Review of Paths of Glory (1957) by Raj D — 11 May 2008

With two minds ? unsure of whether I should see this 1957 black and white movie or skip it, I settled down to see the movie.

This is a movie during the times of World War I, and the battle between France and Germany over a small out post of German army ? The Ant Hills.

General George (Adolphe Menjou) under political pressures to show results offers a promotion to General Paul (George Macready), only if Gen. Paul succeeds in capturing the Ant Hill post. General Paul agrees and offers a similar promotional offer to Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) to inspire and motivate his already weak and beaten down battalion to charge Ant Hill post and capture it. Colonet Dax tries to execute the order, but fails and looses the battle with many of his men dead or injured. Gen. Paul is disappointed by the battalion (especially Majors and Sergeants) who disobeys his direct orders and wants to set an example for the French army (by executing 100 French soldiers of the battalion). Three innocent soldiers are selected randomly from the battalion for execution. A court martial takes place where Col. Dax unsuccessfully acts as a defence counsel. In the end these three innocent French soldiers are executed in front of the French army by French soldiers.

The most poignant scene is the last scene of the movie when Col. Dax walks back to his barracks and finds the comrades of the executed soldiers sitting merrily in the pub laughing and singing ? as if nothing has happened.

The movie is excellent. It portrays the politics of war, of institutions, of organizations where there are hierarchies and systems of rewards and punishment. Though the movie is more than 50 years old, the movie remains relevant in making a real mockery of today?s organisation structures we work in.

Reputed director Stanley Kubrick ? what praise one can bestow upon him? Few and far between (especially after 50s) but he has delivered great memorable movies for each generations to see and remember.

All the actors are top class; especially the charm of Kirk Douglas is irresistible. The shrewdness of Gen. George character is presently excellently ? and we find similar evil character around us in every organisation, who can play the game of being pleasing in cunning garbs ? every moment.

This movie is a small 87 minute marvel that tells and gives enormous insights to the emergence of management organisations directly from ridiculous army ghettos. An outstanding movie that no manager should miss!

(Stars 8 out of 10).