Born in 1900, on the fourth of July, John Sims is encouraged by his father from an early age that he is destined for big things. John's father passes away at an early age but John never forgets his father's words, fully believing he will be "a man of importance". Fast-forward 27 years, Sims lives in New York but things haven't exactly gone to plan. He is a underpaid clerk in a huge New York skyscraper, who still hasn't lost his optimism. On a blind date, John meets Mary, and they quickly fall in love, getting married and raising two children in their tiny New York apartment. While most films elevate their protagonist in an effort to make him/her someone special, King Vidor's The Crowd is an outstanding achievement in that it doesn't sugarcoat life, providing an earnest and realistic portrait of human struggle, full of happiness, sadness, tragedy, and hope. The Crowd captures the ups and downs of life like few films ever could, delivering a profound and emotionally resonant experience. John Sims is a highly relate-able character, a man who desperately wants to be something in his life, unable to realize how truly thankful he should be for what he does have. Sims never feels accomplished in his professional life, leading to trouble in his family life, unable to accept that he is not special. The Crowd is a film arguing that no one is special in the grand scheme of things, capturing how the personal relationships and love you share with family is what makes you feel special. From a artistic standpoint, The Crowd is full of amazing sequences, with the scene where Sims first arrives in New York standing out. Victor shoots this sequence from extremely low points of view, capturing the daunting skyscrapers that tower over our main protagonist, illustrating how insignificant he truly is in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps the final sequence of the The Crowd sums up the film perfectly, with Sims and his wife in a theater, enjoying ones company. The camera slowly pulls back, further and further, reminding the viewer that he is just another face in the crowd.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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