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THE CROWD

1928

King Vidor

The Crowd

SYNOPSIS

John Sims arrives in New York City convinced he is destined for greatness, only to become just another face in a sea of office desks. King Vidor’s poignant drama follows his marriage, tragedies, and the slow erosion of his dreams against the indifference of the modern metropolis. Moving from optimism to crushing reality, it offers a universal look at the struggle for individuality, closing with a powerful shot that swallows the hero back into the mob

CRITIQUE

King Vidor’s The Crowd is a devastating critique of the American Dream. It broke from Hollywood optimism to depict the crushing anonymity of modern life. Using expressionistic techniques—like the famous camera track across a sea of desks—it visualized the loss of individuality. It was daringly realistic, showing a protagonist who fails, struggles, and ultimately disappears into the mob. It influenced Italian Neorealism and remains a poignant study of the ordinary man, offering a sobering counter-narrative to the Roaring Twenties’ celebration of success.

SCREENING AVAILABILITY

  • Theatrical screenings

  • Non-theatrical screenings

  • Festivals and cinematheques

  • Educational screenings

  • Television broadcasting

  • Digital platforms and streaming

  • Promotional and editorial use

  • Licensing of graphic and visual materials

AVAILABLE FORMATS

  • DCP

  • DCP with subtitles

  • Apple ProRes

  • MP4 Screening File

  • MP4 Rehearsal Copy for Musicians (silent films)

  • Blu-ray

  • High-resolution archival masters

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

  • Posters

  • Press stills

  • Promotional assets

  • Screening support materials

AVAILABLE SUBTITLES

  • English

  • Spanish

  • French

  • Portuguese

  • Italian

  • German

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