6. Cavalcade (1933)

Director: Frank Lloyd

Starring: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook

Other Oscar Wins: Best Director, Best Art Direction

Other Oscar Nominations: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Diana Wynyard)

Favourite Line: "A great adventure, Robert. Anxious sometimes, and sad. Sometimes, unbelievably happy. And thank God, never dull or sordid."

A scene from Cavalcade.

Cavalcade is the story of a well to do British family at the turn of the century, beginning with New Years Eve 1900, up to New Years Eve of 1933, which was the present at the time of the film's release. The family has sees their share of hardships, from father fighting in the Boer War, to the eldest son and his wife drowning with the Titanic, to the youngest son, Joe, falling vicim to the Great War. Based on the play by Noel Coward, Cavalcade  is a beautiful and touching film with an immense scale. I found it to be very well done.

The costuming and set decoration in this film was exceptionally outstanding to me, and it is no wonder it won the Oscar for Best Art Direction. The costume department would have had an absolutely massive undertaking, having to clothe not only the lead actors but also many, many extras in 33 years worth of styles, and those 33 years had so much variety in fashion. Visually, the whole film was stunning.

Art by Olly Moss.

I was also very impressed by all of the actors in this film, so much so that I can't single any of them out. This is likely due to the sheer brilliance of the script. Mind you, as someone who studies Theatre at a post-secondary level, I am a little biased in Noel Coward's favour. Two particular moments in the film that were exceptional to me, however, were firstly, the Twentieth Century Blues song, sung by the character of Fanny near the end of the film. It was so simple, and yet so profound. After all that has happened, it just seemed the perfect finish, summing up the whole story. The other moment I loved was Edward and Edith's honeymoon. Before the scene even begins, the date is shown on the screen. A day we know to be the sinking of the Titanic. Then we see Edward and Edith on a ship, and so the viewer is already uneasy. Then they begin to talk about death and how they would be comfortable to die now while they are happy and before they fall out of love with each other. At the very end of the scene it is revealed that the ship is indeed the Titanic, which causes the scene to be so incredibly sad, and yet bittersweet in a way, because of the conversation just before. It's heartbreaking and so brilliantly done.

Cavalcade  is a wonderful film and quite deserving of it's Oscar, despite it being widely unknown. It is worth searching out and seeing.