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The Road to Yesterday

  • 1925
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
171
YOUR RATING
William Boyd and Vera Reynolds in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
DramaFantasyRomance

A married couple discovers that their strained relationship is the result of unhappiness in their past lives.A married couple discovers that their strained relationship is the result of unhappiness in their past lives.A married couple discovers that their strained relationship is the result of unhappiness in their past lives.

  • Director
    • Cecil B. DeMille
  • Writers
    • Beulah Marie Dix
    • Howard Hawks
    • Jeanie Macpherson
  • Stars
    • Joseph Schildkraut
    • Jetta Goudal
    • William Boyd
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    171
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Beulah Marie Dix
      • Howard Hawks
      • Jeanie Macpherson
    • Stars
      • Joseph Schildkraut
      • Jetta Goudal
      • William Boyd
    • 7User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

    Vera Reynolds in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
    Vera Reynolds in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
    Cecil B. DeMille, Jetta Goudal, and Alla Nazimova in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
    Joseph Schildkraut in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
    Jetta Goudal and Joseph Schildkraut in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
    Jetta Goudal and Joseph Schildkraut in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
    Cecil B. DeMille and Jetta Goudal in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
    Cecil B. DeMille, Jetta Goudal, and Joseph Schildkraut in The Road to Yesterday (1925)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joseph Schildkraut
    Joseph Schildkraut
    • Kenneth Paulton
    Jetta Goudal
    Jetta Goudal
    • Malena Paulton
    William Boyd
    William Boyd
    • Jack Moreland
    Vera Reynolds
    Vera Reynolds
    • Beth Tyrell
    Trixie Friganza
    Trixie Friganza
    • Harriet Tyrell
    Casson Ferguson
    Casson Ferguson
    • Adrian Thompkyns
    Julia Faye
    Julia Faye
    • Dolly Foules
    Clarence Burton
    Clarence Burton
    • Hugh Armstrong
    Charles West
    Charles West
    • Wyatt Earnshaw
    Josephine Norman
    Josephine Norman
    • Anne Vener
    Wilson Benge
    Wilson Benge
    • Kenneth's Butler
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Brower
    Robert Brower
    • Elderly Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Clary
    Charles Clary
    • Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    Iron Eyes Cody
    Iron Eyes Cody
    • Indian
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Coghlan Jr.
    Frank Coghlan Jr.
    • Boy Scout
    • (uncredited)
    Walter Long
    Walter Long
    • Rowdy in Burning-at-the-Stake Scene
    • (uncredited)
    Chester Morris
    Chester Morris
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Sally Rand
    Sally Rand
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Cecil B. DeMille
    • Writers
      • Beulah Marie Dix(play) (adaptation)
      • Howard Hawks
      • Jeanie Macpherson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The production team was housed at the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon while working on location for this film.
    • Connections
      Featured in Boom! Hollywood's Greatest Disaster Movies (2000)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    Past-Life Mishmash from the King of Spectacle
    In the late 10's through the 20's, Cecil B. DeMille made two kinds of films: frothy romantic confections and super epics, both with major religious overtones. And, he made them in two sizes: big and bigger. "Road to Yesterday", like "Manslaughter" and "Male and Female", tries to combine the two plots, cementing them together with a reincarnation theme.

    Joseph Schildkraut (the leading man in "Orphans of the Storm" and the leading louse in "Shop Around the Corner) is Ken, an eager bridegroom. Jetta Goudal (a now nearly forgotten Dutch beauty) is Malena, his lovely bride. They are on their honeymoon at the Grand Canyon when, on their wedding night, Malena develops a irrational terror of, well, Ken.

    Meanwhile, Bess (an adorable Vera Reynolds) is a thoroughly modern 20's maiden, flirting with the idea of marrying her pesty boyfriend. All bets are off, though, when she meets the strapping Rev. Jack Moreland (a perfectly cast William Boyd, Hopalong Cassidy to you) They connect instantly and seem to have known each other forever but flaming flapper Bess can't stomach the idea of marrying a clergyman.

    With Ken and Malena's marriage dissolving and Jack and Bess never even managing to get their relationship started, everything seems glum until a spectacular train wreck at the end of Act I throws Bess back in time 300 years. She is a fabulously wealthy heiress running away from a forced marriage to the dastardly Ken, Lord of the Manor. Jack is her loyal lover and Malena is an uncanny Gypsy who is also Ken's wife. The romp through history unravels many of the mysteries that have plagued the two pairs of lovers in the twentieth century. I won't give it away but most viewers will see it coming.

    As with most DeMille films, it is very difficult to judge "Road to Yesterday" by the usual standards. As pointed out in other reviews, the dialog is pure Rennaissance Faire, some of the acting is waaaay over the top and the plot is just an excuse for fancy dress. But, it IS entertaining, it IS a fun way to pass an afternoon. My fairly low rating comes from the silliness of the plot.

    First, the reincarnation theme doesn't make a bit of sense. Malena is terrified of the modern Ken because of what he did to her in the past. Fair enough. But he did as much and worse to Jack and Bess and they seem to have absolutely no negative reaction to him. In fact, Ken was such a villain that I am amazed that he had any friends at all by the time he was reborn for his twentieth century life.

    Then, no one ever explains why Bess remembers her twentieth century self but no one else does. (Half the cast is present for the Cavalier sequence) Also, Ken's moments of mustache-twirling villainy really damage any sympathy that the viewer might have for him, especially his rape of Malena near the beginning of the film.

    This leaves William Boyd and Vera Reynolds to carry the day and they pretty much walk away with the picture. They have chemistry and charm to spare. Reynolds in the cutest little flapper you could ask for and Boyd's easy, natural charm and understated acting lends a believability to an otherwise silly part. In fact, DeMille liked Boyd so much that he gave him the starring role in "The Volga Boatman", one of DeMille's strangest films.

    "The Road to Yesterday" is not DeMille's greatest silent film but it is a good one. Just sit back, enjoy Reynolds and Boyd, and don't try to think too much about the plot.
    helpful•8
    0
    • g_hawke
    • Jul 12, 2008

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 15, 1925 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • None
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La huella del pasado
    • Filming locations
      • Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • DeMille Pictures Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $477,480 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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    William Boyd and Vera Reynolds in The Road to Yesterday (1925)
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