Cavalcade (1933)

Diana Wynyard: Jane Marryot

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jane Marryot : There should never be any good reason for neglecting someone that you love.

• Master Joey : [from upstairs]  Mum! Mum!

  Jane Marryot : Oh, the children.

  Ellen Bridges : There, it's Master Joey.

  Robert Marryot : How very impolite of the twentieth century to wake up the children.

• Robert Marryot : Nineteen Hundred! Happy new century.

  Jane Marryot , Ellen Bridges , Alfred Bridges , Master Edward : Nineteen Hundred.

  Master Joey : Nineteen Hundred!

• Jane Marryot : [while watching Queen Victoria's funeral procession from their upstairs balcony]  Five kings riding behind her.

  Master Joey : Mum, she must have been a very little lady.

• Jane Marryot : [on New Year's day of 1933]  Well Robert, here we go again.

  Robert Marryot : One more year behind us.

  Jane Marryot : One more year before us.

  Robert Marryot : Mm, do you mind?

  Jane Marryot : [they sit down on the sofa together]  No. Everything passes, even time.

  Robert Marryot : That means you too.

  Jane Marryot : And you don't?

  Robert Marryot : I still believe in the future.

  Jane Marryot : Ah, that's your strength my dear. I believe in the future too but, not quite in the same way.

• [last lines] 

  Robert Marryot : [upon the dawn of the new year]  In one minute it will be 1933.

  Jane Marryot : Well Robert, what toast have you in mind for tonight? Something gay and original I hope.

  Robert Marryot : No, just the future - our old friend the future: the future of England. But first of all my dear, I drink to you.

  Jane Marryot : [they drink a toast of champagne]  And I drink to you Robert, loyal and loving always. Now, let's couple the future of England with the past of England: the glories, the victories, and triumphs that are over, and sorrows that are over too. Let us drink to our sons, who made part of the pattern, and to our hearts that died with them. Let us drink to the spirit of gallantry and courage that made a strange heaven out of unbelievable Hell. And let us drink to the hope that one day this country of ours - which we love so much - will find dignity, and greatness, and peace again.

  [a whirlwind montage of 'new-age' social norms and trends flashes before them] 

  Robert Marryot : Dignity, greatness, and peace.

  [they drink another toast of champagne and go out on the balcony to witness the crowd outside ringing in the New Year with Auld Lang Syne] 

• [first lines] 

  Jane Marryot : [as the Marryots return home from an outing]  Thank you Bridges.

  Robert Marryot : Everything ready, Bridges?

  Alfred Bridges : Yes sir.

  Jane Marryot : Thought we should never get here in time. I'm sure that cabby was tipsy Robert.

  Robert Marryot : So am I; he called me his old coccolare.

  Jane Marryot : Oh, what did you say?

  Robert Marryot : Gave him another shilling.

  [they laugh lightheartedly] 

• Jane Marryot : [from the upstairs window in reference to a potential war update in the newspaper]  What is it Ellen, what is it?

  Ellen Bridges : Nothing ma'am.

  Jane Marryot : [somberly but self-assuredly repeating what Ellen just said a moment before]  No news is good news; what must be, must be.

• Jane Marryot : [upset at the sound of the cheering crowd outside and the prospect of newly declared war with Germany]  Drink to the war then. I'm not going to, I can't. Rule Britannia; send us victorious, happy, and glorious. Drink Joey, you're only a baby still but you're old enough for war. Drink as the Germans are doing tonight: to victory and defeat and stupid tragic sorrow but, don't ask me to do it please!

• Ellen Bridges : [somewhat shocked as her husband unfortunately drunkenly enters the house, interrupting the end of a visit from Jane and Edward Marryot which he was deliberately sent out to avoid]  Alfred.

  Alfred Bridges : Oh, so this is why you wanted ta get me outta the way, eh?

  Mrs. Snapper : Now Alfred, you just behave yourself.

  Alfred Bridges : Pleased to see ya again me Lady, I'm sure. Welcome to our hovel.

  [Jane backs away slightly aghast] 

  Alfred Bridges : Oh, proud and haughty, are we?

  Ellen Bridges : Alfred, stop it! Stop it!

  Jane Marryot : [gives Ellen a consoling hug of reassurance]  There there, dear Ellen; I'm so very, very sorry. I quite understand, quite. I'll come and see you again soon.

  [Jane leaves with Edward] 

  Mrs. Snapper : Ya drunken great brute!

  Alfred Bridges : You shut your mouth! You mind your business and I'll mind mine.

  George Grainger : [tries to stifle Alfred and get him upstairs]  Look here old man, you'd better go up and have a lay down.

  Alfred Bridges : Leave me alone! Lot-a snobs, that's what. Lot-a blasted great snobs!

  George Grainger : Now now...

  Alfred Bridges : No, I'm not good enough to be at home when the *quality* comes. Oh no! I'll show you who's good enough!

  Ellen Bridges : [sadly while clutching their daughter, Fanny]  Should never be able to hold my head up again; never, never!

  Alfred Bridges : Ah, who gave Fanny that doll? Her noble *ladyship* I suppose. Well we don't want none of her blasted charity around here.

  [Alfred shoves George, grabs the doll from Ellen as she screams, and throws it on the ground] 

  George Grainger : [grabbing Alfred and trying to subdue him as he whisks him upstairs]  Come on up here. You're comin' upstairs is what you're gonna do. You're comin' right up here.

  Alfred Bridges : [pushes George down onto the steps as he shouts before stumbling out the door]  Blasted snobs!

  Ellen Bridges : [weeps into her handkerchief]  She was right, she was right: time changes many things.

• Ellen Bridges : [somewhat gloating over her family's newfound more upscale social position]  Things aren't what they used to be you know. No, it's all changin'.

  Jane Marryot : Yes, I see it is.

  Ellen Bridges : But Fanny's at the top of the tree now. She landed the most wonderful office.

  Jane Marryot : No Ellen...

  Ellen Bridges : What is it?

  Jane Marryot : I'm so very, very sorry.

  Ellen Bridges : I don't know what you mean.

  Jane Marryot : Oh yes you do, inside you must. Something seems to have gone out of all of us and I... I'm not sure that I like what's left.

• Jane Marryot : [upon receiving a grave letter just as the war is declared over]  There's no answer.

  Ellen Bridges : What is it, what's happened?

  Jane Marryot : You needn't worry about Fanny and Joe. He won't be able to come back: he's... dead.

  [Jane faints to the floor] 

  Ellen Bridges : [rushing to Jane's side]  Oh, your Ladyship. Oh-ho-ho, me lady.

• Jane Marryot : Oh Ellen, it must be just as bad for you.

  Ellen Bridges : Well, no news is good news and what must be, must be, that's what I say.