The Big Parade (1925)

Those of you who read this blog faithfully most likely noticed that I did not post a review last week for "The Thief of Bagdad".  I wish I had a more noble excuse for this, but the truth is that I fell asleep numerous times during the film from sheer boredom and consequently felt awkward trying to write a review or response to something I mostly slept through.  :P

The same cannot be said for last night's film, "The Big Parade".  I will admit that this movie was not at all what I expected from the title.  Call me naive, but I rather figured the movie would be about...a parade.  War didn't even enter my imagination.  I knew this was the highest grossing film of the 20s, so I was expected a light-hearted, feel good movie about a parade complete with floats, marching bands, and excited crowds.  Upon further reflection though, there's really not much plot to be had with that kind of setting, is there?

The Big Parade (1925)

The Big Parade tells the story of a rich American boy, Jim Apperson, who goes to war.  Or does it?  The opening goes to some lengths to make clear that he is both rich and idle.  It also introduces two other men - who will become his buddies - one a bartender and the other a gangly construction worker.  The class distinctions here are obvious, so it's noteworthy that the film does nothing further with them.  You might expect some sort of friction to be caused, at least at first, whether dramatic or comical, but there's nothing.  Once they're all packed into their uniforms and sent to France (this is WWI of course), they're all the same.  Which I'm sure is the point.