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The Big Parade

The Big Parade

Romance · War · Drama · 1925

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.

Movie details

The Big Parade

“The epic of the American doughboy!”

1925 Romance · War · Drama 2h 31m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.6 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Big Parade?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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At the height of the Cold War, a troubled soldier forms a forbidden love triangle with a daring fighter pilot and his female comrade amid the dangerous surroundings of a Soviet Air Force Base.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

King Vidor

Written by

Harry Behn

John Gilbert

John Gilbert

James 'Jim' Apperson

Renée Adorée

Renée Adorée

Melisande

Hobart Bosworth

Hobart Bosworth

Mr. Apperson

Claire McDowell

Claire McDowell

Mrs. Apperson

Claire Adams

Claire Adams

Justyn Reed

Robert Ober

Robert Ober

Harry Apperson

Tom O'Brien

Tom O'Brien

Michael Olysius 'Bull' O'Hara

Court is in session

Put The Big Parade on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.