the plot represent michael linnett connors have do everything in film but direct and and be look for his 1st big chance . he discover molly in a play and at once know she will be a big film star . he sign her to a contract with the stipulation that he must direct . the producer agree and their big time career be under way . what follow be a recreation of the silent film era and early sound movie with great emphasis on comedy . and and oh yes and there romance and and a little sadness too . the performance by don ameche and alice fay be top notch . the music be a real plus too with some old familiar tune heard . lot of dvd extra as well in this restored version release in 2008. it must be emphasize that this movie be a story 1st and not just a tribute to silent film . late year would bring similar film such a and singin in the rain ( 1952 ) and dick van dyke carl reiner and the comic ( 1969 ) . what be special about this film and though and be recreate silent movie in 1939. we see portion of them a the cinema audience would in that bygone era ( although some sound effect be include ) in glorious b and w and while the rest of the movie be in pristine color . one of the great in the silent era and buster keaton and who at this point be on an uphill climb and be use superbly in 2 silent film recreate scene and he be on the top of his game . it be say that he have some input on his scene as well . but the real reason to watch the movie and if your a motion picture history fan and be that beyond everything else and hollywood cavalcade be mack sennett film legacy . it doesn not take a genius to realize this movie be a positive reworking of mack sennett and mabel normand life . the character michael linnett connors be mack sennett and whose real name be michael sinnott . and molly and of course be mabel . sennett have the pie throwings and the bathing beauty and keystone cop . he work with buster keaton and ben turpin ( cameo ) and roscoe fatty arbuckle ( body double ) and fell in love with his lead lady . not only all that and but sennett be technical adviser for this film and appear in it as well . a most film viewer today prefer sound feature and those who be associate with short subject and silents be leave out to pasture . a mack sennett fell into that category and it be fortunate that there be hollywood cavalcade . sennett be of course very instrumental in the evolution of comedy in movie . his career start in 1908 a an actor and then writer and director and producer . he semi retire in 1935 with about 500 film to his credit . he have work with the best and such a charlie chaplin and gloria swanson and bing crosby and w. c. field and keaton and harry langdon and arbuckle and and even roy rogers ( in way up thar ) . a film comedy be an extremely difficult path to continue for an entire career and mack play it wise and do only selective work for the next 25 year . in 1931 he have receive an academy award in the short subject category and and another in 1937 for a lifetime of work . in the 1940 his presence be still felt and e. g. here come the co ed ( 1945 ) where a recreation of the oyster soup scene use in mack wandering willies ( 1926 ) be do . in 1947 and the road to hollywood and use some of sennett crosby film . 2 year later bring some nostalgia with the film down memory lane in which he participate . with his knack of always associate with the right people and a guest role with the eternally popular lawrence welk and his radio show come about later in the year . 1950 bring a re release of his great triumph and tillie puncture romance ( 1914 ) with sound . in 1952 he be honor on tv and this be your life and then his autobiography and the king of comedy ( 1954 ) and which be a great companion piece to hollywood cavalcade and be publish . 1955 bring a more concrete association with abbott and costello and a he have a cameo in a and c meet the keystone kops . finally in 1957 and another tribute with the compilation film and the golden age of comedy . so when you watch hollywood cavalcade it be the legacy of a motion picture pioneer . in the film at the banquet scene the camera pan over the guest at a long table . a we get to the silver haired mack and he alone turn his head to the camera a if to say and here i be . when he rise to give a speech a short while later and he be at his most subdue and underplay the word give him a if to mentally convey and i know my influence on comedy will never end and but will people forget mack sennett the individual . maybe this movie will help .