"THE BIG PARADE”

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1927, Page 9

" THE BIG PARADE”

FILM STORY OF THE WAR. Reminiscent of war-time scenes, actions and thoughts of a decade ago, “The Big Parade” was screened in the Opera House in New Plymouth last evening. The story opens with the lives of three American characters, entirely different in social position and in their outlook on life. It shows them, first of all, pursuing their ordinary life, in ordinary times. With the declaration of war by America, and with her accession to the ranks of the Allies, came many heart-rendings in America. Thousands of hearts are joyful at the news of war, but some are sad. It is here that the three men, who are destined to become the greatest of pals in France, first meet each other. In the ranks of the army they are equals, they undergo the same hardships. Jim tHamsworth, one of this happy trio, the one who has left a sweetheart behind in America, falls in love with a charming French mademoiselle, Melisande, in the village of Catillon. The girl captures his heart, and his fond memory of his former love gradually fades and dies away. Then comes the call: “Men! Men! Upl Up!—lnto the firing line!” Interspersed with many humorous episodes of treneh life the story follows the fortunes of each of these three comrades. The horrors of trench warfare, the terrors of machine-guns, the wonderful harmony of the troops, is depicted very clearly. While the men are sheltering from German attacks, orders arrive for one of this trio to go out into No Man’s Land, with the object of ending a certain German firing party. And it is in these moments of greatest danger that Slim’s light-heart-edness and humour show themselves at their best. His method of drawing lots is characteristic of the man. Slim it was, the corporal of the party, who went out in the blackness of night into No Man’s Land on this terrible adventure. And the very spirit of the man seemed to ensure success. But not complete success, for he never returned. The attention of his anxious comrades is drawn by his long absence. His dying groans disclose the terrible secret of his fate. The terrible results of the campaign are shown—hospitals filled with wounded, French peasants retiring before the advancing Germans. And then peace! The return to the homeland. Jim alone, of this trio returns home. Welcomed by his father and mother, he finds that his brother has won his former love from him. The story closes with Jim’s return tq France, the scene of warfare, to meet once more his trophy of the battlefields, Melisande. The story itself is interesting. One cannot help admiring Jim as he leaves everything to fight for his country. And his pal “Slim,” always humorous, is always actuated by noble motives. The bravest of the brave, he goes out finally to lay down his life when duty calls. Under a rough and humorous exterior, he displays wonderful traits of character.

The screen production is on the whole an excellent one. It is a true depiction of life at the front, of the rousing of the spirit of war, of the hideousness of war, and of war’s terrible reality. The romance adds enchantment to the story. The fighting scenes lead one to believe that the producer has not a very deep knowledge of the tactics employed in present-day warfare. The advance in slow wave formation across open country, and the comparative impotence of the enemy machine-guns against such an attack were certainly not features of the Great War, but apart from this the scenes were certainly realistic.