* The Moviegoer *

Perhaps "Hollywood Cavalcade," as its title implies, is meant to tell the evolution of the movie industry from a puny stream to a raging torrent. But as the film works out, it tells of a rollicking freshet that grew into a sprawling, limpid river. To apostles of "progress" in the movie industry, this picture is indeed discouraging, for as it progresses from its first sequences of riotous cinematic primitivism it steadily loses audience interest.

Capitalizing on recent interest in movie history, 20th Century Fox has delved back into the files and brought out two scenes of slap-stick that make modern movie comedy look like a first-class funeral. The first includes Buster Keaton, Alice Faye, an unnamed villain, and an apparently limitless supply of creamy custard pies. There is a certain emotional release about a custard pie flying through the air destined for some carefully made-up face. It is a shame that the idea has been abandoned, for many modern pictures might be livened up immeasurably with the sudden appearance of a custard pic in flight. The second scene involves the Keystone cops and a 1913 Ford. The glorious, lusty pantomime of the whole scene makes one wonder whether real movie comedy didn't die with the advent of the talkies.

Aside from these two scenes and some very interesting shots of pre-sound direction, the rest of the picture is taken up with a verbose plot about a director and his star. Alice Faye and Don Ameche do the best they can, but "Hollywood Cavalcade" is primarily a historical document, and, as such, is a fine show.