Perhaps it’s understandable that Paths of Glory escaped my viewing until now. While I’d heard of it many times in the past and even knew it was one of Stanley Kubrick’s early directorial efforts, it never got the acclaim that his later works did so I instinctively shelved it as some middle-of-the-road film to watch someday. But as is the case with many acclaimed artists, they become victims to their own fame in that some of their oeuvres, fantastic on their own merits, become overshadowed by the masterpieces.
What I had categorized as some ‘simple’ World War One trench drama turned out to be much deeper and layered than I erroneously supposed. Moreover, and perhaps unsurprisingly in retrospect, even this early film in his career delivered some of the nuanced imaginative cinematographic imagery Kubrick was renowned for. Honestly, this movie should be right up there with A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Shining.
A prolonged offensive battle to take a German stronghold has French troops led by Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) hopelessly pinned in a stalemate. His troops are outnumbered, outgunned and without any support to proceed with their mission to take the “Anthill”. While casualties both physical and mental are high, the men respect Dax who is making the best that he can of a dire situation.
Dax’s commanding officer, Brigadier General Mireau (George Macready) is no less cognizant of the predicament they are in and is equally level headed and doing his best.That is until the high command and Major General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) propose that Mireau storm the Anthill with the scant resources at hand. Mireau, knowing full well it would be a futile and suicidal mission puts his foot down at first, but has an about-face when a promotion is dangled before him. He then orders Dax to have his men storm the enemy and not only deny them the option to retreat but at one point tries to order his own men be shelled lest they try to turn back.
With the inevitable failure and a need for the army to save face by laying the blame on someone, Dax is ordered to have 3 men selected for a court-martial military trial, and a conviction that would have the men shot. Dax, a lawyer by profession once again does his best at a clearly prejudiced mock trial.
The movie is a tour de force that depicts Monty Pythonesque insanity but without the humor, yet both surprising and shocking. At the same time there is a sense of surrealism to it all.There are a number of subplots that delve into a number of facets among the relationships and characteristics of the soldiers themselves, equally poignant and sometimes as absurd as the main plot.
I found this to be one of Douglas’ best performances in his storied career (Saturn 3 not withstanding of course). Some will also appreciate the inclusion of Richard Anderson (of The Six Million Dollar Man fame) as the prosecuting attorney.
What can I say? It’s pure Kubrick so don’t make the mistake I did. And with that I think I’ll dust off that Barry Lyndon DVD that was gathering dust next to this one. I don’t want to make the same mistake again.