{"id":8788,"date":"2009-08-06T11:44:52","date_gmt":"2009-08-06T18:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8788"},"modified":"2020-12-12T01:15:41","modified_gmt":"2020-12-12T08:15:41","slug":"big-parade-the-1925","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8788","title":{"rendered":"Big Parade, The (1925)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Waiting! Orders! Mud! Blood! Stinking stiffs! What the hell do we get out of this war anyway?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Poster-195x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-57284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Poster-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Poster-176x270.png 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Poster.png 565w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nThree young Americans &#8212; the wealthy son (John Gilbert) of a businessman, a bartender (Tom O&#8217;Brien), and a welder (Karl Dane) &#8212; experience love and tragedy when they head off to France to fight in World War One.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Character Arc<\/li>\n<li>John Gilbert Films<\/li>\n<li>King Vidor Films<\/li>\n<li>Silent Films<\/li>\n<li>Soldiers<\/li>\n<li>World War One<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nKing Vidor&#8217;s blockbuster WWI epic was the highest grossing silent film of all time, and received rave reviews upon its release (&#8220;as a motion picture it is something beyond the fondest dreams of most people&#8221;, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1925\/11\/20\/archives\/the-screen-a-superlative-war-picture.html\">gushed reviewer Mordaunt Hall<\/a> of the <em>New York Times<\/em>). It&#8217;s easy to see why audiences at the time were impressed: handsome movie icon John Gilbert gives a nuanced and sympathetic performance in the central role:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert4-1024x726.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"454\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-57286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert4-1024x726.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert4-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert4-128x91.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert4-768x544.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert4-381x270.png 381w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert4.png 1435w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; many scenes are beautifully lit and composed:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Marching2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Marching2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1435\" height=\"1035\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Marching2.png 1435w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Marching2-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Marching2-1024x739.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Marching2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Marching2-768x554.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Marching2-374x270.png 374w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1435px) 100vw, 1435px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and Vidor&#8217;s depiction of life for soldiers on the front was surely revelatory. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Trenches.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Trenches.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1419\" height=\"1021\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Trenches.png 1419w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Trenches-300x216.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Trenches-1024x737.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Trenches-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Trenches-768x553.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Trenches-375x270.png 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1419px) 100vw, 1419px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, however, the story itself hasn&#8217;t aged all that well. An inordinate amount of time is taken up by a rather pedestrian subplot in which Gilbert falls in lust\/love with a comely French milkmaid (Renee Adoree): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert-Milkmaid.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert-Milkmaid.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1427\" height=\"1013\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert-Milkmaid.png 1427w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert-Milkmaid-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert-Milkmaid-1024x727.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert-Milkmaid-128x91.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert-Milkmaid-768x545.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert-Milkmaid-380x270.png 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1427px) 100vw, 1427px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; conveniently neglecting his fiancee, Claire Adams, back at home. By the time he and his two buddies (played simply as &#8220;types&#8221; by O&#8217;Brien and Kane; they never emerge as true individuals):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Buddies.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Buddies.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1459\" height=\"1021\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Buddies.png 1459w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Buddies-300x210.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Buddies-1024x717.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Buddies-128x90.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Buddies-768x537.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Buddies-386x270.png 386w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1459px) 100vw, 1459px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; get to the trenches, more than half the movie is over &#8212; we only see them fighting in one hideous battle, and then they&#8217;re sent home, so there&#8217;s no sense of the endless scope of time spent by most soldiers on the front. Despite these complaints, however, film fanatics will surely want to check out this famous silent film at least once, and should definitely enjoy Vidor&#8217;s stunning imagery (see stills below). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>John Gilbert as James Apperson<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1441\" height=\"1025\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert5.png 1441w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert5-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert5-1024x728.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert5-128x91.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert5-768x546.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Gilbert5-380x270.png 380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1441px) 100vw, 1441px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A powerful early portrait of war<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-War5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-War5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1455\" height=\"1025\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-War5.png 1455w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-War5-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-War5-1024x721.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-War5-128x90.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-War5-768x541.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-War5-383x270.png 383w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1455px) 100vw, 1455px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Lovely cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Lighting4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Lighting4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1433\" height=\"1025\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Lighting4.png 1433w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Lighting4-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Lighting4-1024x732.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Lighting4-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Lighting4-768x549.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Lighting4-377x270.png 377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1433px) 100vw, 1433px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many impressive &#8220;large scale&#8221; compositions<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Big-Scale.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Big-Scale.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1425\" height=\"1029\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-57294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Big-Scale.png 1425w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Big-Scale-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Big-Scale-1024x739.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Big-Scale-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Big-Scale-768x555.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Big-Parade-Big-Scale-374x270.png 374w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1425px) 100vw, 1425px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for its historical popularity. Listed as a film with Historical Importance and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0015624\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1925\/11\/20\/archives\/the-screen-a-superlative-war-picture.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filmsite.org\/bigp.html\">Greatest Films Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/33363\/the-big-parade#articles-reviews?articleId=715880\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/the-big-parade-1\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Waiting! Orders! Mud! Blood! Stinking stiffs! What the hell do we get out of this war anyway?&#8221; Synopsis: Three young Americans &#8212; the wealthy son (John Gilbert) of a businessman, a bartender (Tom O&#8217;Brien), and a welder (Karl Dane) &#8212; experience love and tragedy when they head off to France to fight in World War One. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Character Arc John Gilbert Films King Vidor Films Silent Films Soldiers World War One Review: King Vidor&#8217;s blockbuster WWI&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8788\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8788"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57303,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8788\/revisions\/57303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}