Robert Vaughn onPiano Dispensing with conventional dramatics and star vehicles, KingVidor made this early "message" film about an ordinary man who strugglesto maintain his ego in the heartless city, and who is ultimatelyovercome by the forces of anonymity. James Murray-an extra picked byVidor out of the studio crowd-is featured as John, a store clerk;Eleanor Boardman plays his wife, Mary. Together they combat the bigcity's infinite little conspiracies against humanity, and nourish eachother's belief in "luck" until the death of one of their childrenshatters their spirit, making them vulnerable to the ravages of thecrowd. The Crowd is one of the most important films of the silent era;its visual innovations still astonish viewers, and the relevance of itstheme has only increased over the years. Vidor's combination ofdocumentary-style footage (shot at New York locations from Coney Islandto Niagara Falls) with stylized imagery has prompted comparisons withboth Italian neorealism and German expressionism. Vidor was forced tocreate several alternate endings (and then was accused of irresolution);but the hopeful one finally attached does not detract from thesinglemindedness of Vidor's vision in this intimate yet powerful film.