The Big Parade

The Big Parade is a 1925 American silent war drama film directed by King Vidor, starring John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Hobart Bosworth, Tom O'Brien, and Karl Dane. Written by World War I veteran, Laurence Stallings, the film is about an idle rich boy who joins the US Army's Rainbow Division and is sent to France to fight in World War I, becomes a friend of two working class men, experiences the horrors of trench warfare, and finds love with a French girl.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) It's notably one of the first films to deglamorize war with its startling realism and display of its pain and its harsh aftereffects, serving as an archetypal model for all other war films. This is especially hitting hard in the silent era as audiences are trying to readjust from World War I. It helped bring back the popularity of war films in the late 20s.
 * 2) With its masterful artistry from the camera and large-scale, eloquent set that far larger than those of its time (more tanks and soldiers and bigger emotions), it's considered to be very ahead of its time on a technical scale.
 * 3) While the film contains the same comedy, romance, fighting, teary reunions, and happy ending as a lot of other war films of the era, an aspect that's unique of it's time is that it tells its story from the viewpoint of the GI, and there are three leads (Gilbert, Karl, O'Brien) involved in the war, which allowed the filmmakers to kill off a star while still having the audience's connection to the story.
 * 4) A great story about a privileged young man who goes to war seeking adventure but finds camaraderie, love, humility and maturity amid the horrors of war. Also, to even things out, the film's serious subject matter is balanced with a kind of simple, light humor that flows naturally from two new friendships and a new love.
 * 5) The cast is at the absolutely amazing in their roles. Especially John Gilbert in a star role and Renée Adorée as the two central leads.
 * 6) Various memorable scenes, such as the one where Gilbert teaches Adoree to chew gum, or the shower scene where Gilbert has gotten a wine barrel so the guys can have a shower.