Best Picture Quest Part 6 (of 89): Cavalcade (1933)

Title: Cavalcade

Year: 1933

Starring: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook, Una O’Connor

Director: Frank Lloyd

Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

Is It Any Good?: Drab, it’s just drab. A film like this which was pegged as “The Picture of the Generation” I think only just tread water to that title by shoving every significant event in the first 3 decades of the 20th century. It does so with a dry wit, almost to the point where it isn’t witty at all and instead pompous. Very Victorian British with that humor and that doesn’t work here. As I watched it you can’t help but like the precision with which the film was executed. From the lighting to the framing it’s beautiful, and a beautiful looking picture will always have a crowd even if the substance is completely hollow. That has never been more true than in the contemporary sense, but that’s an argument for another day.

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

Competition: Yeah there was some darn good films nominated this year. You have the quintessential Hollywood musical from this time (42nd Street), the classic war epic (A Farewell to Arms), a very funny comedy (She Done Him Wrong), and an Oscar turn from Charles Laughton as Henry the VIII in the dramatic period piece The Private Life of Henry VIII any of these great films would’ve been more deserving of the golden statue, more so then the film that won. For those interested She Done Him Wrong is available on streaming somewhere right now…basically, go watch it!

Our next film is a romantic comedy that set the bar so high it’s been rarely met for the genre, even though its trope have been carbon copied throughout time! It also holds a unique record. If you’re interested to find out what that is than stay tuned and remember I Love You!