The Big Parade

(King Vidor, US 1925, 125 min., 35mm)

WWI. King Vidor’s poignant account of idealistic, naive John Gilbert’s spiritual maturing in the trenches was the first and perhaps best American WWI epic, providing a supremely humane and unflinching view of the terrors to Americans who were uncertain of how to deal with the war’s residual pain. It remains a brilliant piece of filmmaking and a celebration of inner strength and love that needs to be seen on the big screen. Special screening of a 1931 reissue print with a recorded soundtrack.

Also showing: Sunday, September 10, 2 p.m.