The Crowd (1928)

I recently watched this movie and was impressed. Here's my review.

The Crowd (1928). A classic silent film from director King Vidor. Reportedly, Vidor took a chance on a young unknown actor, James Murray, to play the lead opposite Eleanor Boardman. Apparently, he succeeded because Murray is excellent. The story is about a young couple and the incredible hard luck that befalls them once they are married.

Murray comes to the big city, New York, in the early Twenties hoping someone will 'give him an opportunity'. He gets a job in an insurance company. We are shown this in one of the most famous scenes in silent film history. First a montage of actual street scenes (Vidor hid cameras all over the City)--cars driving, people hurrying to work, then the camera moves to a tall skyscraper where it then begins a slow, dizzying climb up the walls till it stops at a single window, then enters the window where we then see a sea of desks where anonymous clerks work--the camera slowly zeroes in on one desk where John Sims 137 (Murray) works. A truly classic shot, emphasizing the little man, lost in The Crowd. Later, Murray is determined to succeed. He works hard, studies at night and doesn't go out. But one day after work his buddy, a rotund, fun loving fellow played by Bert Roach, cajoles him into going out with 'two wrens who are all dated up", e.g., two women ready for a date. Murray goes and hits it off with Boardman immediately. They go to Coney Island where we are treated to some truly vintage shots of the rides and attractions. Murray asks her to marry him, she agrees.

There is then some very funny and endearing scenes of the newlyweds on a train (where they share a cramped bed for the first time) and Niagra Falls (of course) where Murray declares that Boardman is the most beautiful woman in the world and he will love her for all time. Then, we are taken to their new flat, a small three room place with fold up bed and the roaring El train outside. But Murray is happy, strumming on his ukelele and singing, while Boardman cooks a big meal for her mother and successful brothers who are coming over for dinner. Everything is great--then the stern mother and arrogant brothers arrive. Murray is told to kiss 'mom' on the cheek, we get a very foreboding shot of the mother, glaring and tilting her head to be kissed, and Murray, unwilling to say the least, obliging...Later, they find they have no booze on hand so Murray goes out to find some (it's Prohibition). He can't find any, so he goes to his old pal Bert Roach's place where Roach is partying with two women. Murray gets drunk and doesn't come home to his wife and her family that night till very late. But, 'she understands him' and forgives.

Murray starts to become unhappy with his job, he is not getting anywhere and now his idyllic marriage shows cracks. He's not so happy with the El train roaring by the window, his wife seems to be forgetting to keep up the repairs on the flat and doesn't keep her hair nice everyday. They argue, he storms out, shouting that 'marriage isn't a word, it's a sentence!' But Boardman is pregnant, they make up and it appears 'all is roses' again. There is a classic scene at the hospital where Murray can't find his wife who just had the baby. He's frantic, but the doctors assures him that 'we have never lost a husband yet!'

Five years later, the happy family has two children, a boy and a girl. Then, finally, they win $500 when Murray wins a contest by submitting a catchy ad slogan. They are elated. Murray comes racing home with lots of presents. They open them and are dancing around the room celebrating. Murray notices the kids aren't there. He runs to the windows, sees them across the street and hollers for them to come and see all the new presents. They run across the street...but the little girl is hit by a speeding truck!! After a long, terrible night of waiting (where several classic Vidor scenes show the plight of the distraught parents and in particular, Murray's attempts to keep everyone quiet so the little girl can recover), she dies and they are hysterical with sorrow.

Murray goes back to work, but he can't concentrate, he sees the scene re-enacted in his mind over and over again (it is superimposed over his foreheard while numbers circle around the accident--the numbers he has to add in his ledger). Suddenly, he quits his job. His wife 'understands' and sticks by his side. She bravely carries on. But Murray becomes profligate and lazy. He can't succeed at any job. She is forced to sew dresses to make money. He gives up. The arrogant brothers come and offer him a job, he refuses, he can't take 'a charity job'. Boardman explodes, throws him out and claims it is all over. We see Murray, ruined and depressed, walking over a bridge where he climbs the sides and is ready to throw himself on a passing train underneath. But he changes his mind. His young son sees him and runs to him, asking him what's wrong. Murray doesn't answer. 'Doesn't mommy like you' the boy asks. 'No', says Murray. 'Well, I like you. I want to be just like you when I grow up!' says Murray's son. This energizes Murray. He decides to find a job--but the only thing he can find is a job as a clown juggler with a sign over him advertising a product. This is the same clown he made fun of when he and Boardman were on the way to Coney Island long ago. He said of the clown at that time, 'What a sap, I bet his mother thought he would be President someday!'. Now, he is in the same position. But he perseveres. He comes back to Boardman, asking for forgiveness, a few cents in his hand from the clown job. After much indecision--the brothers are there to take her away, she gives in. They play an old Victor record with their favorite song. They dance, just like the old times. They try to recapture what they had, what they loved about each other--and it works.

This movie is wonderfully filmed. One of the last great silents with active cameras, superb, subtle acting (not the wide-eyed kind of earlier silents), and astonishing editing ideas. In addition, it's pre Hayes, so we see some scenes that would not be shown a few years later in talkies. Vidor offers a rare and unusual look at the American Dream in the Twenties. This movie is a treat. I give it 4.5 stars.

Robyn Hode draws Garry Kasparov!

So I'm minding my own business, reading the paper when who knocks at the door? Garry Kasparov! He "misses" chess, he claims. "Hah!" I say, "you shouldn't have quit then." But he begins to badger me, "C'mon RH, let's play a game, da?" Unable to think of an excuse, I reluctantly agree. So anyway, to make a long story short, I drew him! Ho hum...Here's the game:

RH (W) vs Garry Kasparov (B)

1 e4 e5 2 d4 ("let's take the patzer out of a prepared variation" I think) exd4 (as Garry mutters under his breath, "ack, the center game, he thinks he's Morozovich!") 3 c3!? ("feel like a Danish with your breakfast Garry?" I taunt him) dxc3 (gritting his teeth, Gary accepts the challenge declining the sedate 3...d5) 4 Bc4 ("another, mon ami...to make your sore head feel better?" I ask him, none too subtely) 4...cxb2 ("da!" he barks) 5 Bxb2 (And now Garry starts to sweat! He can't remember the lines, he's so used to playing Sicilians! First he reaches for his Queen, almost touching it..."Hey Garry, remember when you touched that piece against Judit and....". "Nyet! I did not touch it!" he hotly interupts and then quickly grabs the bishop...) Bb4+ ("Patzer sees check, patzer...want to finish it for me Gar?") 6 Kf1 (Garry has now reached a boiling point, he asks to go to his car for a minute. Knowing his laptop, with Chessbase 9, awaits him, I say "Garry, stay and play, finish the game, or are you....afraid?" Thouroughly unraveled by now, he quickly retreats the bishop) Bf8 (And I say to myself, "It's been a long couple weeks for poor Garry, he loses his last game to Topalov, retires from chess, decides to go into politics, gets wacked on the head with a chess set by a Putin crony. Ah, I'll let him off easy and go for the perpetual. No need to rub it in!") 7 Bxf7+! Kxf7 8 Qh5+ Ke7 9 Qe5+ Kf7 10 Qh5+ Ke7 11 Qe5+ Kf7 12 Qh5+ draw

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

I posted this rather satirical biography of the Six Wives of Henry VIII on GoldToken.com. I think it may offer a few smiles here:

Katherine of Aragon, wifey #1, was the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella. She married Henry's older brother, Prince Arthur, who died quickly thereafter without consummating the marraige (so says the pious Katherine). Henry's dad decides he likes the relationship between England and Spain, decides he wants Henry to marry Katherine, who is delighted since she was facing many years of lonely widowhood. The marriage is annulled by Bull of Dispensation of Pope Julius. Henry marries her, dad kicks the bucket, Henry becomes head honcho of Merry Ole England. Katherine then gives birth to Mary I, who will become 'Bloody Mary' and burn 300 Protestants at the stake. Big problem arises though, after several attemps, Katherine is unable to deliver the all important male heir. Henry grows annoyed, not a good thing. His eye wanders to Katherine's fiery-eyed and alluring lady, Anne Boleyn.

Anne Boleyn, wifey #2, spent 7 years at the court of Francis I of France. Let's just say she learned a few things. She comes back to England, gets a job with Queen Katherine and draws the attention of Henry. Knowing what happened with her older sister Mary Boleyn and Henry, she decides to lead the big guy on with promises of future happiness, claiming she will not give up her viriginity till she is married. Henry is hooked like a salmon. But he must find a way to divorce Katherine and that won't be easy. Katherine refuses. Finally, after asking the Pope for help--Pope Clement dallies for 7 years (Katherine is aunt to Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and he has the Pope in his control), he gives up and decides he's going to be head of the Church of England and not listen to Pope Clement anymore. He orders his government to declare his marriage invalid because, in fact, Katherine was brother Art's wife and that places him too close to her to marry (Laws of Affinity and scripture of Leviticus that says a man may not take his brother's wife in marriage. He's saying Pope Julius was wrong to issue the Dispensation. Anyway, he gets divorced, marries Anne, who is then 31. They have a daugther too, Elizabeth I, who will grow up to be one of the greatest monarchs in English history. But...Anne cannot give Henry a son either, some miscarraiges, stillbirths, but no son. In addition, she's got a sharp tongue and while Henry liked this when he was courting her, he doesn't like it now as hubby. He likes to be in charge with no questions asked. He has his boys trump up some bogus charges of adultery and treason and has Anne's head chopped off.

Jane Seymour, wifey #3, is, surprise, in the service of Anne Boleyn. Henry sees her after tiring of Anne and sets his sights on this young woman. Jane is very sweet and demure, but she's not that innocent. She uses tactics similar to Anne Boleyn's to snare Henry. They marry and lo and behold, Jane has a son, Edward VI--but she dies in childbirth of an infection and Henry is on the lookout again.

Anne of Cleves, wifey #4, is the eldest daughter of the German Duke of Cleves. Not too many woman are willing to marry Henry now. One aristocratic lady said she would marry Henry if she had two necks. Discovering Henry prefers "buxom" women, another says that although she is buxom she has a small neck, she also declines. Finally Lord Chancellor Cromwell finds Anne of Cleves. He has court painter Hans Holbein paint her so Henry can see what she looks like before he asks her to come all the way to England to marry. Holbein paints a beautiful picture of Anne, Henry sees it and is enraptured. Anne of Cleves comes to England. Henry rushes to Anne but after seeing her declares, "I like her not!" Seems Holbein's painting was a little too good. Anne looks very little like the painting. But Henry is trapped, he marries her, but cannot stand her, claiming that on his wedding night she had 'evil smells'. The marriage is never consummated. So, another divorce! Henry is a kind of miffed with Cromwell too. The Lord Chancellor gets the axe a little while latter for fixing him up with poor Anne.

Katherine Howard, wifey #5, is an empty headed 15 year old in Anne of Cleves' household. Henry, in his late 40s, is suffering from a mid-life crises. He falls for young Katherine Howard (there are lots of Katherines, Marys and Elizabeths in 16 th century England) and marries her. Old Henry is reborn, fabulously in love with Katherine. Unfortunately, Katherine has a 'past'. It's brought to the attention of Henry's advisors that she has had relations with other men before and possibly after their marriage. Uh oh. Henry is shocked and surprisingly, breaks down in tears and mopes around for awhile. He recovers somewhat, but is never the same. He has aged tremdously after this news. His pride is crushed. He has poor Katherine arrested for adultery and of course, that old standby, treason. She is beheaded.

Katherine Parr, wifey #6, is a devout, pious woman, twice married. Henry is old now, he weighs over 300 lbs (6'3") and smells kind of bad from an open wound on his leg that won't heel. He marries her, they have no children. But he dies from a blood clot at 55 and she survives. Katherine marries Thomas Seymour, uncle of wifey #3 Jane, gives birth, but dies, like Jane, in childbirth of an infection. She and Jane were Henry's favorites.