Western Front Association - U.S. Branch - Movie Review of Paths of Glory

PATHS OF GLORY, a critical U.S. Branch movie review. The DVD format was released in May 2001 and can be purchased from Amazon.com for $12.99, with the VHS format selling for $7.98, and is available at other retail outlets. This 1957 movie made Director Stanley Kubrick instantly famous. Kirk Douglas (1916- ) was already a star by the time this movie was filmed. The reviewer is Jim Minnoch, rating the film

½ (out of five stars) for the students of the Great War; he may be reached at jemcam@comcast.net.

It would be hard to believe that there is someone in the Association who has not already seen this outstanding movie. This is truly an anti-war movie, a very rare movie accomplishment, to be sure. Many viewers, incorrectly, evaluate a large number of World War I films as being anti-war, as opposed to just being stories about incidents of the war, or more than 50% pure entertainment, or historical overviews. This powerful film drives the point right home: war is political, is about power, the grand goals are myths, war is not fair, war is unforgiving. Be warned that the compelling influence of viewing this story will linger in the back of your mind, probably for life. Maybe that is what Humphrey Cobb, the writer of the novel which was the basis, was trying to do. The heavy-duty and superb acting matches the main thrust of the leathery theme. Brace yourself and, uninterruptedly, watch a terrifying incident of the Great War in France unfold.

Authentic Trench Scene from the Film

The story is about an exhausted French regiment which has been pinned down in its trenches by German artillery for far too long. Colonel Dax (Douglas) is ordered by his commanding general to make an attack on the "Ant Hill", a suicide mission, which fails as almost everyone knew it would, with terrible losses. The general needs to blame someone, or he will shoulder the responsibility for the disaster. The decision is made to blame the entire regiment for cowardice, and three men are selected at random to be tried by a rigged military court. Colonel Dax, a lawyer by profession, defends the men. The message sent through this film becomes abundantly clear. This movie is highly recommended, without reservation.

Created: 13 February 2004