Along with "2001: A Space Odyssey", and "Spartacus", "Paths of Glory" represents Director Stanley L. Kubrick's finest work.
"Paths of Glory" is only Kubrick's second film, yet as has happened with other talented directors, notably John Huston, Kubrick made a big impact early on.
A major portion of the credit for the film's success has to go to Kirk Douglas, who also collaborated with Kubrick on "Spartacus" three years later. In arguably his finest performance, Douglas stars as Colonel Dax, commander of a French regiment involved in trench warfare in the First World War. Dax's superior is Division Commander General Mireau, played by facially scarred actor George McReady. Mireau is a vain man, easily pressured into rash acts. Above Mireau is General Broulard, admirably brought to life by French actor, Adolphe Menjou. Broulard cajoles Mireau into a suicidal frontal attack against the fortified German position known as the "ant hill", finally dangling the promise of promotion in front of him. Mireau agrees. Of course, the actual assault is to be carried out by Dax's regiment. Dax protests, but to no avail. He is a good soldier and will carry out his orders.
Kubrick has a way of juxtaposing opposites that lets the viewer see some of the absurdities of life. General Mireau is quartered in a palace, furnished with the most costly, exquisite furnishings and surrounded by gardens rivalling Versailles. He apologizes to General Broulard for his shabby accommodations while offering him a glass of fine Cognac, dispensed from a crystal decanter. By contrast, Dax and the line soldiers crouch down in the trenches, continually sprayed by dirt churned up by bombs and interlocking machine gun fire.
The attack ensues, it is a resounding failure. To cover himself, Mireau accuses the entire regiment of cowardice. He wants to decimate the regiment, that is kill every tenth man chosen by lot, as a lesson. General Broulard tries to get Mireau to relent, eventually Mireau agrees to have three troops court martialled, then executed. Broulard hurriedly disappears. The court martial takes place, with Dax defending his men admirably, however, the men are convicted and sentenced to death. The sentence having been carried out, the regiment is ordered back to the trenches. Dax finds his men relaxing in a cafe, watching a captured German girl sing a folk song. The hardened faces of the veterans are marked by eyes filled with tears, revealing their humanity after all.
There are just too many plot twists and subplots to recount them all. Suffice it to say, both Generals are scoundrels, Dax is a good man, and the men are like all men, a mixture of good and bad. This movie is a real lesson in war and politics! Five stars!
For those who like "Paths of Glory", I also recommend "All Quiet on the western Front", "Judgment at Nuremberg", "Saving Private Ryan", and "Sergeant York".
PATHS OF GLORY is among the most powerful antiwar films ever made. The story takes place in 1916 France as the French command orders an exhausted unit...More at Family Video
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