Vidor, playing to that crowd, sternly warns against going it alone.

The Crowd is a masterpiece - moving, funny, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful. It's a must for anyone interested in the roots of moviemaking, and it's a good choice to show to someone who thinks they wouldn't like silent films.

The camera style owes something to Murnau, but the sense of space -- the vast environments that define and attack his protagonists -- is Vidor's own.

King Vidor has made a gallant attempt to achieve a masterpiece in The Crowd, and even though it doesn't quite come off, the effort is sufficient in itself to earn a vast amount of credit. For directors with Mr. Vidor's courage are rare in Hollywood.