Question 1

What tragic irony befell the lead actor of The Crowd years after filming?

Accepted Answer

James Murray, who played John Sims, later became a panhandling alcoholic. Director King Vidor once offered him a role when encountering him on the street, but Murray declined, thinking it was out of pity. He died in 1936 at age 35.

Question 2

How did director King Vidor achieve authentic street scenes in The Crowd?

Accepted Answer

Vidor used hidden cameras on New York City streets with real crowds instead of extras, real buses and trains, and even real traffic cops. In one scene, a police officer actually addressing the crew was incorporated into the film.

Question 3

Why did MGM head Louis B. Mayer despise The Crowd despite its success?

Accepted Answer

Mayer disliked the film's depressing theme and thought it was obscene due to a bathroom scene that featured a toilet.

Question 4

What unique casting approach did King Vidor take for this Everyman story?

Accepted Answer

Vidor deliberately chose not to cast any big-name stars. James Murray was a studio extra he met on the lot, and Eleanor Boardman was a minor MGM contract actress (and Vidor's second wife).

Question 5

What Academy Award distinction does title card writer Joseph Farnham hold?

Accepted Answer

Joseph Farnham won the only Oscar ever given for Best Title Writing in 1928. He died two years later, becoming the first Academy Award winner to die.

The Crowd

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