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:

1910s | national film registry | bozo as epithet | blockbuster | year 1917 | 

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Taglines:

Here at last is the picture that has captured the heart of the world. Not drama only- rather Life- splendid, mean, funny, horrible, ugly, beautiful, heroic, rapturous. Five Million people have marched to see it and it has just begun. THE MIRICLE OF LOVE AND WAR. (Print Ad- Eatonville Dispatch, ((Eatonville, Wash.)) 15 March 1928)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was selected into the National Film Registry in 1992 for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

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Goofs

When Jim is getting dressed in the hayloft for his date, Slim jokingly refers to him as "Mr. Hemingway". When the film was being made in 1924-25 Ernest Hemingway was becoming famous, but in the movie's time frame of 1917, he was still unknown.

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Quotes

Justyn Reed: Aren't you thrilled that we're going to war?
James Apperson: No.
Justyn Reed: You'll look gorgeous in an officer's uniform! I'll love you more than ever then.

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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 The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor (1973)

User Reviews

Classic silent film

Movie takes place during WWI in 1917. Jim Apperson (John Gilbert) is an idle son of a rich man. He enlists in the Army when WWI begins leaving behind a loving girlfriend. He becomes buddies with Slim (Karl Dane) and Bull (Tom O'Brien). They go to France where he falls in love with Melisande (Renee Adoree). But then he has to go off to combat. Will he survive and come back to her? And how about his girlfriend back home?

The plot is somewhat predictable (I knew how it was going to end halfway through) but this is still a GREAT film! The first half deals with Jim, Slim and Bull in a small town in France where they meet Melisande. It's chock full of some very unfunny humor and juvenile antics between the soldiers--but the romance between Jim and Melisande really works. There's some truly beautiful moments with them--especially a nighttime scene by a lake. And the sequence where he says goodbye to her is truly touching.

The second half deals with Jim and his buddies in combat. The war footage is strong and (for 1925) pretty graphic. It shows the pain and agony of war quite graphically--but Gilbert's little speech in the foxhole is a bit much (and Gilbert overdoes it). It all does lead up to a happy ending which I liked...but didn't buy for a minute.

This is all helped along by a beautiful music score done in 1988. It really helps the move tremendously. The direction by King Vidor was astonishing--the battle sequences are exciting (and harrowing) and the romantic scenes work equally well. Gilbert is pretty good in the lead--it's easy to see why he was such a big star. Adoree is just gorgeous and makes a very beautiful heroine. Dane is just VERY annoying as Slim. He overacts constantly and he's the (un)funny comic relief--but he does turn noble at the end. O'Brien is pretty good also.

This was a HUGE hit in its day...but is completely forgotten today. That's too bad--it's truly a great film. A must see!

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

1926 (Austria)

Also Known As:

The Big Parade

Filming Locations:

Chapman Ave. Orange, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$245,000 (estimated)

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