The Big Parade (1925)

A young American soldier witnesses the horrors of the Great War.

Directors:

King Vidor, George W. Hill (uncredited)

Writers:

Laurence Stallings (story), Harry Behn (scenario)

Stars:

John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Hobart Bosworth

3 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Gilbert	...	James Apperson
Renée Adorée	...	Melisande (as Renee Adoree)
Hobart Bosworth	...	Mr. Apperson
Claire McDowell	...	Mrs. Apperson
Claire Adams	...	Justyn Reed
Robert Ober	...	Harry
Tom O'Brien	...	Bull
Karl Dane	...	Slim
Rosita Marstini	...	French Mother

Storyline

The idle son of a rich businessman joins the army when the U.S.A. enters World War One. He is sent to France, where he becomes friends with two working-class soldiers. He also falls in love with a Frenchwoman, but has to leave her to move to the frontline.

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | france | world war one | epic | climbing a tree | 

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Taglines:

King Vidor's PICTURIZATION of LAURENCE STALLINGS' GREAT STORY

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

1926 (Austria)

Also Known As:

Die Parade des Todes

Filming Locations:

Chapman Ave. Orange, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$245,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$11,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,000,000, 31 December 1985

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min 130 min 128 min (1988 TCM print) 151 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Black and White (with tinted sequences)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to Hollywood censorship of the time, title-writer Joseph Farnham had to tone down the salty dialogue of the American soldiers. For example, he was required to substitute "b------s" for "bastards". Yet in another scene he was allowed to have John Gilbert shout (in all caps) "GOD DAMN THEIR SOULS!"

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

James Apperson: Waiting! Orders! Mud! Blood! Stinking stiffs! What the hell do we get out of this war anyway! - cheers when we left and when we get back! But who the hell cares... after this?

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Crazy Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gratefully acknowledges the splendid co-operation of the Second Division, United States Army and Air Service Units, Kelly Field.

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Connections

Featured in MGM Parade: Episode #1.23 (1956)

User Reviews

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.