The Big Parade
Movie Poster
The Big Parade is a 1925 American silent World War I film directed by King Vidor. The United States enters World War I on April 6, 1917. The young Jim Apperson gets infected by the war euphoria of his family and his friends Tom and Karl and volunteers. In a French training camp, he and the other recruits lead a seemingly carefree life. Jim falls in love with the local peasant girl Melisande, whom he must leave, however, as his unit is transferred to the front. There, the young soldiers are confronted with the horrors of war.
The Great Parade is considered the first realistic war film that does not glorify heroic death but condemns it. It paved the way for productions such as All Quiet on the Western Front , Westfront 1918 and numerous other anti-war films.
The following weapons were used in the film The Big Parade :
Handguns
Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolver
Some American officers use Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolvers as their duty sidearm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolver (Military issue with lanyard ring) - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An officer fires the revolver at a German MG position.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing After emptying it out he throws it in the position.
Colt M1911
The Colt M1911 are used by U.S. officers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt M1911 (dated 1913) - .45 ACP
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An officer with a holstered Colt pistol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another officer holds the M1911 before a massive assault on German lines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing After the time has come, the officer leads the charge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing During hand to hand fight, an officer uses his Colt as a club.
Luger P08
A German soldier and officer are seen with Luger P08 pistols during fighting.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Luger P08 - 9x19mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier fires at the advancing James.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The some soldier looks what happened.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Later in the heat of battle, an officer holds the Luger.
Rifles
Springfield M1903
The main battle rifle of the Doughboys including James (John Gilbert ), Bull (Tom O'Brien ) and Slim (Karl Dane ) is the M1903 Springfield Mk1. German soldiers can also be seen with this rifle instead of accurate Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Springfield M1903 Mk 1 - .30-06.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The three friend march with their Springfield after the boot camp.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing American troops marching with the rifles to the front.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bull, James and Slim carry their Springfields with fixed M1905 bayonets as they are advancing into Belleau Wood.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Slim fires at a German sniper hiding on a tree.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier on the right (George Beranger ) with the rifle with extended rear sights.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing James works the bolt handle on his muddy Springfield.
Krag-Jørgensen M1896
The Krag-Jørgensen M1896 is the second most used rifle in the movie for the American and Germans.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing US Property Marked Krag-Jørgensen Model 1896 Rifle - .30-40 Krag
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Doughboy with glasses marches with the Krag in the boot camp.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another soldier holds the rifle to assembly his men.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing U.S. soldiers marching with the Krag-Jørgensen behind James.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The German sniper aims his rifle at approaching Yankees.
Unknown Rifles
Some unknown rifles that appear to be Dutch Beaumont-Vitali M1871/88 rifles can be seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Dutch service Beaumont-Vitali M1871/88 - 11.3x50R mm
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A rifle lies on the ground next to a dead French soldier. Note the straight bolt handle and side-mounted bayonet. Unfortunately, the rear part is hidden by an Adrian helmet.
Machine Guns
Hotchkiss M1914
French Hotchkiss M1914 Machine Guns in AA-mountings are used by American soldiers to shoot down a plane.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1914 Hotchkiss Machine Gun with tripod - 8x50mmR Lebel / 7.92x57mm Mauser / 11mm Gras
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldiers fire at the plane. This could be archive footage.
Browning M1917
Browning M1917 machine guns are used by German soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning M1917 - .30-06?.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A (bored) German soldier mows down advancing Americans.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing German gunners fire at Renault FT light tanks.
Maxim MG 08
German troops use the Maxim MG08 machine gun against AEF infantrymen as well. Some of them are fitted with the Patronenkasten 16 belt drum.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG08 on 'sledge' mount - 7.92x57mm Mauser.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Pilot fires a Maxim from his plane.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Maxim positon in the woods.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing German Maxim team with the MG. Note the mounted the Patronenkasten .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing An abandoned Maxim on the right.
Maxim MG 08/15
A Maxim MG08/15 is fired by German soldier from a house in No Man's Land.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim MG08/15 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Maxim being fired by the Germans.
Grenades
Mills Bomb
The Doughboys use British Mills Bombs .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing No. 36M Mk.I "Mills Bomb" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing James and Slim about to throw the grenades.
Stielhandgranate Mockup
German soldiers use Stielhandgranate Mockups.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing For comparison: Model 17 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The mockups in a crater. No idea what the soldier screws off.
Other
Canon de 75 mm modèle 1897
The French Canon de 75 mm modèle 1897 field gun is used by American and German forces. For the Germans, it stands for 7,7 cm Feldkanone 96 n. A. field guns.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Canon 75mm Mle 1897.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing AA-mounting.
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7.58 cm Minenwerfer
Two German soldiers fire a 7.58 cm Minenwerfer from a crater.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing 7.58 cm Leichter Minenwerfer
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Renault FT
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Renault FT light tank
Error creating thumbnail: File missing