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:

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: Orders! Orders! Who the hell is fighting this war - men or orders?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Edge of Outside (2006)

Silent But Not Muted In Its Power.

King Vidor was the greatest American director of the 1920's. The Crowd and the Big Parade are both technically advanced (for the time) and emotionally moving. But, when it comes to the 1920's film auteurs, everyone always focuses their attention on the German expressionists Murnau and Lang. Sure, they were wonderful and the images they created will never be forgotten. But, there is a lack of true emotion in their works. In contrast, Vidor's films are emotional powerhouses that focus on the characters. This is most evident in the WW1 epic Big Parade. The departure scene as John Gilbert's french love Melisande hangs on to the Army truck as it pulls away is one of the top five scenes of the silent era. And, the reunion at the end, well, you can understand why this was the biggest hit of the roaring 20's. It's even a better film than the big talkie WW1 classic All Quiet on the Western Front. That movie IS available on DVD; Big Parade is not. It should be. Perhaps if Vidor had been German, his two greatest films would now be on DVD, as almost practically every expressionist German film you can imagine is. There needs to be a greater appreciation of the silent American auteurs, esp. in America!