Cavalcade (1933)

A portrayal of the triumphs and tragedies of two English families, the upper-crust Marryots and the working-class Bridgeses, from 1899 to 1933.

Director:

Frank Lloyd

Writer:

Reginald Berkeley (screen play)

Stars:

Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook, Una O'Connor

Won 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 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 | mother daughter relationship | dysfunctional marriage | manipulative mother | manipulative wife | 

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Taglines:

THE PICTURE OF THE GENERATION! (original print ad-all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ironically, no American stage could contain the trappings of Noël Coward's play, while no British studio could have sufficiently mounted the spectacle of the film version.

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Goofs

A lady at this time never smoked in public. Jane lights a cigarette in the train station and very graciously gives it to a wounded soldier, something a lady of that time would not have done.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jane Marryot: [as the Marryots return home from an outing] Thank you Bridges.
Robert Marryot: Everything ready Bridges?
Alfred Bridges: Yes sir.
Jane Marryot: Thought we should never get here in time. I'm sure that cabby was tipsy Robert.
Robert Marryot: So am I; he called me his old coccolare.
Jane Marryot: Oh, what did you say?
Robert Marryot: Gave him another shilling.
[they laugh lightheartedly]

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Alternate Versions

As the film was originally released, the "Twentieth Century Blues" cabaret scene featured both a gay male couple and a lesbian couple. For the 1935 reissue after the coming of the Production Code, Fox was forced to delete the lesbians. Although the gay men can still be seen (one is putting a bracelet on the other), the lesbian pair (one in black, the other in white) can be glimpsed only in a quick flash.

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Connections

Featured in The Oscars (2018)

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Soundtracks

Lover of My Dreams
(1931) (uncredited)
Written by Noël Coward

User Reviews

Somewhat Forgotten, But Highly Impressive and Imperative 1933 Best Picture Winner.

Often forgotten, but very excellent 1933 Best Picture Oscar winner that stands up amazingly well after 70 years. "Cavalcade" is the near-epic tale of two British families (one set of aristocrats led by Oscar-nominee Diane Wynyard and Clive Brook and the other a set of servants led by Una O'Connor and Herbert Mundin) and their experiences from New Year's Eve 1899 to the start of 1933. As the film opens, the country is entangled in the bloody Boer War in South Africa. Queen Victoria's death soon follows and naturally the loss hits the entire country very hard. The sinking of the Titanic also effects the richer group as they lose family members on the doomed liner. Of course World War I produces a terrible situation for the two groups' children. The film progresses through the Jazzy 1920s and then we re-visit the couples in the early-1930s as they reflect on eventful, dramatic and tragic years since the start of the century. A new hope seems possible by the end (of course history would continue to be unkind as World War II would soon become a sad reality for the English), but far from certain. Frank Lloyd (Oscar-winning for his direction) crafted a vastly interesting film that is technologically strong for the time period (the Titanic sequence in particular is something to be appreciated) and very intelligent from the start. The editing techniques are revolutionary with impressive fades throughout to show the passing of time and the cinematography still holds up strong even today. One good thing about the Academy Awards is the historical significance it gives to films like "Cavalcade". True the film is not always well-known among movie enthusiasts, but that does not mean that this is not an excellent production and one of the first truly excellent movies that Hollywood would develop for the world. 5 stars out of 5.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 April 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cavalcade

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:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1