365+ movies in 365 Days: Day 95 - Paths Of Glory

Day 95 was a double feature. I could not sleep early this morning and was flipping through the cable channels and came across paths Of Glory just as it was about to begin. I have seen the film 3 or 4 times, but it has been at least 10 years since the last time I watched it.

If you don't know this is the film that established Stanley Kubrick has a master film maker. It is a perfect movie. from script, to acting, directing, cinematography, every aspect of the film is flawless. It is a tightly wound film, with out a single extraneous moment. The whole movie is a brief 84 minutes, but Kubrick packs a lot into those minutes.

The film stars Kirk Douglas as Col. Drax a soldier in the French Army, during WW1. he is pushed into leading a hopeless attack by General Mireau, played to pompous perfection by George McReady. The General knows the attack will fail, but orders it any way in order to gain a promotion. Mireau is manipulated into ordering the attack by General George Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) a member of the French General Staff. Broulard wants the attack for political or public relations purposes, not military.
When the attack does fail, General Mireau orders three men tried for cowardice and it falls on Col. Drax to defend them at their Court Martial.

The film is completely anti-war. The  futility and stupidity of war is all there in the film, but not once does the movie preach. There is no glorification of war in this film. Death is not pretty. The movie is filmed in B&W during a time when most movies were made in color. But there is no need for color, the cold harsh conditions, the misery and the death is all there. The audience does not need to see the blood to know it runs red. And there is no happy ending. The film avoids the trap of a Hollywood ending and instead offers up a melancholy song, sung by soldiers that know their blood will soon be spilled in the never ending carnage.

The film has many of the famous Kubrick touches. Most notable are the long tracking shots. the first is when Col. Drax tours the trenches the morning of the attack. The camera shifts from his point of view to him walking what seems miles of trenches. The next shot is when the soldiers are being marched to the firing squad. they walk down a column of soldiers on each side, and they walk and they walk. And with every step the tension builds.Will there be a last minute reprieve for these three unjustly condemned men. Will the General be exposed for what he is, a fool and a coward?

At the Movie House rating **** stars.