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The Big Parade

Name: The Big Parade
Director: King Vidor
Released: 1925
Duration: 151 min

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

1925

Director

King Vidor

Runtime

151 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

King Vidor’s masterpiece dismantles the romanticized myths of early 20th-century warfare, focusing instead on the human toll of conflict. However, the film adheres to the social and demographic norms of the 1920s, emphasizing traditional gender and racial roles. Its progressive value lies in its thematic critique of the heroic soldier archetype, using individual struggles to highlight the impersonal nature of large institutions.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Big Parade have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The story follows a traditional romance between the main character and a female love interest, without any queer undertones.

How does The Big Parade portray gender?

Limited

The film upholds the gender roles typical of the 1920s era. Men are portrayed as physically strong, while women serve as emotional support or domestic motivators.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Big Parade?

Limited

The film showcases a predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon infantry unit, with minimal multi-layered casting.

How does The Big Parade represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film critiques the glorified notion of war by highlighting the senselessness and dehumanizing impact of industrial conflict.

Does The Big Parade include disability representation?

Fair

Combat trauma and injuries are shown to highlight the horrors of war, but the film does not delve deeply into the experience of disability as a personal identity.

Present on Screen

Challenges the romanticized myths surrounding early 20th-century warfare.
Offers a sophisticated critique of traditional Western romanticism and patriotic ideals.
Frames war as a loss of innocence through moral complexity.

Limited or Absent

Does not include representations of non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities or queer themes.
Reinforces traditional gender roles between male combatants and female supporters.
Features a predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon infantry unit with limited diversity.

Official Synopsis

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.

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