The Crowd an influential and acclaimed American film released in 1928, and nominated for the Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production that same year. King Wallis Vidor (February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director. ... Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899 - September 14, 1936) was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. ... King Wallis Vidor (February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director. ... Eleanor Boardman (August 19, 1898 - December 12, 1991) was an American film actress, popular during the era of silent movies. ... James Murray may refer to: James Murray, a British military officer and governor of Quebec in the 1700s James Murray, a British military officer and Chief of the Imperial General Staff in the 1900s James Murray, a Scottish lexicographer James Murray, lord of the Isle of Man from... February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production has also been known as Best Artistic Quality of Production. It was only awarded during the first year of the Oscars, and may be considered as a redundant variation of Best Picture. ...

Plot overview

The film centers on ambitious but undisciplined New York City office worker John Sims (played by James Murray) who meets and marries Mary (Eleanor Boardman). They start a family, struggle to cope with marital stress, financial setbacks, and tragedy, all while lost amid the anonymous, pitiless throngs of the big city. James Murray (February 9, 1901 - July 11, 1936) was an American movie actor. ... Eleanor Boardman (August 19, 1898 - December 12, 1991) was an American film actress, popular during the era of silent movies. ...

Making of the film

The Crowd mixes striking visual styles and moving camera cinematography (heavily influenced by German films) with intense, intimate scenes of the family's poignant struggle. Director King Vidor avoided casting big-name stars in the film to attain greater authenticity (Murray was a studio extra, and Boardman was Vidor's second wife.) Vidor's great financial success at MGM in the 1920's allowed him to sell the unusual scenario to production head Irving Thalberg as an experimental film. MGM chief Louis B. Mayer reportedly disliked the film for its bleak subject matter and lack of a happy ending. In fact, several alternate upbeat endings were filmed and previewed at the studio's insistence, but Vidor perservered and the film was released with the original, logical conclusion. The Crowd was not a great success upon its initial release, but it has been consistently hailed as one of the greatest and most enduring American silent films. Cinematography literally means writing in the movement, from the French word cinéma, shortened from cinématographe, the term was coined in the 1890s by the Lumiere brothers, who invented the trade. ... King Wallis Vidor (February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899 - September 14, 1936) was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. ... Louis Burt Mayer (July 4, 1882 – October 29, 1957) was an early film producer, generally cited as the creator of the star system within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in its golden years. ...

Influence

Vidor used the John and Mary Sims characters again (with different actors) in his 1934 film Our Daily Bread. He also provided an insightful interview on the making of the film in a segment of the 1980 documentary "Hollywood", by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill. Vidor wrote an unrealized screenplay based on the tragic life of The Crowd lead actor James Murray, who fell on hard times eerily similar to those of the character for which he is remembered. Our Daily Bread is a devotional booklet published by RBC Ministries. ... Kevin Brownlow (2 June 1938–) is a film historian, television documentary-maker, and author born in Crowborough, Sussex. ... James Murray (February 9, 1901 - July 11, 1936) was an American movie actor. ...

Awards and archival information

The Crowd was written by King Vidor and John V.A. Weaver, and Vidor was nominated for Best Director. It was among the very first group of 25 films designated for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Composer Carl Davis created an orchestral score for the film in the early 1980's, and it was released on video in conjunction with MGM and British television Thames Silents series in the late 1980's. King Wallis Vidor (February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director. ... The Academy Award for Directing is an accolade given to the person that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences feels was best director of the past year. ... The National Film Registry is the registry of films selected by the United States National Film Preservation Board for preservation in the Library of Congress. ... Carl Davis (b 1936) is an American conductor and composer who has been living in the UK for the past two decades. ...

External links

• The Crowd at The Internet Movie Database
• An Extensive review of the film
• Historical analysis of the film
• review and article on making of the film