Paths of Glory

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Paths of Glory

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Paths of Glory

Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Richard Anderson

Stanley Kubrick had already made his talent known with the outstanding racetrack heist thriller The Killing, but it was the 1957 antiwar masterpiece Paths of Glory that catapulted Kubrick to internati...( read more  read more... )onal acclaim. Based on the novel by Humphrey Cobb, the film was initiated by Kirk Douglas, who chose the young Kubrick to direct what would become one of the most powerful films about the wasteful insanity of warfare. In one of his finest roles, Douglas plays Colonel Dax, commander of a battle-worn regiment of the French army along the western front during World War I. Held in their trenches under the threat of German artillery, the regiment is ordered on a suicidal mission to capture an enemy stronghold. When the mission inevitably fails, French generals order the selection of three soldiers to be tried and executed on the charge of cowardice. Dax is appointed as defense attorney for the chosen scapegoats, and what follows is a travesty of justice that has remained relevant and powerful for decades. In the wake of some of the most authentic and devastating battle sequences ever filmed, Kubrick brilliantly explores the political machinations and selfish personal ambitions that result in battlefield slaughter and senseless executions. The film is unflinching in its condemnation of war and the self-indulgence of military leaders who orchestrate the deaths of thousands from the comfort of their luxurious headquarters. For many years, Paths of Glory was banned in France as a slanderous attack on French honor, but it's clear that Kubrick's intense drama is aimed at all nations and all men. Though it touches on themes of courage and loyalty in the context of warfare, the film is specifically about the historical realities of World War I, but its impact and artistic achievement remain timeless and universal. --Jeff Shannon

Id: 10923868

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Paths of Glory Recent Reviews
  • her69eyes
    April 29, 2009
    her69eyes
    This is how a war film should be made. It doesn't try to impress with explosions, nor does it give us a montage of the most creative ways to dispose of a human being. While the one battle scene is a great spectacle, it's an afterthought to the scenes in the courtroom or in the ce...( read more)ll preceding the executions of the three soldiers. It's as anti-war as an anti-war film can possibly be, and there's absolutely no hypocrisy in glamorizing the battle or striving to accomplish the biggest and most violent visual achievements.

    "Paths of Glory" was Stanley Kubrick's first major film with large financing (thanks to the production company of A-list star Kirk Douglas), and it's also considered to be the film to cement him as one of the great directors of his time. For whatever reason it has been overshadowed by Kubrick's later works, however over 40 years since it's release it still retains it's powerful message.

    The story takes place in 1916 France where World War I has devolved into stalemate. The grueling trench warfare against the Germans is largely unsuccessful with nothing to show for after two years of battle. At the start of the film, General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders a field general, General Mireau (George Macready), to advance position and take the "Ant Hill", an impregnable German fortress. The mission is absurd - a suicidal impossibility that will, in the best case scenario, result in the casualties of 55% of the French soldiers. Although Mireau hesitates at first, he is convinced when the topics of promotion and additional gold stars come into play. Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) is the commander of the unit which will have to go through with the attack.

    As expected, the attack is a disaster. A furious Mireau, watching his men hide in the trenches, demands his own troops to fire upon the men and draw them out. The next day, Mireau tells Broulard of the failed attack and suggests the execution of 100 men on the charge of cowardice. Eventually, a compromise is made and the charge is reduced to three soldiers - one from each outfit. Each commanding officer must pick their own soldier. They are Corporal Paris (Meeker), a soldier previously awarded for his bravery, Private Ferol (Carey), selected because of being a "social undesirable", and Private Arnaud (Turkel), selected after witnessing the cowardice of his commanding officer, Lieutenant Roget (Wayne Morris).

    The film explores class boundaries and the privileges they mean in warfare. The contrasting scenes of Generals sipping on coffee and men collapsed in trenches is powerful, and Colonel Dax's pleas at the defense of the doomed soldiers is something out of Kafka. It is about, simply put, man's inhumanity to man. A wonderful movie that sticks with you long after it's over.

    "Paths of Glory" is available on NetFlix Instant View.
  • yona71
    November 15, 2008
    yona71
    Stanley Kubrick's 1957 antiwar masterpiece starring Kirk Douglas as a French Colonel in his battle-worn regiment of World War 1. Under the threat of German artillery in the trenches of warfare, Kubrick's brilliant use of cinematography, music, lighting, etc. result in some of the...( read more) most effective battle sequences ever filmed.
    The camera work in the trenches is gripping, and an utter reminder of how war truly is hell, and how soldiers are thought so little of as a fault of selfish, personal ambitions and self indulgence resulting in senseless executions.
    Though the film touches on themes of courage and loyalty in warfare, it's more about the historical realities of World War 1, and military leaders who orchestrate the deaths of thousands from the comforts of their luxurious headquarters.
  • PvtCaboose91
    November 5, 2008
    PvtCaboose91
    General Broulard: "Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me. You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality. You really did want to save those men, and you were not angling for Mireau's command. You are an idealist - and I pity you as I would ...( read more)the village idiot. We're fighting a war, Dax, a war that we've got to win. Those men didn't fight, so they were shot. You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist that he answer them. Wherein have I done wrong?"
    Colonel Dax: "Because you don't know the answer to that question, I pity you."


    The bitter, numbing inanity of war and the exploitation of military ranks is made brazenly obvious in Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory. Vehemently an anti-war feature, this compelling masterpiece is a piercing attack on the military hierarchy, and a film that proved so controversial it was banned in France until 1975 and unreleased in Spain under Franco's rule.

    This was Kubrick's fourth feature film (previously he'd directed 1953's Fear and Desire, 1955's Killer Kiss, and 1956's The Killing), but this blistering indictment of military politics made a name for the young director. What's so startling - and impressive - about Kubrick's storytelling in Paths of Glory is the cold, matter-of-fact manner in which the film unfolds. As the anti-war statement develops, all rage and dismay becomes targeted at war itself instead of individuals. The product is an unforgettable, enthralling landmark war movie; a significant lesson in humanity and social incompetence. Decades later the power and intensity of the film still resonates.

    Paths of Glory explores the whole spectrum of misguided personalities at times of war. The setting is 1916, during the latter period of World War II. The French and German armies are dug into trenches in a hopeless stalemate. The impatient French General Staff pass an order to take a strategic German hill known as the "Anthill". This would be an obvious suicidal charge, yet the Generals are all-too-willing to risk the lives of their soldiers. A reluctant Colonel Dax (Douglas) is handed the assignment. Despite the knowledge that possibly 60% of his soldiers will die, he has little choice. As Dax leads his men, the chaos and mayhem results in the soldiers becoming pinned down in dangerous territory. The mission is an utter failure. The furious generals are embarrassed about the defeat, and cover up their abject blunder by selecting scapegoats: three soldiers from Dax's regiment who'll be court marshalled for cowardice under fire and made an example of.

    Inspired by Humphrey Cobb's book as well as a string of real newspaper articles, Stanley Kubrick's 87-minute Paths of Glory briskly moves from a misconceived attack to the courtroom trial following it. The powerful Generals depicted in the film are merely corrupt, self-centred marionettes strung up to participate in a game of profligacy and opportunism at the most inappropriate of times. In the somewhat short but gripping attack sequence, Kubrick manages to portray the carnage and the horrors of war in a succession of remarkable images that set the stage for the events to follow. The film views war in terms of power. Those higher up in the ranks have the power to simply court marshal any random soldier. How can any man who isn't standing side-by-side with these men at the front lines possess the arrogance to accuse them of cowardice? As the story unfolds, this question is literally screaming at the viewer. The truth of the matter is on the screen for all to see, yet the Generals play the ignorance card. All we can hope is that sanity will somehow prevail. The underlying subtext concerns the abuse of power and the consequences of not standing against it.

    Paths of Glory is astonishingly photographed. The captivating black and white imagery makes this one of the most memorable and authentic-looking anti-war films in the history of cinema. Even during the early days of his career, Stanley Kubrick's camera movements are graceful and masterful. The courtroom scene is particularly stunning and admirably unconventional. Whenever we expect Kirk Douglas to deliver an amazing, long, inspirational speech, the Generals counter these possibilities. At 87 minutes, the film is extremely concise and to the point. By circumventing the clichés and challenging an audience's expectation of a happy ending, the film is all the more devastating and compelling.

    There's an assortment of top-notch performances from head to toe. Kirk Douglas is brilliant as Colonel Dax. He's the only high-ranking character in the film with a hint of veracity. As the Generals defy respect for human life with their orders, Dax stands up to them. Even when offered a promotion he bluntly refuses in a series of insults. Douglas is energetic and charismatic. It is his wisdom, sincerity and determination that make the intolerable injustice we witness so despicable. In Douglas' Dax we see all the qualities of a true hero without glorifying the character in any way.
    George Macready is outstanding as the pompous, twisted, fictional French commander General Paul Mireau who possesses not an ounce of sympathy for his embattled troops. In the face of a shell-shocked soldier he offers nothing but blunt insults and orders to have the man removed from the regiment. His character also wilfully orders a suicide mission, and then in embarrassment he perversely finds a scapegoat to use in order to direct the blame away from him. Macready is authoritative and, frankly, quite terrifying.
    There is only one single flaw in the film which unfortunately reverberates to other areas: lack of French accents. Soldiers are of different accents, such as American. It destroys one aspect of the film's authenticity. The fact that the soldiers are supposedly French is therefore only evident in the dialogue mentioning it.

    Overall, Paths of Glory is a timeless and compelling masterpiece, and certainly one of Stanley Kubrick's best movies. Anti-war films of this calibre are few and far between in this current age of cinema. Unfortunately, this is a film seen by relatively few. It even missed out on a spot on the AFI Top 100! Classics are far too unfairly overlooked in this day and age. With a brilliant ensemble cast, enthralling cinematography and an effective script, Paths of Glory is an outstanding essay on the madness of conflict, both in war and in politics. The terse and remorseless final flourish is one of the most emotionally devastating endings in Kubrick's career. You won't soon forget it.


    "I apologize... for not being entirely honest with you. I apologize for not revealing my true feelings. I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man. And you can go to hell before I apologize to you now or ever again!"
  • sanjurosamurai
    July 15, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    a great war movie from kubrick. douglas puts in a great performance and the story was well told and very profound. this doesnt play like an anti war film as many claim, it plays more like a film on the evaluation of the philosophy of war. i was drawn into the dilema and emotio...( read more)n stirred as an injustice was served. great film.
  • AgentLexi2132
    June 26, 2008
    AgentLexi2132
    ''Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me. You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality. You really did want to save those men, and you were not angling for Mireau's command. You are an idealist - and I pity you as I would the village idiot. We're...( read more) fighting a war, Dax, a war that we've got to win. Those men didn't fight, so they were shot. You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist that he answer them. Wherein have I done wrong?''

    ''Because you don't know the answer to that question, I pity you.''


    When soldiers in WW1 refuse to continue with an impossible attack, their superiors decide to make an example of them.

    Kirk Douglas: Col. Dax

    Paths Of Glory was not anti-war more a case of against men playing God among many. Stanley Kubrick shows this and executes in a manner suitable for a film with a great point to make.

    The time is World War I, French and German armies are stuck in an entrenched draw. Col. Dax played by Douglas is ordered by his overbearing superior Gen. Mireau, as George Macready, to take a German high position known as the Ant Hill. Mireau is pushing for a promotion, so when Dax's soldiers are pushed back, he takes it personally and orders soldiers under Dax's command executed for cowardice. Dax takes their defense.

    There are those who say director Stanley Kubrick had difficulty in his films with understanding and harnessing human feelings. Paths Of Glory proves them wrong. It's less than 90 minutes from beginning to end yet detailed throughout with a kind of raw emotion that pulls you in.

    This is best displayed in the film's shocking ending. Great scenes throughout, whether it's Dax leading his doomed command across No-Man's Land or two soldiers in the evening asking each other earnestly if it's better to be shot or alternatively blown to pieces.

    You never glimpse so much as one German soldier in the entire film, even during the big attack. The underlying of the movie may be war is hell to go through but it doesn't help when you are led by those with their own selfish agendas.

    Douglas is perfect of course, and impressive presence throughout, whether bucking up his men or bandying words with slick Gen. Broulard as Adolphe Menjou.
    But Macready is the one who leaves the strongest imprint. Clearly nuts at the start, Mireau seems utterly blissful in his ignorant selfishness, proclaiming himself ''the only completely innocent man in this whole affair". The shame of it is that compared to Broulard, he ends up being so.

    Great supporting performances, too, by Ralph Meeker, Joe Turkel, and especially Timothy Carey as three condemned soldiers.
    Wayne Morris as a slippery lieutenant and Richard Anderson, later Steve Austin's tan boss on The Six-Million-Dollar Man, as Mireau's unctuous chief of staff, dedicated to seeing the men executed yet showing some understated remorse at the end.

    No attempts are made by any of the cast at French accents, the only accents audible here are Brooklynese. Like another screen classic Amadeus, this makes the story feel less exotic, which I wouldn't of minded, it's all to make it more natural to Americans sadly.

    Ultimately and to conclude, this is Kubrick's film though. In shot after memorable shot, he serves up a classic tale that has economy, raw emotional power, and the drive for justice and right.

    Kubrick made many exceptional films, but this Paths of Glory is definitely among them and one of his earliest.
  • wfairs
    December 30, 2009
    wfairs
    My favorite Stanley Kubrick film (followed closely by Doctor Strangelove) but also one of my favorite ANTI WAR movies. I do not think any movie has captured the absurdity and insanity of Warfare better than this 1957 movie that still is still relevant today.
  • jjnxn
    December 22, 2009
    jjnxn
    Fine rending of an appalling incident in WWI and the inhumanity of a large war machine to even its own men. Well acted and directed but not a pleasant experience.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 20, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    An early Kubrick masterpiece. I loved it.
  • sagapart12
    November 27, 2009
    sagapart12
    A good film. My only frustration is that I often feel with anti-war films simply lead into great anger and not much else by the end of a film.
  • ElCochran90
    October 30, 2009
    ElCochran90
    Review coming someday...

    99/100
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