The Big Parade (1925)

Director:

King Vidor
(more)

Writers:

Harry Behn (scenario)
Joseph Farnham (titles)
(more)

Release Date:

1926 (Austria)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

King Vidor's PICTURIZATION of LAURENCE STALLINGS' GREAT STORY

Plot:

The idle son of a rich businessman joins the army when the U.S.A. enters World War One. He is sent to France...

Plot Keywords:

Gas Mask | WWI | Machine Gun | Sniper | Wine Cellar

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

John Gilbert	...	James Apperson
Renée Adorée	...	Melisande
Hobart Bosworth	...	Mr. Apperson
Claire McDowell	...	Mrs. Apperson
Claire Adams	...	Justyn Reed
Robert Ober	...	Harry Apperson
Tom O'Brien	...	Bull
Karl Dane	...	Slim
Rosita Marstini	...	Melisande's mother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Beranger	...	Undetermined Minor Role (uncredited)
Harry Crocker	...	Doughboy (uncredited)
Julanne Johnston	...	Justine Devereux (uncredited)
Kathleen Key	...	Miss Apperson (uncredited)
Dan Mason	...	Undetermined Minor Role (uncredited)
Carl 'Major' Roup	...	Doughboy (uncredited)
Carl Voss	...	Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
King Vidor
George W. Hill		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Harry Behn		scenario
Joseph Farnham		titles (as Joseph W. Farnham)
Laurence Stallings		screenplay (uncredited)
Laurence Stallings		story "Plumes"
King Vidor		uncredited

Produced by
King Vidor	....	producer
Irving Thalberg	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
William Axt		(sound reissue) (as Dr. William Axt)
Carl Davis		(1988 score)
David Mendoza		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
John Arnold
Charles Van Enger		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Hugh Wynn

Casting by
Robert McIntyre

Art Direction by
James Basevi		(settings)
Cedric Gibbons		(settings)

Costume Design by
Ethel P. Chaffin
Robert Florey		(uncredited)

Production Management
Dave Friedman	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Howard	....	assistant director

Art Department
Robert Florey	....	set designer

Visual Effects by
Max Fabian	....	special photographic effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Carl Barlow	....	electrician
Hendrik Sartov	....	additional photographer
Ruth Harriet Louise	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Oscar Radin	....	musical director: sound reissue
Maurice Baron	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Carl Voss	....	military advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1925) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universum Film (UFA) (1926) (Germany) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Critics' Choice Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Movies Unlimited (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• United States Army Air Service, Kelly Field  special thanks
• United States Army, Second Division  special thanks

Runtime:

141 min | USA:130 min (re-release) | 126 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White (with tinted sequences)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent | Mono (music and sound effects) (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Portugal:17 (short version) | Spain:13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Four years after making "The Big Parade," King Vidor restaged one of its most famous scenes - Jimmy going off to battle and leaving Melisande behind - in Show People (1928), a comedy starring Marion Davies as an actress trying to become a Hollywood star. In "Show People" Davies and William Haines played the parts originally played in "The Big Parade" by 'Renee Adoree' and 'John Gilbert'.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The three future recruits live in New York City (one works construction on a skyscraper, another works a bar in the Bowery), but during the recruitment parade, there are shots of wide avenues lined with low buildings and palm trees - clearly shots of 1920s Los Angeles.

Quotes:

James Apperson: [after Slim is killed] They got him! They got him! God damn their souls!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM (2004) (TV)

Outstanding Silent Film

This is one of the best silent movies ever made, and probably the best WWI movie ever made, silent or sound. It's one of the greatest movies I have seen to show how war can turn one man's world upside down, yet not necessarily in a completely negative way as have other films. The direction is superb. The acting is wonderful. In particular, Renee Adoree's character is adorable as the French heroine. In one of the movie's most romantic scenes (and a much parodied one), Renee's character anxiously finds Gilbert, who is in the process of moving on to battle. When they unite, the two almost can't be seperated, even as the cars are moving. It's one of the most emotional scenes ever.

Then there are the battle scenes, which are stellar. The character development is wonderful, as lazy, rich boy Jim joins the war only to please his friends and fiancee. Then, he finds out what war is all about, as well as true love. "Slim" makes a nice comedic supporting character, who again is finally seen in a different light in the face of battle.

One thing I should note, is that the version of this film I saw is the one scored by Carl Davis. I also heard his score for "the Lodger" and thought it was distracting if anything. But this score is an example of the perfect silent score. It actually shows the maximum "potential" of the film. It's always appropriate, is molded to every scene, takes advantage of a modern orchestra while still preserving several stylistic nuances of older films. Kudos to Mr. Davis for a fine score.

Finally, why wasn't there room for this on AFI's 100 list? It's certainly better than "the Jazz Singer" or "Easy Rider", and probably a ton of others on the list. Part of the problem, I realize is that so few people have seen this. There's only about 150 votes so far on this site. This masterpiece should be seen at least once by any serious film lover. A perfect 10!