The Big Parade (1925)

Director:

King Vidor

Writers:

Harry Behn (scenario)
Joseph Farnham (titles)

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

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:

Studio electrician Carl Barlow died during production when he slipped and fell off a platform.

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 Edge of Outside (2006)

A Blockbuster Classic from the Silent Era

King Vidor's "The Big Parade" is the biggest blockbuster from the silent era, and, I am told, the movie gold standard to which all others were compared well into the 1930s. ("The Big Parade" was released in 1925).

The story focuses on three American doughboys, fighting in Europe during WWI. Two are working class; a tobacco spitting riveter, Slim, a barkeep, Bull, and a ne'er-do-well son of wealth, Jim, who was shamed into enlisting by his family. These three go through the hardships of military training together, bond, and become fast friends. Their friendships deepen after they are shipped to France where Jim falls in love with a French farm girl. This comprises the first half of the 2 ½ hour movie. The second half of the movie is the gritty reality of trench warfare.

Some say that this is one of the first big-budget anti-war movies. I don't quite agree. The movie shows the human cost of war without condemning it outright. Remember that WWI was 'the war to end all wars', and in 1925 this was still a possibility. But "The Big Parade" does take an unflinching look at the affect of war on both combatants and non-combatants.

The performances and direction are excellent and silent or not, this is a movie well worth seeing.