Cavalcade 1933

As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, 1899, the opulent London townhouse of the Marryots and Bridges is abuzz with anticipation. Amidst the lavish decorations and merriment, upper-crust couple Jane (Diana Wynyard) and Robert Marryot (Clive Brook) share a poignant toast to the new century, their optimism tempered by the looming departure of Robert to serve as an officer in the Second Boer War. The war effort is also reflected in the lives of their loyal servants, Alfred Bridges (Herbert Mundin) and his wife Ellen (Una O’Connor), who are facing the uncertainty of Alfred’s potential injury or worse while serving as a private in the City of London Imperial Volunteers.

As the year turns, Jane and Ellen bid tearful farewells to their husbands, both embarking on the same journey. During Robert’s prolonged absence, Jane finds solace in the companionship of her friend Margaret Harris (Irene Browne), who joins her at an operetta where they celebrate the relief of Mafeking. Meanwhile, back home, Alfred and Ellen anxiously await news from the front.

Fast-forward to 1908, and the Bridges’ once-harmonious life has taken a drastic turn. A combination of war trauma and financial struggles have ravaged Alfred’s spirits, reducing him to an unkempt shell of his former self. His wife Ellen and their young daughter Fanny (Bonita Granville) are mortified by Alfred’s behavior, which includes squandering the family’s rent money on drink.

In a desperate attempt to salvage what remains of their dignity, Ellen concocts a plan to host Jane and her son Edward (John Warburton), now studying at the University of Oxford, for an evening of social niceties. She carefully conceals Alfred’s true condition from Jane, fabricating a leg injury to keep him away from the gathering. But fate has other plans.

As Jane prepares to depart, Alfred suddenly appears, his inebriated state and caustic demeanor ruining the evening. Fanny, devastated by her father’s actions, flees into the night. In a poignant irony, Alfred gives chase, only to be tragically struck down by a horse-drawn fire engine, his life cut short in a cruel twist of fate.

As the summer sun sets over the seaside resort on July 25, 1909, Ellen and Fanny find themselves in the midst of a chance encounter with the Marryots. The sisters’ fortunes have taken a significant turn, with Ellen now the proud owner of the local pub, its profits allowing them to live a life filled with music, dance, and laughter. Meanwhile, Edward has rekindled his childhood romance with Edith Harris (Margaret Lindsay), their love blossoming like the vibrant flowers that dot the English countryside. As fate would have it, the family bears witness to a momentous occasion - Louis Blériot’s historic flight across the English Channel, a feat that will be etched in the annals of history.

Fast-forward to April 1912, and Edward and Edith are exchanging vows aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic, their honeymoon a luxurious celebration of their love. Though their fate is sealed beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, it remains a whispered secret for now.

As the world hurtles towards global conflict, Robert and Joe Marryot (Frank Lawton), Edward’s younger brother, enlist as officers, convinced that the war will be a brief and glorious one. However, as the trenches stretch across Europe and Zeppelins darken the skies above London, Joe finds himself on leave, reuniting with Fanny (Ursula Jeans) in a smoky nightclub. The memories of their childhood come flooding back as they bond over a Zeppelin air raid on the city’s rooftops. Fanny has blossomed into a star performer, her voice and charm captivating audiences. Joe and Fanny’s connection deepens, but she remains hesitant to accept his proposal due to their differing social stations.

As armistice is announced in November 1918, Ellen discovers her son’s illicit affair with Fanny and demands that he marry her upon his return. Jane Marryot, however, refuses to meddle in her son’s personal life, despite Ellen’s protests. The news of Joe’s death in battle, delivered via telegram, sends Ellen reeling, leaving her a grief-stricken shadow of her former self.

The years that follow bring further chaos and upheaval as the world struggles to rebuild. Amidst the tumult, Jane walks alone through the celebratory crowds in Trafalgar Square, her heart heavy with sorrow. The film’s narrative comes full circle on New Year’s Day 1933, as Jane and Robert, now weathered by time, raise a midnight toast to their past and future, surrounded by the memories that have shaped them.