Review of The Big Parade (1925) by Edgar C — 17 Oct 2011

Every possible cliché that nowadays has taken the form of melodrama and cheesines had (perhaps) its earliest origin in King Vidor's invigorating war drama: the character development before the catastrophe, the typical patriotic American being sent with his friends into the frontline, the lover of foreign language, the hard departure of the lovers, the return of the wounded soldier to the family, etc.

In my humble opinion, American audiences have never accepted unconventional films as great ones until decades later. As weird and shocking Vidor's technique of splitting the movie in two was, it was still a giant financial success, and highly effective plot-wise. The problem is (and I beg you to keep in mind) the following: everything that The Big Parade features, you have already seen it. However, it acquires a meaning. Really.

99/100.