Paths of Glory (1957)
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A commanding officer attempts to defend his men against a court-martial following a failed, suicidal attack during World War I.
The story
In 1916, during World War I in Northern France, French officers prepare for a high-stakes assault on a well-defended German position known as 'the Anthill'. Despite the warnings of his subordinates regarding the impossibility of success, the command proceeds with the attack. When the assault fails and the soldiers are left exposed to heavy fire, the leadership seeks to deflect blame for the failure. Colonel Dax, a man with a background in law, is tasked with defending the men facing a court-martial for cowardice. The film explores the tension between the men in the trenches and the officers in command as the legal proceedings begin.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1916, during World War I, French officers plan an attack on the 'Anthill' position. Despite warnings of its danger, the assault is ordered. When the attack fails, the commanding officers decide to court-martial the soldiers for cowardice to deflect blame. Colonel Dax, a lawyer, defends the men in a trial that is described as a farce, lacking proper procedure and evidence. Despite his efforts, the men are sentenced to death and executed by firing squad. Following the executions, the officers are confronted with the reality of their actions. The film concludes with Dax and his men in a tavern, where they share a moment of humanity before being ordered back to the front.
- First release year
- 1957
- Runtime (minutes)
- 88
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Stanley Kubrick
- Writers
- Stanley Kubrick · screenplay; Calder Willingham · screenplay; Jim Thompson · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Kirk Douglas · Colonel Dax; Ralph Meeker; Adolphe Menjou; George Macready; Wayne Morris; Richard Anderson; Timothy Carey; Joe Turkel
- Genres
- war; anti-war
- Themes
- anti-war; military bureaucracy; humanity vs. institutionalism
- Tone and mood
- grim; somber
- Setting
- Northern France, 1916 during World War I
- Premise and plot tags
- war; court-martial; historical
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1935 novel by Humphrey Cobb
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim and was considered one of the greatest war films ever made, though it faced significant controversy and censorship in several European countries due to its anti-military tone.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 90 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Awards and nominations
- BAFTA Award · Best Film · nomination; Jussi Awards · Diploma of Merit · win
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in West Germany because it could not be filmed in France due to its negative depiction of the French military.; The title was inspired by a stanza from Thomas Gray's poem 'Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard'.; The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1992.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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