Although it was released 68 years ago,Stanley Kubrick’sPaths of Glorystill has the power to shock and unsettle us. Produced by and starringKirk Douglas, it’s a stunning portrait of trench warfare, featuring a battle sequence that ranks alongsidethe D-Day invasion inSaving Private Ryanfor raw, visceral intensity. Yetits real power lies in its depiction of the military’s stringent legal system,which led to it being banned in several countries for decades. These decisions were ultimately reversed, yet the film hasn’t lost any ofits razor-sharp critiqueof a system that prioritizes empty displays of strength over actual acts of valor.
‘Paths of Glory’ Was Highly Controversial Upon Its Release
Set during WWI,Paths of Glorystars Douglas as Colonel Dax, a commanding officer in the French military. Dax is ordered by Brigadier General Mireau (George Macready) to take the Anthill, which is heavily guarded by German forces. Dax protests, calling it a suicide mission,but Mireau insists because capturing the Anthill would be a major French victory.As predicted,the mission is a failure, and Mireau orders artillery fire upon his own men to force them out of the trenches. Accusing Dax’s men of cowardice, he orders a court-martial against 100 of them, which gets narrowed down to just three, chosen at random from each company. Daxrepresents the men during the trial, but it’s clearly a farce with a predicted outcome,creating a symbolic victory when an actual one was impossible.
Why Did Stanley Kubrick Disown His Classic, ‘Spartacus’
Stanley Kubrick was so dissatisfied with ‘Spartacus’ that he disowned it entirely.
When it was released in 1957,Path of Glory’santi-military critique made itthe subject of intense controversy.The Swiss government banned all showings of it, calling it"incontestably offensive" to the French military and judicial system;the ban wasn’t lifted until 1970. In Spain,it was kept out of circulation until 1986, 11 years afterfascist dictatorFrancisco Franco’s death. Even American military basesdeemed it unsuitablefor screenings at home and abroad. It’s understandable, considering it doesn’t paint the military—be it the French, Spanish, German, or American—in a particularly sympathetic light.
s Kubrick and Douglas make clear,those at the top of the chain are more than comfortable giving impossible orders to those at the bottomand are happy to sacrifice anyone who fails to follow them to a tee. More than that, Mireau and his higher-up, Major General Brouland (Adolphe Menjou), feel no compunction about feeding three random soldiers to the wolves to make it seem like they’re addressing a disciplinary problem, rather than admitting their own mistake. If the military of any country was looking for a recruitment video,they needed to look elsewhere.
‘Paths of Glory’ Remains a Powerful Depiction of War
The centerpiece ofPaths of Gloryis its battle sequence, shot in documentary realism withlong, unbroken tracking shots that place the audience on the field with the soldiers.As bullets fly and bombs explode, our stomachs churn with nausea. Kubrick contrasts this with Mireau in the safety of his base camp, angered by reports that men arerefusing to put themselves in danger.Mireau knew this was a Sisyphean taskand expressed such to Broulandbefore he learned that victory would come with a promotion. When he is himself indicted for ordering artillery fire on the French troops, he confronts Dax, thinking he’s acting in his own self-interest. He’s shocked to learn that Dax is actually doing this because it’s morally right, in much the same way he fought for the lives of men he knewwere being railroaded by an unjust system. Anyone who has ever found themselves the victim of middle management will relate to Dax’s plight.
The ending ofPaths of Gloryis famous for its quiet power. Defeated by the French military brass, Dax wanders into a bar where his men have gathered to drink and be merry. They cheer wildly when a frightened German farm girl (played by the future Mrs. Kubrick,Christiane Kubrick), takes to the stage,and are stunned to silence when she haltingly sings a folk song.It’s perhaps the last moment of beauty the soldiers will experience before returning to the trenches, where they may very likely die on behalf of a country that deems their lives expendable. Is it any wonder the military didn’t want this one seen?
Paths of Glory
