Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory. 1957 United Artists; distributed to DVD by MGM.
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George MacReady, Timothy Carey
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Available at Amazon as a single DVD part of a 2-Pack Action with A Bridge Too Far, or as part of the United Artists Cinema Greats Collection.

Stanley Kubrick directed this adaptation of the Humphrey Cobb novel that was first published in 1935. The book was about the French army's execution of innocent men to frighten others in their resolve to fight, but the film focuses on the French selecting individuals at random and executing them to punish the entire platoon, as opposed to simply shooting those accused of cowardice.

In the third year of World War I, General Broulard (Menjou) orders his troops to take the heavily fortified "Ant Hill" from the German forces, despite the fact that this mission is little more than a suicide run. General Mireau (MacReady) is well aware of this, but he decides to sacrifice his men after the general mentions he could be promoted. Later in the trenches, Mireau kicks a soldier out of his regiment when he is showing signs of shell shock, which the general denies that such a condition even exists, and it must be cowardice. Colonel Dax (Douglas) also agrees that there is no benefit to the attack, and that the French will sustain heavy losses, but Mireau does not change his mind. During a scouting mission prior to the attack, a drunken Lt. Roget (Wayne Morris) throws a grenade at what he believes to be enemy soldiers, but ends up killing one of the two scouts. Corporal Paris (Meeker) accuses him of killing a comrade and running away in cowardice.

The attack, as expected, is a complete failure. Colonel Dax leads the charge, and while he survives, his platoon sustains major losses, and one-third of the soldiers refuse to even leave their trench. Mireau tries to force them into battle by ordering his own artillery to fire at them, but the artillery commander refuses to shoot at his own men without written confirmation. Even Dax finally concedes defeat after being brushed back into the trench by the rolling body of one of his own men.

Mireau, refusing to accept responsibility, decides to execute one hundred soldiers to punish everyone else, but Broulard convinces him to reduce that number to just three of them, one from each company. Corporal Paris, Private Ferol (Carey), a "social undesirable", and the random choice of Private Arnaud (Joe Turkel) are selected for execution, despite Arnaud being one of the most courageous troops. Acting as their attorney, Dax tries to defend the three soldiers, but to no avail. All three are convicted and sentenced to die.

Dax is aware why Lt. Roget selected Corporal Paris for execution, so he assigns Roget as the officer in charge of the executions, to the lieutenant's horror. The artillery commander meets with Dax with some important information related to the planned executions, which prompts the colonel to seek out Broulard to tell him what happened, complete with sworn statements from witnesses. Broulard does not take immediate action, and with great pomp and ceremony, the three men are executed on schedule. Before they were killed, Roget meekly apologized to Paris for putting him in this situation, which Paris seems to accept.

Over breakfast with Broulard, Dax is informed that Mireau will be investigated for ordering artillery fire on his own men. Mireau angrily denies this and leaves. Broulard offers Dax to promote him into Mireau's position, hinting that Dax had been angling for it. Dax angrily refuses the promotion, and condemns the general for his inability to see the wrongs he has committed. The movie ends at a tavern where the troops are unwinding, and a sergeant appears to tell Dax that the regiment has been ordered back to the front. Dax simply tells the sergeant to give the men a few more minutes.

An absolutely amazing and gripping military film. Highly, highly recommended.