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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The White Parade remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have any interest in where all those modern hospital dramas got their DNA, The White Parade is worth a look. It’s perfect for people who like old-school melodrama and don't mind a bit of theatrical stiffness. If you need grit, fast pacing, or anything remotely subtle, you are going to hate this.
It’s essentially the grandmother of every TV show that features a bunch of wide-eyed recruits trying to survive a high-pressure training program. Watching it today feels a bit like watching a prototype that hasn't quite figured out how to be smooth yet. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it just feels like the characters are reciting their motivations directly to the back wall of the set.
June Arden is our main focus, and she does a fine job carrying the weight of the story. But honestly, I found myself more interested in the side stories of the other girls. There is one scene where a student just breaks down, and it’s surprisingly raw compared to the polished stuff happening elsewhere in the film.
The discipline parts? Man, they are intense. You can practically hear the director yelling "stand up straighter!" through the screen. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Parlor, Bedroom and Bath, though obviously in a much more serious setting. It’s got that same sense of people being shuffled around a stage, trying to remember their marks.
It isn't a masterpiece, and it certainly isn't as punchy as Street of Chance, but it has a weird, earnest charm. It tries so hard to show the 'laborious physical and mental toil' of nursing that it almost becomes a documentary by accident. Almost.
It’s a bit dusty, sure. But if you’ve ever wondered why we love watching people in scrubs have nervous breakdowns in hallways, this is where it all started. 🩺
IMDb —
1927
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