The Big Parade ***** (1925, John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Hobart Bosworth) – Classic Movie Review 7895

Director King Vidor’s commanding World War One epic 1925 drama The Big Parade, full of startling battle images bringing the conflict to vivid life, is one of the great highspots of silent cinema. The film takes place from April 1917 to spring 1919. 

John Gilbert still impresses as James Apperson, the American volunteer in the war, and also in the story there is some simple, touching romance with Renée Adorée as a French wench called Melisande, and even simpler (frankly rather dated and tedious) humour featuring comrades-in-arms Slim (Karl Dane) and Bull (Tom O’Brien). But it is the battle scenes that impress most – and are still astounding, especially the Belleau Wood sequence.

Carl Davis’s new music score helps light up this restored classic that runs 151 minutes.

It is shot by cinematographer John Arnold in black and white, and screened with tinted sequences.

After its world premiere in Hollywood at Grauman’s Egyptian Theater on 5 November 1925, The Big Parade was an enormous success, costing $250,000 and grossing $15 million, and eventually taking $22 million during its worldwide, making it the highest grossing silent film ever. It played at New York’s Astor Theater for two years, grossing $1.5 million there.

Also in the cast are Hobart Bosworth, Claire McDowell, ClaireAdams, George K Arthur, Robert Ober and Rosita Marstini.

Studio electrician Carl Barlow was crushed to death by lighting equipment
when a shelf collapsed above him.

The U.S. War Department loaned MGM more than 200 army trucks, 4,000 soldiers and over 100 planes.

The battle scene was based on the World War One Battle of Belleau Wood of June 1918. Nearly 10,000 Americans were wounded and 1800 killed. Laurence Stallings, who wrote the original scenario for The Big Parade, served in this battle as a Marine captain and lost a leg.

King Vidor’s contract entitled him to 20 per cent of the net profits, but MGM lawyers and accountants persuaded him to sell his stake in the film for a small sum. 

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7895

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