Big Parade, The (1925): King Vidor’s Silent War World I Movie, Starring John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Hobart Bosworth, Tom O’Brien, Karl Dane

A greatly influential silent film in the war genre, The Big Parade, from director King Vidor, follows American solider James Apperson as he is sent to France to fight in World War I.

While overseas, he falls in love with a French girl and faces head-on the horrors of trench warfare.

Grade: A

The Big Parade
Theatrical release poster

Critical Status:

The film, written by WWI veteran Laurence Stallings, was a commercial and critical success, setting a standard for war movies with its realistic portrayal of combat and immersive trench sequences.

The Big Parade is not only a seminal work within its genre but an important touchstone for cinema itself.