I own this movie because it came along in a cheap box set of 20th Century Fox films with How to Steal a Million, the film I actually wanted to buy.
Hollywood Cavalcade was made barely a decade after the birth of talkies, but fully leans into nostalgia for the era of silent films. The story begins when aspiring movie maker Mike Conners (Don Ameche) discovers an understudy Broadway actress, Molly (Alice Faye), and brings her back to Hollywood with him. They make several smash hit silent pictures, due to the winning combination of her beauty and talent with his creativity and vision.
A good portion of the film is devoted to showing the audience the making of various types of silent movies. Buster Keaton appears as himself, Alice Faye takes many a custard pie to the face, and the Keystone Cops demonstrate their shenanigans too.
In the middle of their tremendous success, Mike dives deeper and deeper into writing, directing, and producing films and neglects Molly in the process. He never acknowledges any feeling for her beyond friendship, and eventually she falls in love and marries her leading man, Nicky. This sends Mike into a downward spiral and the remaining half of the movie focuses on his redemption, the introduction of sound in movies, and the inevitable reunion of Molly and Mike.
I can’t say I adore the story or even the stars very much, but Ameche and Faye both give moving, excellent performances. Between their talent and the beautiful 1930s Technicolor, Hollywood Cavalcade is worth at least one watch if you’re interested in classic films.
— Emmeline
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