History Film Forum presents "The Big Parade" (1925)

Thu Apr 23 2026 at 07:00 pm to 10:30 pm UTC-04:00

Smithsonian National Museum of American History | Washington

National Museum of American History
Publisher/HostNational Museum of American History
History Film Forum presents "The Big Parade" (1925)
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See King Vidor’s The Big Parade (1925) with a special new live orchestral score, composed and conducted by Andrew Earle Simpson.
About this Event

The History Film Forum proudly presents King Vidor’s The Big Parade with a special new live orchestral score, composed and conducted by Andrew Earle Simpson. The Big Parade depicts the story of Jim Apperson (John Gilbert), a businessman’s son who joins the army to serve in The Great War. The film starkly represents the battlefield and veteran experience of World War I juxtaposed against a romance between Jim and Melisande (Renée Adorée), a French farm girl.

Presented in restored quality by Warner Bros., The Big Parade is considered one of the greatest war movies of all time and a crucial experience for cinema lovers.

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The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. Captioning and assistive listening devices will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email [email protected]. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.

Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Seating will be opened first to Eventbrite-registered attendees and then to walk-in visitors. When we reach maximum capacity, the event will be closed to the public.

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Andrew Earle Simpson is an acclaimed composer of opera, silent film, orchestral, chamber, choral, dance, and vocal music based in Washington, D.C.

One of America’s foremost silent film musicians, he has performed across the United States, Europe, and South America. He is Resident Film Accompanist at the National Gallery of Art, a resident accompanist at the Library of Congress' Packard Campus Theater, Keyboard Artist for the Cantate Chamber Singers, and a professional company member of the Alliance for New Music-Theatre. His chamber, vocal, choral, and silent film music has been recorded on the Naxos, Albany, Fleur de Son Classics, and other labels. His silent film scores have been broadcast on the Turner Classic Movies Channel, and more than 50 of his silent film orchestral, chamber, piano, and theater organ scores are available on DVD/Blu-Ray through Kino-Lorber, Flicker Alley, and others. He founded the Andrew Simpson Ensemble in 2022 to perform new, live instrumental scores for silent film.

Andrew Earle Simpson is Ordinary (full) Professor of Music at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Performing Arts at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.


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Foro de Cine Histórico: El gran desfile (1925) con orquesta en vivo

23 de abril, 2026

7:00 P.M.

El Foro de Cine Histórico se enorgullece de presentar El gran desfile, de King Vidor, con una nueva y especial banda sonora orquestal en vivo, compuesta y dirigida por Andrew Earle Simpson. El gran desfile narra la historia de Jim Apperson (John Gilbert), hijo de un empresario que se alista en el ejército para servir en la Primera Guerra Mundial. La película representa con crudeza la experiencia de los veteranos en el campo de batalla de la Primera Guerra Mundial, contrastada con el romance entre Jim y Melisande (Renée Adorée), una campesina francesa.

Presentada en calidad restaurada por Warner Bros., El gran desfile es considerada como una de las mejores películas de guerra de todos los tiempos y una experiencia crucial para los amantes del cine.

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El Museo Nacional de Historia Estadounidense da la bienvenida a visitantes de todas las edades y capacidades. Este evento es accesible en silla de ruedas. Se proporcionarán subtítulos y dispositivos de ayuda auditiva. Hay adaptaciones adicionales disponibles previa solicitud; por favor, envía un correo electrónico a [email protected]. Se recomienda avisar con dos semanas de anticipación.

El aforo es limitado y se recomienda reservar. Los asientos se abrirán primero para los asistentes registrados en Eventbrite y luego para los visitantes sin cita previa. Cuando se alcance el aforo máximo, el evento se cerrará al público.

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Andrew Earle Simpson es un aclamado compositor de ópera, cine mudo, música orquestal, de cámara, coral, de danza y vocal radicado en Washington, D.C.

Es uno de los músicos de cine mudo más importantes del país. Se ha presentado en Estados Unidos, Europa y Sudamérica. Es acompañante residente de cine en la National Gallery of Art, acompañante residente en el Packard Campus Theater de la Biblioteca del Congreso, tecladista para Cantate Chamber Singers y miembro profesional de la compañía Alliance for New Music-Theatre. Su música de cámara, vocal, coral y de cine mudo se ha grabado en Naxos, Albany, Fleur de Son Classics y otros sellos. Sus partituras para cine mudo se han transmitido en Turner Classic Movies Channel, y más de cincuenta de sus partituras orquestales, de cámara, para piano y órgano de teatro para cine mudo están disponibles en DVD/Blu-Ray a través de Kino-Lorber, Flicker Alley y otros. Fundó el Andrew Simpson Ensemble en 2022 para interpretar nuevas partituras instrumentales en vivo para cine mudo.

Andrew Earle Simpson es profesor ordinario (titular) de Música en la Escuela de Artes Escénicas Benjamin T. Rome de la Universidad Católica de América en Washington, D.C.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, United States

Tickets

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