The Crowd: A dark shadow over the American Dream (Movie Discussion)
Details
The Crowd is a 1928 American silent romance film directed by King Vidor and starring James Murray, Eleanor Boardman and Bert Roach. The feature film was nominated at the very first Academy Award presentation in 1929, for several awards, including Unique and Artistic Production for MGM and Best Director for Vidor. It was also one of the first films to be included in the National Film Registry, which recognizes films that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
"The Crowd" is considered a great movie because of its realistic portrayal of everyday life, innovative filmmaking techniques, emotionally impactful storytelling, technical achievements, and historical significance. The film has influenced generations of filmmakers and remains a powerful and relevant piece of cinema.
The film portrays the struggles and hardships of everyday life in a realistic and honest way. It depicts the challenges that John and his family face as they try to make ends meet in a big city, which resonated with audiences at the time and still feels relevant today.
King Vidor used innovative filmmaking techniques to tell his story, such as tracking shots to follow characters through the city streets and using montage to show the passage of time. "The Crowd" was a technical achievement for its time, featuring impressive set design, lighting, and camera work. The film's depiction of New York City was particularly impressive, with scenes shot on location that gave viewers a sense of the city's energy and scale. The film's use of visual storytelling was groundbreaking and influenced many filmmakers that came after.
The film's narrative structure and pacing build up to an emotionally impactful climax that leaves a lasting impression on viewers. The film explores themes of the American dream, family, and the struggles of everyday life in a way that is both relatable and poignant.
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King Vidor made a visually striking, influential feature about ordinary people and their anonymous, impersonal lives in the Big City. (Emmanuel Levy)
The camera style owes something to Murnau, but the sense of space -- the vast environments that define and attack his protagonists -- is Vidor's own. (Dave Kehr)
This is King Vidor's silent masterpiece, in which he turns a cynical eye towards the embodiment of the American Dream. (Film4)
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You can watch the movie here:
https://archive.org/details/lafoulethecrowd1927kingvidorvosttcm
Please watch in advance.
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