The Crowd (1928)

Ha! Talk about "Stop the world I want to get off". Well that's how "John" (James Murray) feels for a fair chunk of this intimate observational drama about his relationship with his wife "Mary" (Eleanor Boardman). They meet, fall in love, start a family - all is going great guns until a tragedy strikes the pair. "Mary" proves a little more robust following this fairly gut-wrenching event; he really struggles. He quits his job with an insurance company and spends the next few months in and out of work. It's not that he is lazy, or incapable - it's that he feels useless, worthless and a bit of a burden. He considers that he has failed in one of his fundamental duties and no amount of consoling or family rallying round seems to be able to shake him from this malaise. It's only a walk with their young son (Freddie Burke Frederick) where he considers putting an end to it all that makes him see life a little through the young and adoring boy's eyes. Is it too late to reverse this trend into depression? It might be about the "American" dream, but actually this story could fit for any family starting with little more than a great deal of love and determination, anywhere in the world. It delicately exposes us all to the vagaries of human existence and the stresses and strains we must endure in a world that, most of the time, couldn't care less about any individual. As we frequently see here - there are plenty of others just as needy, determined and willing. Both Murray and Boardman use their expressive faces to convey their feelings of joy and sadness well, and there are a few really quite engaging scenes - especially towards the end - from the youngster. It's not always the cheeriest of films to watch, but it has a striking humanity to it that makes it well worth an hour and an half.