IMDb RATING
7.9/10
7.4K
YOUR RATING
A young American soldier witnesses the horrors of the Great War.A young American soldier witnesses the horrors of the Great War.A young American soldier witnesses the horrors of the Great War.
- Awards
- 6 wins
Renée Adorée
- Melisande
- (as Renee Adoree)
Arthur H. Allen
- Dying German
- (uncredited)
George Beranger
- Patriotic Letter Reader
- (uncredited)
Harry Crocker
- Doughboy
- (uncredited)
Julanne Johnston
- Justine Devereux
- (uncredited)
Kathleen Key
- Miss Apperson
- (uncredited)
Dan Mason
- Second Patriotic Letter Reader
- (uncredited)
Carl 'Major' Roup
- Doughboy
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe famous scene in which Jim (John Gilbert) teaches Melisande (Renée Adorée) to chew gum was improvised on the spot during filming. Director King Vidor observed a crew member chewing gum and later recalled, "Here was my inspiration. French girls didn't chew or understand gum; American doughboys did...Gilbert's efforts to explain would endear him to her and she would kiss him...[It was] one of the best love scenes I ever directed." Gilbert also claimed that he did not expect Adorée to swallow the gum, which proved to be the scene's comic highlight.
- GoofsWhen 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.
- Quotes
James Apperson: [to Melisande, who speaks French] French is Greek to me.
- Crazy creditsMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer gratefully acknowledges the splendid co-operation of the Second Division, United States Army and Air Service Units, Kelly Field.
- Alternate versionsThere is an Italian edition of this film on DVD, distributed by DNA srl, "LA FOLLA (1928) + LA GRANDE PARATA (1925)" (2 Films on a single DVD), re-edited with the contribution of film historian Riccardo Cusin. This version is also available for streaming on some platforms.
- ConnectionsEdited into Marianne (1929)
Featured review
A fine silent classic that has held up very well, "The Big Parade" is one of the very best films of its era and of its genre. It has a nice blend of drama, action, and lighter moments, with plenty of good photography and settings. The characters are simple, believable, and unpretentious, and they are brought to life well by the cast. Its commentary on the war is to the point, yet in a thoughtful way, without the heavy-handed cinematic ranting that mars so many films about war.
The early scenes work very well in introducing some of the characters and themes. Its portrayal of the USA's entry into the war is intelligently done, while holding nothing back in its perspective. By not assigning blame or responsibility to any specific persons or countries, it enhances its portrayal of the kind of mentality that so often prevails in such situations. It is a believable, and sometimes subtle, sequence that works quite well.
Once the movie gets into the main story, it uses the "parade" imagery well, and combines it effectively with the personal development of the characters.
John Gilbert and Renée Adorée work quite well together, and Gilbert's army pals are both used effectively. There are quite a few memorable scenes as it depicts a full variety of wartime experiences. The lighter sequences are used particularly well, not as raucous humor but as moments of the more sensitive side of human nature that is still there somewhere amidst all of the turmoil.
There's much more that could be said about such an absorbing film, but watching the movie is more rewarding than reading about it. It's neither an action-heavy war film nor a superficial, easily understood movie contrived to prove a particular point; it's something much better that fully repays careful attention and appreciation.
The early scenes work very well in introducing some of the characters and themes. Its portrayal of the USA's entry into the war is intelligently done, while holding nothing back in its perspective. By not assigning blame or responsibility to any specific persons or countries, it enhances its portrayal of the kind of mentality that so often prevails in such situations. It is a believable, and sometimes subtle, sequence that works quite well.
Once the movie gets into the main story, it uses the "parade" imagery well, and combines it effectively with the personal development of the characters.
John Gilbert and Renée Adorée work quite well together, and Gilbert's army pals are both used effectively. There are quite a few memorable scenes as it depicts a full variety of wartime experiences. The lighter sequences are used particularly well, not as raucous humor but as moments of the more sensitive side of human nature that is still there somewhere amidst all of the turmoil.
There's much more that could be said about such an absorbing film, but watching the movie is more rewarding than reading about it. It's neither an action-heavy war film nor a superficial, easily understood movie contrived to prove a particular point; it's something much better that fully repays careful attention and appreciation.
- Snow Leopard
- Oct 17, 2004
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- El gran desfile
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $245,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 31 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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