Reviews (11)

No virtuous woman for Ingrid Bergman this time around
Ingrid Bergman plays Clio Dulaine, the half-Creole illegitimate daughter of a new Orleans aristocrat, who returns to the Crescent City from Paris after her mother's death to revenge herself on her father's family. While she succeeds in humiliating the Dulaines, she flirts with Texas gambler, Colonel Clint Marron (Gary Cooper). He is not thrilled by her need for revenge and heads off to Saratoga Springs. Clio eventually shows up, pretending to be a French noblewoman in an attempt to get a rich husband, setting her sights on railroad tycoon Bart Van Steed (John Warburton). But we all know who is really the right guy for her. Bergman, a brunette for this film, certainly finds the sexy Clio to be a nice change of pace from the nuns and cool refugees from the continent she had been playing of late. Unfortunately, the melodrama offers nothing new and Bergman ends up with Gary Cooper because, well, he is Gary Cooper; a bit roguish, but still a pillar of strength and virtue. All the sparks are on her side of the equation. "Saratoga Trunks" is based on a novel by Edna Ferber. Flora Robson received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for role as Angelique, Clio's attendant, in this 1945 film was directed by Sam Wood.

wonderful period movie!
fabulous adaption of edna ferber's nove...set in tun-of-the-century new orleans. ingrid bergman is luminous as clio dulaine and the costumes are ravishing!Supporting actors wonderful and Gary Cooper is perfect as clint. A must-see!

Character actress saves the day!
While I concur that English actress Flora Robson playing a "mulatto" is stretching things a bit, her studied performance, as well set decorations, is the only reason that this Cooper/Bergman vehicle is tolerable.

Robson had an extremely long career on the stage and in film, comparable to contemporary Dame Judith Anderson. By portraying the role of Bergman's maid, she joined a rather short list, including Lord Olivier ("Othello") and Ava Gardner ("Showboat"), of white actors "passing" as black.

Hey, it was the norm, back in the day. "Saratoga Trunk" was no different from most era westerns or historical dramas in the practice of white actors portraying persons of color.

Very Entertaining
This movie is fun and entertaining, with Ingrid Bergman giving a wonderful performance as Clio, showing just how talented and versatile she is. Gary Cooper is also good in a very typical Cooper role as a Texas cowboy. The movie has some very witty and sparkling dialogue, with Bergman having some of the best lines, and the best scenes are between her and Cooper. A must-see for Bergman fans.

Ingrid, Gary and Max Steiners Love Theme
Ingrid is more beautiful than ever; Gary is perfect as "that Texas" out for revenge and fortune by hook or crook. As Clio and "Cleent", in her restored French Quarter house, when they stroll in her small garden and the lovely Steiner love theme plays, it is a romantics dream. ...if you love beautiful costumns, sets, and the romantic films from the golden era, you will like this movie.
When the little lawyer sent by her fathers aristocratic family comes to her house to buy her off and get her out of town, she bests him in the negotiations. A Magic Movie Moment comes when he looks at her with a small smile and says "may I say - you are very -- beautiful?" And she says with a beautiful, wicked smile "Yes, isn't it lucky?" You want to say YES!! You go girl!
Florence Bates as the grand dame in Saratoga steals every scene she is in. Jerry Austin as the dwarf "Pepito" jack-of-all-trades, is fun and I think brings dignity to the role. Flora Robson is quite good as the maid/companion and received an academy award nomination.
But it is the romantic French Quarter, the wide veranda at the Saratoga hotel, with all the old biddies rocking and gossiping; and Clio and Clint, two rogues, and their love story that make this so much fun to watch. Just relax and enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Memorable But Stylistically Dated
CAVALCADE is an extremely good example of films made in the first few years following the advent of sound, an era in which actors, directors, writers, and cinematographers struggled to find a new style that could comfortably accomodate the new technology. During this period, many actors and writers were drawn from the stage--only to discover that what seems real and natural in the theatre seems heavily mannered on screen.

This is certainly the case with CAVALCADE. The film presents the story of two London families whose lives intertwine between 1900 and 1933. The film begins with the upperclass Marryot family and their servants, Mr. and Mrs. Bridges, facing the Boer War--and then through a series of montages and montage-like scenes follows the fortunes of the two families as they confront changing codes of manners and social class and various historic events ranging from the sinking of the Titanic to World War I.

From a modern standpoint, the really big problem with the film is the script. CAVALCADE was written for the stage by Noel Coward, who was one of the great comic authors of the 20th Century stage--but the sparkling edge that seems so flawless in his comic works acquires a distastefully "precious" quality when applied to drama. Although the play was a great success in its day, it has never been revived, and the dialogue of the film version leaves one in little doubt of why: it feels ridiculously artificial, and that quality is emphasized by the "grand manner" of the cast.

That said, the cast--in spite of the dialogue and their stylistically dated performances--is quite good. This is particularly true of the two leading ladies, Diana Wynyard and Una O'Connor (best known for her appearances in THE INVISIBLE MAN and THE BRIDE OF FRANKESTEIN), both of whom have memorable screen presences that linger in mind long after the film ends. The material is also quite interesting and startlingly modern; although it is more covert than such films as ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, CAVALCADE has a decidedly anti-war slant, and the characters in the film worry about where technology (which has produced such horrors as chemical warfare by World War I) will take them in the future.

I enjoyed the film. At the same time, I would be very hesitant to recommend it to any one that was not already interested in films of the early 1930s, for I think most contemporary viewers would have great difficulty adjusting to the tremendous difference in style. The VHS (the film is not yet available on DVD) has some problem with visual elements and a more significant problem with audio elements, but these are not consistent issues. Recommended--but with the warning that if you don't already like pre-code early "talkies" you will likely be disappointed.

A world long lost, twice removed from our own...
Noel Coward's homage to the bygone era of Edwardian England. A long and somewhat lumpy script tracks one upper-upper class family's trials through 1899-1933, as their paths intersect the Boer War, WWI, and the Titanic... Oddly enough, considering Coward's bon vivant temprament, the movie seems to condemn the libertine sensibilities of the Jazz Era (great glimpses of the action, though, including a gay couple exchanging gifts in a nightclub...) and exalts the more traditional English reserve. An interesting film, although in retrospect WWII loomed large in the background...

Cavalcade a historical timepiece
The most important thing to keep in mind with this film is the fact that it was made in 1933. It is an excellent film for capturing the mood of the English people at this time. It seems to be almost a tribute to English perseverance and a wake up call for a society that is spiraling into decadence and immorality. (ie Wake up - life is brief and may be over in an instant) I loved the symbolism in this movie, the horses portraying time marching on, the image of Jesus hanging on the cross as the troops march off to "sacrifice" themselves. The cross on the top of the church that symbolized faith and eternity. You really need to look under the surface to appreciate this film. As a timepiece, and a wakeup call that went unheralded, I give it four stars.

AN UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS LACKLUSTER FILM...
It is difficult to believe that this film won the 1933 Academy Award for Best Picture of the Year. It is a somewhat dull, tedious affair, based upon a Noel Coward play of some popularity. The screenplay by Reginald Berkeley evidently lost something in the adaptation, as it has little to commend it.

The movie chronicles a span of over three decades through the lives of two British families, one upstairs, the other, downstairs. The upstairs family, the Marryots, and their maid and butler, the dowstairs Bridges family, undergo tremendous changes as world events spin out of control, impacting on them in unimaginable ways.

The movie begins with the ringing in of the twentieth century. Both families, employer and employee, welcome in the New Year together and toast each other, little knowing the changes that the twentieth century will bring each one of them. As time goes on, the relationship between the two families begins to change, as class distinctions begin to erode. A montage of historical world events, the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, World War I, and the jazz age continue to shape and mold them in a pastiche of human drama.

While it sound like it could be interesting, it is not particularly so. One never really gets to know any of the characters nor care about them. While it is a highly stylistic film, it is one that has not aged very well as a storytelling vehicle. It is just not that interesting a film, though it is highly atmospheric and would, therefore, be of some interest to nostalgia buffs and those who love vintage films.

Good But Not Great
"Cavalcade" directed by Frank Lloyd is probably best known (to those who have actually heard of it) as one of the most forgettable Oscar winners ever! It's a sad fact but true. Diana Wynyard stars as Jane Marryot. The Marryot's are an upper class English family, and are struggling with the same problems people of every class are struggling with. Like the Bridges whom happen to be their servents, they are played by Herbert Mumdin (Alfred Bridges) and Una O' Conners (Ellen Bridges). Originally a play by Noel Coward, the screenplay by Reginald Berkeley doesn't provide us with an interesting portrait inside both families. For example, we don't even know how long each couple has been together. We don't know how old they are, we don't know how old their childern are. We don't know how the Marryot family came into wealth. It's simple things like this we would like to know. But, I must admit at times we do feel for these people. Certain sad events take place, and we found ourselves actually caring and getting caught into the movie. But, not enough of these moments happen where I would dare give this film a 4 or 5 star rating. Even though I didn't care for the screenplay very much, there are highpoints to the film. I liked the acting by Diana Wynyard (She was nominated for an award) and her husband Clive Brook (Robert Marryot). The directing by Lloyd was good also. And, one of my favorite moments in the film Ursula Jean (Fanny Bridges) singing "20th Century Blues". One of my favorite Coward songs. The reviwer below me mentioned Coward's "In Which We Serve" that movie was a better film. We cared for the characters in that film more than we do in this film. But, even though many many people would not go for a movie like this today, it's still not a waste of time to watch it. At least give it a try. This movie was nominated for 4 Oscars, it won three; "Best Picture", "Best Director", and "Art Direction". It's not great but does prove to be entertaining. ... Read more