Cavalcade (1933)
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Synopsis of Cavalcade
The only Academy Award winning picture for Fox Studios (in its pre-20th Century-Fox era), Cavalcade is a stately film adaptation of the pageant-like stage hit by Noel Coward. The film concentrates on the years 1901 through 1933, as seen through the eyes of an upper-class British family and its servants. Clive Brook and Diana Wynyard portray the "upstairs" Marryots, while Herbert Mundin and Una O'Connor represent the "downstairs" Bridges (the incidents and characterizations in Cavalcade are very, very close to those seen in the popular 1970s BBC series Upstairs, Downstairs). The triumphs and tragedies of both masters and servants are placed in context with the death of Queen Victoria, the Boer War, World War I, the Jazz Age, and the Depression. Both classes have their troubles with their children, what with their offsprings' predilection for opposing authority, marrying the wrong people, and dying at the least opportune moments. The film's highlight was also the most talked-about scene in the original play: newlyweds Edward Marryot (John Warburton) and Edith Harris (Margaret Lindsay), discussing their future while on their honeymoon cruise, reveal at the scene's fadeout that they've been standing in front of a life preserver bearing the name "TITANIC". On the whole, however, Cavalcade creaks a bit when seen today, and is best viewed from a historical perspective. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast of Cavalcade
- Diana Wynyard - Jane Marryot
- Una O'Connor - Ellen Bridges
- Beryl Mercer - Cook
- Irene Browne - Margaret Harris
- Frank Lawton - Joe Marryot
- Margaret Lindsay - Edith Harris
- Dick Henderson - Edward, Age 12
- Bonita Granville - Fanny, Age 7
- Lawrence Grant - Man at Microphone
- John Rogers - Busker
- Douglas Walton - Soldier (Friend)
- Lionel Belmore - Uncle George
- Stuart Hall - Lieutenant Edgar
- Tom Ricketts - Waiter
- Howard Davies - Agitator
- Winter Hall - Minister
- Ann Shaw - Mirabelle
- David Torrence - Man at Disarmament Conference
- Clive Brook - Robert Marryot
- Herbert Mundin - Alfred Bridges
- Ursula Jeans - Fanny Bridges
- Merle Tottenham - Annie
- John Warburton - Edward Marryot
- Billy Bevan - George Granger
- Douglas Scott - Joey, Age 8
- Tempe Piggott - Mrs. Snapper
- C. Montague Shaw - Major Domo
- Mary Forbes - Duchess of Churt
- Betty Grable - Girl on Couch
- Claude King - Speaker
- Harry Allen - Busker
- Pat Somerset - Ringsider
- Des Roberts - Ronnie James
- Adele Crane - Ada
- Will Stanton - Tommy Jolly
- Frank Atkinson - Uncle Dick
- Director(s):
- Frank Lloyd
- Writer(s):
- Reginald Berkeley
- Producer(s):
- Winfield R. Sheehan, Frank Lloyd
- 1932-1933 - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Picture
- 1933 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
- 1933 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
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