Nary a tear-jerking trick is missed (our family loses one son to the Titanic, the other to World War I), and the strangulation is compounded by the staginess since the film.
Cavalcade (1933)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:13
Fresh:8
Rotten:5
Average Rating:6.5/10
Consensus: Though solidly acted and pleasant to look at, Cavalcade lacks cohesion, and sacrifices true emotion for mawkishness.
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Clive Brook and Diana Wynyard star in this turn-of-the-century epic saga adapted from Noël Coward's successful 1931 stage play. This richly nostalgic look at a vanished way of life traces the lives... Clive Brook and Diana Wynyard star in this turn-of-the-century epic saga adapted from Noël Coward's successful 1931 stage play. This richly nostalgic look at a vanished way of life traces the lives of a British family from the late 19th century through 1930. The story follows two English families--the upper-class Marryots and the working-class Bridges--as they confront some of the major political and social events that rock Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Beginning with the Boer War in 1899, in which both the Marryot and the Bridge patriarchs enlist, and moving on to the death of Queen Victoria, the coming of World War I, and the sinking of the Titanic, the families must learn to deal with the death of their loved ones as well as with the constantly changing world around them. In spite of all the tragedy, they continue to to believe in the everlasting glory of their nation and dream of a better future for all. CAVALCADE is a Hollywood golden era blockbuster directed by Frank Lloyd (MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, OLIVER TWIST). [More]
Starring: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook, Herbert Mundin, Ursula Jeans
Starring: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook, Herbert Mundin, Ursula Jeans, Beryl Mercer, Margaret Lindsay, Billy Bevan, Una O'Connor, Frank Lawton, Irene Browne, Merle Tottenham
Director: Frank Lloyd
Director: Frank Lloyd
Screenwriter: Reginald Berkeley
Producer: Winfield Sheehan
Composer: Louis de Francesco
Reviews for Cavalcade
Manipulating the audience's emotions in the best tear-jerking tradition, this lavish production looks and feels great, but if you manage to survive the psychological warfare till the bitter end, you will feel empty and short-changed.
It’s all very stiff-upper-lip stuff, but 70 years after it was made, it still remains a very rousing, moving experience.
Very much a part of our cinema heritage, Cavalcade deserves to be remembered more than it has been.
The first soap opera to win the Best Picture Oscar, Cavalcade, based on Noel Coward's long-running play tells the 30-year saga of a upper-class British family that loses both sons, the older in the Titanic tragedy, the younger in WWI.
A loose collection of unfortunate events strung together to make a feature film sadly lacking a coherent theme.
A creaky tearjerker filled with shrill messages about patriotism and anti-war feelings...
This is the first big film out of the Fox studio since Sheehan's return there and this is a big picture from and on every angle.
For solid acting, inventive cinematography, superb costuming and historic value, this is a great study.
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Cavalcade at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

