The Big Parade
The Big Parade

Movie spotlight

The Big Parade

1925
Movie
151 min
English

The story of an idle rich boy who joins the US Army's Rainbow Division and is sent to France to fight in World War I, becomes friends with two working class men, experiences the horrors of trench warfare, and finds love with a French girl.

Insights

IMDb7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes96%
Director: King VidorGenres: War, Drama, Romance, Comedy

Plot Summary

A carefree, wealthy young man enlists in the Army to fight in World War I, seeking adventure. He experiences the brutal realities of trench warfare and develops a deep camaraderie with his fellow soldiers. During his deployment in France, he falls in love with a local girl, Melisande. His idealized notions of war are shattered by loss and destruction, leading to a profound transformation in his perspective.

Critical Reception

The Big Parade was a monumental critical and commercial success, widely hailed as one of the greatest films of the silent era and a landmark in war cinema. Critics praised its realistic portrayal of soldiers' lives, its emotional depth, and King Vidor's masterful direction. It resonated deeply with audiences for its blend of humor, pathos, and patriotism, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of its time.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its groundbreaking realism in depicting war and its human cost.

  • Acclaimed for its powerful performances, particularly John Gilbert's.

  • Celebrated for its emotional impact and epic scope.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this film is not readily available.

Awards & Accolades

Named one of the top 10 films of the year by The New York Times. Recognized as a significant artistic achievement in filmmaking.

Fun Fact

The film was so popular that MGM initially considered making a sequel, but King Vidor strongly advised against it, feeling the story was complete and that a sequel might tarnish its legacy.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
talisencrw

talisencrw

Recently in approaching the milestone of seeing my 5,000th film (at least by my IMDb list of my shoddy recollections), I wanted to make it a very special film, so it was between the blus of this and 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'. That ...

Youtube Reviews

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