The Big Parade

original title:
The Big Parade
other titles:
(Die große Parade)
country / year of production:
USA / 1925
original length:
141 min. , black/white
premiere:
5 November 1925, Los Angeles
genre:
Silent movie
based on:
director:
King Vidor
film script:
Harry Behn , Joseph Farnham , Laurence Stallings
producer:
Irving Thalberg
cinematographer:
John Arnold
editor:
Hugh Wynn
composer:
William Axt , Maurice Baron , David Mendoza
cast (role):
John Gilbert (James Apperson) , Renée Adorée (Melisande) , Hobart Bosworth (Mr. Apperson) , Claire McDowell (Mrs. Apperson) , Claire Adams (Justyn Reed) , John Gilbert , Renée Adorée , Hobart Bosworth , Claire McDowell , Claire Adams
more:
plot synopsis:
James, the idle son of a rich businessman joins the army when the U.S. enters World War One. He is sent to France, where he becomes friends with two working-class soldiers: Tim, an iron worker, and Bull who is a bartender in civilian life.
He falls in love with Melisande, a French girl, but has to leave her as his unit is ordered to the frontline. In a bloddy battle in the Argonne forest both his friends are killed, and James loses a leg. After the armistice he returns home, but feels out of touch with the people around him. He decides to go back to France to find the girl he loves.
keywords:
infantry , veterans , wound, injury , returning soldiers
war:
First World War (1914-1918)
literature:
John E. O'Connor/ Martin Jackson (Ed.). American History/ Amercian Film. Interpreting the Hollywood Image (Ungar Film Library). New York: Frederick Ungar, 1979.
remarks:
Hollywood producer and critics feared that the audience was not ready for films on the First World War, with the end of the war only a few years away. Nonetheless "The Big Parade" became a huge commercial success.
availability:
VHS NTSC