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The Crowd

Play trailer Poster for The Crowd 1928 1h 44m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Young John Sims (James Murray) weathers the death of his father and travels to New York City in search of success. Instead, he becomes a low-level worker in an enormous office of a nameless corporation. After he meets a beautiful young woman (Eleanor Boardman), things seem to be looking up, but before long the newlyweds are sullen and bickering, and the arrival of their children leaves John feeling trapped in a dead-end existence. Then tragedy strikes, causing him to reassess his life.
The Crowd

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Critics Consensus

King Vidor's dynamic direction brings expressionist style to the American Dream in The Crowd, a powerfully humanist picture about the struggle for self-actualization.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker Vidor, playing to that crowd, sternly warns against going it alone. Dec 15, 2014 Full Review Alonso Duralde Linoleum Knife The Crowd is a masterpiece - moving, funny, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful. It's a must for anyone interested in the roots of moviemaking, and it's a good choice to show to someone who thinks they wouldn't like silent films. Sep 11, 2013 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 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. Feb 26, 2013 Full Review Robert E. Sherwood LIFE King Vidor has made a gallant attempt to achieve a masterpiece in The Crowd, and even though it doesn't quite come off, the effort is sufficient in itself to earn a vast amount of credit. For directors with Mr. Vidor's courage are rare in Hollywood. Oct 7, 2021 Full Review Allen Eyles Radio Times In this powerful silent drama from director King Vidor, James Murray gives a superlative performance as an idealistic young man trapped in a dead-end job whose ambitions are dogged by tragedy. Aug 12, 2014 Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy A truly great work of art: a one-of-a-kind blend of domestic drama and a depiction of urban geometry. Rated: 10/10 May 9, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Connor S Before there was Ordinary People, Blue Valentine, Marriage Story, etc., there was The Crowd, a wonderfully done story about everyday life with camerawork and cinematography ahead of its time. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/01/24 Full Review Zachary V A tough watch. Like my viewing of "Greed", it was interesting to watch a silent drama, since so many of the silent films that remain of interest to modern audiences tend toward the visually fantastic - comedy, science fiction, horror, action. A nuanced portrayal of family life without heroes or villains, I found it interesting that King Vidor chose not to hit the audience over the head with intertitles and instead allow visual expression and even lip-reading to help tell the story. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/24 Full Review Leaburn O This film is average 🤏 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/23/23 Full Review Mark A A silent film that feels modern. Great story, acting and directing. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/16/22 Full Review Audience Member A modest financial and critical success upon it's initial release it was substanstial and worthy and a powerful analysis of a young couple's struggle for existence in the city. Hailed as one of the greatest silent films, it is about ordinary people. It had been released just as the Great Depression hit and audiences had sought escapist entertainment over realism. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review william d The direction and camera techniques were clearly ahead or their time. Unfortunately, the story was not. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Crowd

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Cast & Crew

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King Vidor

Director

Eleanor Boardman

Mary

James Murray

John

Bert Roach

Bert

Estelle Clark

Jane

Daniel G. Tomlinson

Jim

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The Crowd

The Crowd (1928) The Crowd (1928) The Crowd (1928) The Crowd (1928) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Young John Sims (James Murray) weathers the death of his father and travels to New York City in search of success. Instead, he becomes a low-level worker in an enormous office of a nameless corporation. After he meets a beautiful young woman (Eleanor Boardman), things seem to be looking up, but before long the newlyweds are sullen and bickering, and the arrival of their children leaves John feeling trapped in a dead-end existence. Then tragedy strikes, causing him to reassess his life.
Director
King Vidor
Producer
Irving Thalberg
Screenwriter
King Vidor, John V.A. Weaver, Harry Behn
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Drama
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 18, 1928, Wide
Runtime
1h 44m