In 1825, two families, cotton merchants in England and America, with branches in France and Prussia swear to stand by each other in a belief that a great business firmly established in four countries will be able to withstand even such another calamity as the Napoleonic Wars from which Europe is slowly recovering. Then many years later, along comes World War I and the years that follow, to test the businesses.
Cast
Madeleine Carroll as Mrs. Warburton, 1825/Mary Warburton Girard, 1914
Frank Moran as Sergeant Culbert, Soldier in Trench
Production notes
Most of the World War I battle footage was taken from the 1932 French film Wooden Crosses.[2] This film was the first to receive an MPPDA (now, the MPA) certificate under the new Production Code, and received certificate #1.[3]
Reception
Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times called it "an ambitious undertaking, well composed and photographed, but it does seem as though the film would be all the better if it were shortened."[4]Variety said it was "an impressive picture", although the first half-hour was "undeniably slow."[2] "Impressive in magnitude and well cast", reported Film Daily.[5]John Mosher of The New Yorker panned it as "a completely synthetic affair" that was "padded out to the limit".[6] The Chicago Tribune called it "a moving tale" and "well worth your time", with "but one fault – extreme length."[7]
Awards
John Ford won the Special Recommendation award at the 1934 Venice Film Festival for this film.
