Paths of Glory | WWI, anti-war, Stanley Kubrick (2024)

film by Kubrick [1957]

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Written by

Lee Pfeiffer Author/co-author of numerous books about the cinema and is regarded as one of the foremost James Bond scholars. His book The Essential Bond: An Authorized Guide to the World of 007 (written with...

Lee Pfeiffer

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Paths of Glory, American war film, released in 1957, that elevated its young director, Stanley Kubrick, to international prominence. Its controversial portrayal of the French military prevented it from being shown in several European countries for years.

The film, set during World War I, is anchored by Kirk Douglas’s powerful performance as Colonel Dax, a gallant officer in the French military who is forced to lead his men in a suicidal attack on a German position. The costly failure of the strategy leads Dax’s superior officer, General Mireau (played by George Macready), to shift blame to the troops, whom he accuses of cowardice. With the consent of his own superior, General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou), Mireau chooses three infantrymen to be condemned to death by firing squad in an apparent attempt at deterring any other soldiers from being derelict in their combat duties. Appalled, Dax, who had been a lawyer in civilian life, acts as defense counsel for his men in the vague hope of trying to bring justice to a kangaroo court. The men are ultimately executed, however, and Dax, along with the remaining soldiers under his command, is sent back to the front line.

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Paths of Glory was adapted from Canadian writer Humphrey Cobb’s 1935 novel of the same name, which Kubrick had read in his youth. It was shot in West Germany, with a local farm providing the setting for the harrowing opening battle sequence. Although the film failed to win any significant awards at the time, it has since been considered one of the greatest antiwar movies ever made. Nevertheless, Kubrick’s provocative denouncement of elitism in the French officer corps, and of military bureaucracy in general, delayed the film’s release in France until 1975, in Switzerland until 1978, and in Spain until 1986. Christiane Harlan, credited as Susanne Christian, played a German captive forced to serenade French soldiers in the film’s moving conclusion; she married Kubrick after the production.

Production notes and credits

  • Studio: United Artists

  • Director: Stanley Kubrick

  • Producers: James B. Harris, Kirk Douglas, and Stanley Kubrick

  • Writers: Stanley Kubrick, Calder Willingham, and Jim Thompson

  • Music: Gerald Fried

  • Running time: 88 minutes

Cast

  • Kirk Douglas (Colonel Dax)

  • Adolphe Menjou (Gen. George Broulard)

  • Ralph Meeker (Corp. Philippe Paris)

  • George Macready (Gen. Paul Mireau)

Lee Pfeiffer
Paths of Glory | WWI, anti-war, Stanley Kubrick (2024)

FAQs

What does Paths of Glory say about war? ›

Paths of Glory is unique for its time because it is “anti-war,” not for focusing on the physical and mental horrors of war, but by providing a sharp commentary on classism and the moral divide between corrupt, high-ranking officers and lowly, frontline soldiers in a way that was fundamentally new to conservative 1950s ...

Did Stanley Kubrick have a high IQ? ›

But if you can get people to the point where they have to think a moment what it is you're getting at, and then discover it, the thrill of discovery goes right through the heart.” Born on July 26, 1928 in Bronx, NY, despite his intelligence—he famously had an IQ of 200 and was a gifted chess player—Kubrick was a poor ...

What is the meaning of the end of Paths of Glory? ›

In the final sequences of Paths of Glory, Kubrick uses Dax to restore our faith in humanity. As in any successful tragedy this film leaves us with a sense that although terrible things have occurred we are left with some satisfaction with the ending.

What ethnicity is Stanley Kubrick? ›

Stanley Kubrick was born in 1928 into a middle-class Jewish family in the Bronx.

What is the main theme of Paths of Glory? ›

PATHS OF GLORY is a story about the ultimate limitation that faces us all and the beauty in resisting, even if we know that all resistance is futile.

What is the irony in Paths of Glory? ›

The irony of the movie, adapted from Humphrey Cobb's pacifist novel, is that the general is setting his troops up for slaughter, ordering a fruitless attack in hopes of impressing his superiors with his aggressiveness.

What is Nolan's IQ? ›

His IQ was apparently over 200 and couldn't be measured using traditional testing methods.

What is Stanley Kubrick died of? ›

Just a few days after completing the editing of Eyes Wide Shut, Kubrick died from a heart attack in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. In the year 2001, the American movie director Steven Spielberg filmed A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. A.I was a movie that Stanley Kubrick had worked on before Eyes Wide Shut, but did not finish.

Who has the top 1 highest IQ ever recorded? ›

As of 2024, the Highest IQ ever recorded is of YoungHoon Kim from South Korea whose IQ is 276. Intelligence is a complex trait that is difficult to define, let alone measure accurately. IQ tests are one of the most common methods used to assess intelligence, but they are not without their limitations.

Why was Paths of Glory banned? ›

In France, both active and retired personnel from the French military vehemently criticized the film—and its portrayal of the French Army—after it was released in Belgium. The French government placed enormous pressure on United Artists (the European distributor) not to release the film in France.

Why is Paths of Glory so good? ›

Throughout his career Kubrick never seemed to be particularly keen on blatantly emotional moments. Paths of Glory is the exception. The later scenes are incredibly poignant and moving, and the final moments in the soldier's bar are what makes it a masterpiece more than anything else – the icing on the cake.

How historically accurate is Paths of Glory? ›

Paths of Glory therefore captures the historical reality of the war quite accurately, both in the actual incident at Souain and in the legal system used to enforce military discipline.

Why was Stanley Kubrick so good? ›

Stanley Kubrick can be described as an auteur filmmaker. Throughout his illustrious career, he showcased a signature style and distinct approach to filmmaking. One hallmark of Kubrick's work was his meticulous attention to detail, evident in every frame of his films.

What was Stanley Kubrick's last film? ›

Eyes Wide Shut” was Stanley Kubrick's final film. He died four months before its release.

What is Kubrick stare body language? ›

A Kubrick Stare is a technique to show a character's dwindling sanity named after Stanley Kubrick due to his frequent usage. It involves the character's face tilting down and them looking up beneath the eyebrows. It is notably used in A Clockwork Orange (1971), The Shining (1980) and Full Metal Jacket (1987).

What is the glory of war quote? ›

Dear friends, be men now. Put courage into your hearts / and act honorable in the sight of your comrades in battle. / When men act with honor, more are saved than are killed, / but when they take flight, there is neither glory nor refuge.

When was Paths of Glory banned? ›

Made in 1957, Paths of Glory (adapted from the novel by Humphrey Cobb), the WWI film that chronicles the unjust deaths of three innocent soldiers accused of battlefield cowardice by corrupt leaders, was censored in France until 1975 due to its anti-war stance and criticism of France's military leadership.

Is Paths of Glory violent? ›

Drinking, Drugs, And Smoking(2/5): Characters smoke and socially drink frequently. Violence(3/5): One very long scene focusing on the war, with some people being killed, lots of fear, and a scene where a man is killed by a grenade. Dead bodies are shown, and guns are fired frequently.

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