Paths of Glory was originally written as a novel by Humphrey Cobb, a story which would turn into one of the greatest war movie classics made in the 50's. Considered to be one among the most potent movies directed by Stanley Kubrick, this black and white close up at the politics of war has had audiences cringing for nearly half a century. Based on the French army's efforts against the Germans during World War I, the movie takes a different turn then most war stories, examining the enemy from within, rather than those outside.
In an effort to please the politicians and civilians who grow tired of a lasting stalemate between French forces and invading German troops, The French General Staff devises a foolhardy idea. The normally reasonable general in charge of the forces the plan pertains to convinces himself that it is a plausible idea after the possibility of his promotion is mentioned. He relays this to the colonel overseeing the deadly World War I trench, and the colonel sees the sad truth surrounding the hopeless mission, without the ability to take action against it.
Many critics from the time and today esteem Paths of Glory among the most powerful stories of war told in film, driven by its extremely personal viewpoint on the characters and their internal struggles. As a director, Kubrick draws excellent performances from all of his actors, giving the audience insight into the subtle undertones beneath every character's actual lines. This is the key element that gives the movie its humanitarian pull and makes it almost terrifyingly relatable.
Despite the colonel's best efforts to rally his troops and fulfill the order given by the general, everyone in the company feels a looming sense of failure. Made concrete by the quick slaughtering of just about every man who leaves the trench, many stay behind, positive there is no way to win. The observing general then accuses the regiment of cowardice, and three men are chosen to take the blame for the French failure. The judgment that ensues is the main motivation for the story, and just like the attempted attack, takes the characters down a dark journey in which no one can see a light at the end.
Though black and white footage may simply appear to be a technical limitation of the past to many who see an older film, it is still a respected medium for its drama and contrasting power. The emotional pull of the scenes in Paths of Glory are masterfully integrated with the lighting, darkness playing into the emotion of fear and anger, patchy light mixed with dark to portray doubt and suspense, and bright white to reveal the overly clean and opulent.
What may stand out to today's audiences that may not have captured so much attention at the time is the physical motion and gesticulation the characters perform throughout the film. To create diversity in the way scenes were shot without a large budget, a single camera would often track the pacing of a character during thought or speech about the set. This pacing punctuates the mental process the actor is portraying, and keeps the audience moving with them, although the camera is set from a single point.
Because the movie's sentiments leaned toward the pointlessness and politics of war, it was considered controversial and even taboo in some European countries. It was the first of its kind to depict the antagonist of a war story as those in higher power from one's own side, rather than the advancing enemy forces. Though anti-war movies and cultural viewpoints did not become popular until after the war with Vietnam, the actors and crew involved with the film took an artistic risk and moral standpoint that will be remembered for all cinematic history.
Paths of Glory was highly critically acclaimed, though its box office profits were minimal. The moral behind the story lingers on with relevance as questions of human sacrifice for the sake of political war is more heavily disdained as generations pass. The movie is often used today as a critical thinking and discussion tool for English classes and Film classes alike, sharing the universal challenge of fate and orders for a long time to come. - 40725
In an effort to please the politicians and civilians who grow tired of a lasting stalemate between French forces and invading German troops, The French General Staff devises a foolhardy idea. The normally reasonable general in charge of the forces the plan pertains to convinces himself that it is a plausible idea after the possibility of his promotion is mentioned. He relays this to the colonel overseeing the deadly World War I trench, and the colonel sees the sad truth surrounding the hopeless mission, without the ability to take action against it.
Many critics from the time and today esteem Paths of Glory among the most powerful stories of war told in film, driven by its extremely personal viewpoint on the characters and their internal struggles. As a director, Kubrick draws excellent performances from all of his actors, giving the audience insight into the subtle undertones beneath every character's actual lines. This is the key element that gives the movie its humanitarian pull and makes it almost terrifyingly relatable.
Despite the colonel's best efforts to rally his troops and fulfill the order given by the general, everyone in the company feels a looming sense of failure. Made concrete by the quick slaughtering of just about every man who leaves the trench, many stay behind, positive there is no way to win. The observing general then accuses the regiment of cowardice, and three men are chosen to take the blame for the French failure. The judgment that ensues is the main motivation for the story, and just like the attempted attack, takes the characters down a dark journey in which no one can see a light at the end.
Though black and white footage may simply appear to be a technical limitation of the past to many who see an older film, it is still a respected medium for its drama and contrasting power. The emotional pull of the scenes in Paths of Glory are masterfully integrated with the lighting, darkness playing into the emotion of fear and anger, patchy light mixed with dark to portray doubt and suspense, and bright white to reveal the overly clean and opulent.
What may stand out to today's audiences that may not have captured so much attention at the time is the physical motion and gesticulation the characters perform throughout the film. To create diversity in the way scenes were shot without a large budget, a single camera would often track the pacing of a character during thought or speech about the set. This pacing punctuates the mental process the actor is portraying, and keeps the audience moving with them, although the camera is set from a single point.
Because the movie's sentiments leaned toward the pointlessness and politics of war, it was considered controversial and even taboo in some European countries. It was the first of its kind to depict the antagonist of a war story as those in higher power from one's own side, rather than the advancing enemy forces. Though anti-war movies and cultural viewpoints did not become popular until after the war with Vietnam, the actors and crew involved with the film took an artistic risk and moral standpoint that will be remembered for all cinematic history.
Paths of Glory was highly critically acclaimed, though its box office profits were minimal. The moral behind the story lingers on with relevance as questions of human sacrifice for the sake of political war is more heavily disdained as generations pass. The movie is often used today as a critical thinking and discussion tool for English classes and Film classes alike, sharing the universal challenge of fate and orders for a long time to come. - 40725
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