Cavalcade (1933)

Una O'Connor, Diana Wynyard and Clive Brook

'Cavalcade' is a dramatic film about an upper class English family and their servants, directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Clive Brook, Diana Wynyard, Una O'Connor and Herbert Mundin. It was an adaptation of the 1931 hit London stage play of the same name, by Noel Coward, which ran for 405 performances. Una O'Connor (as Ellen), Irene Browne (as Margaret Harris, Jane's friend), and Merle Tottenham (as Annie) originated their movie roles in the play.

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The movie was a major financial success, grossing over seven times its production costs and it was also well received by the critics, being nominated for four Academy Awards and winning three, including Best Picture and best Director for Frank Lloyd. It was Lloyd's second Directing Oscar after winning in 1930 for 'The Divine Lady' and he would be nominated a third time 'Mutiny on the Bounty' in 1935.

The film tells an entertaining tale as it traces thirty eventful years in the lives of members of an upper class London family, the Marryots, and the family of servants who work for them, the Bridges, from 1899 to New Year's Eve 1932. The tale follows their fortunes as they experience dramatic changes in social values and is set aganst the background of various historic events such as the Boer War, the sinking of the Titanic, the First World War and the Great Depression.

The cast give accomplished performances. The story is told mainly from the perspective of Mrs Marryot, played by Diana Wynyard, an experienced stage actress in only her second movie, whose impressive performance earned a Best Actress Award nomination, losing to Katharine Hepburn in 'Morning Glory'. Clive Brook, as Mr Marryot was a well known and experienced actor whose career started in Silents in 1920 and he gives a confident, polished performance. there are also excellent performances by Herbert Mundin and Una O'Connor as Mr and Mrs Bridges.

The film is capably directed by Frank Lloyd and he manages to avoid making the film look too stage-bound. Enough of Coward's witty dialogue remains to give the movie some zest and the cinematography is beautifully done. It does show its age, however, and some of the acting is too hammy and stilted.

'Cavalcade' shows perfectly how the Victorian era was viewed in the 1930's. The message of the movie is of the inexorable passage of time and with new ideas and technology comes the destruction of the mores and certainties of the Victorian era as the British Empire comes to an end.