Review of Paths of Glory (1957) by Eric F — 28 Apr 2009

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 cell 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.