the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, the Titanic, World War One and the Jazz Age. The film ends with the hope of a more peaceful world - a hope saddened by our knowledge that 1933 was to be the year that Hitler came to power.

This is very much an anti-war film, with the World War One scenes very powerful and the sad loss of a mother portrayed vividly as a woman learns of the death of her son as the rest of the world celebrates the end of the war. You won't forget this image.

Sumptuously shot and beautifully directed, the film is best when it is visual as it does suffer some of the sound problems associated with early talkies - and some of the acting is a little melodramatic. Diana Wynard's performance alternates between magnificent and hammy constantly - suggesting she was a little uncertain how to act for the camera. And look out quickly for an early portrayal of a gay male couple (snuck in by Coward I suspect!).

But this film is astonishingly relevant to us as we move into a new century. Let's not repeat the mistakes of the last. Coward speaks to us strongly from the grave.