The Crowd

The Crowd an influencial and acclaimed American film released in 1928, and nominated for the Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production that same year.

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.

Related Topics:
Cinematography - King Vidor - MGM - Irving Thalberg - Louis B. Mayer

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