Overview
A poignant exploration of love and sacrifice amidst the horrors of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- romantic
- patriotic
- harrowing
- classic film night
- historical cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a landmark silent war drama whose large-scale spectacle is matched by humane character work and powerful antiwar feeling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jim's friendship with working-class soldiers and exposure to frontline combat shift the story away from patriotic fantasy toward shared suffering.
The film devotes substantial scale to convoys, troop movements, combat, and the journey from America to the French front.
Jim falls in love with Melisande in France but must leave her when he is sent to the frontline.
The wealthy idler Jim forms close bonds with two working-class soldiers during army service.
Films like The Big Parade, and why
Wings
Shared silent-era filmmaking, antiwar sentiment, battlefield realism, and romance amid military conflict.
The Dawn Patrol
Shared World War I setting, silent cinema tradition, intimate soldier perspective, and tragic romantic atmosphere.
Gone with the Wind
Shared epic war drama, romance under combat conditions, and emotionally direct humanism.
All Quiet on the Western Front
Shared classical war-film scale, comradeship among soldiers, and critique of patriotic idealism.
Movie Details
- Director
- King Vidor
- Release Date
- 1925-11-05
- Runtime
- 151 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (133)
Cast
- John Gilbert
- Renée Adorée
- Hobart Bosworth
- Claire McDowell
- Claire Adams
- Robert Ober
- Tom O'Brien
- Karl Dane
- Rosita Marstini
- Julanne Johnston
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Big Parade about?
- A privileged American soldier discovers comradeship, love, and the brutal cost of war on the French front.
- What is The Big Parade like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Big Parade as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Big Parade violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Big Parade as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Big Parade?
- Critics broadly regard it as a landmark silent war drama whose large-scale spectacle is matched by humane character work and powerful antiwar feeling.
- Which films are like The Big Parade?
- Films with a similar feel include Wings, The Dawn Patrol, Gone with the Wind, and All Quiet on the Western Front.
- How long is The Big Parade?
- The Big Parade runs 151 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Big Parade?
- In United States, The Big Parade is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
