Kubrick later married the actress who played the German woman at the end of the film. They were together until Kubrick passed away in 1999. Pretty cool.

I think one important thing here is that the General first wanted to execute 100 men. Dax got that figure down to 3. So in the end he saved 97 people. I think Dax is a good man who tries to do his best within the system. As a German that makes me think about WW2 and the Nazis, you can revolt against them and you can get killed, or you can try todo good within the system and maybe save a few people. Which one of the two ways is morally superior ? Revolting / getting killed or saving people within the system ? Hard to say, but you have to applaud both. And btw, you can see how close to home the move hit by the fact that it was forbidden in France for a long, long time.

In my consideration, this is the best war movie ever with strong acting by Kirk Douglas

The accomplished director of photography of the movie, Georg Krause, was from Germany.Shortly before this movie he had also photographed two parts of the classic trilogy of the "o8 / 15" - movies, which were among the first movies made in Germany about WW2 in 1954/55. He was known and appreciated for his particularly crisp and gritty black&white cinematography. ( Actually he'd never made a single movie in color.) Some further interesting bits of trivia about this movie: Kirk Douglas played not only the lead role, but served also as producer of the movie thru his own production company, Bryna-Productions. The movie was completely shot on a pretty tight budget ( close to 1 Million $ ) at the Bavaria Studios, Munich-Geiselgasteig, and some nearby surroundings in Bavaria/ Germany. The trenches were built and the battle scenes filmed on a field near Munich-Pullach. The "New Castle Schleißheim" in Oberschleißheim is the location, where the execution scene was filmed in front of, and also the trial scenes were filmed inside that same castle. The specialist providing the (then still solely ) practical pyrotech effects was the famed German FX-man, Karl "Charlie Boom Boom" Baumgartner, who'd provide the pyrotech effects for some thirty years for many international movies, among them "The Longest Day" (USA 1962), "Dunkirk 1940" ( France 1964), "The Bridge at Remagen" (USA 1968), "Waterloo" ( Italy/USSR 1970), "A Bridge too Far" (GB 1977), "Steiner - The Iron Cross" ( Germany 1977) and "Das Boot" (Germany 1979/80/81) To save the production some money ironically all the ( non-speaking ! ) extras playing French soldiers were actually German policemen recruited from the state police of Bavaria, because they got payed by the Bavarian federal state and were by law not allowed to earn some extra money, because, as said, they were state officials. There really lies some irony in the fact, that all the extras playing French soldiers were actually Germans, doesn't it !? ;) This was a rather cheap method for the Bavarian goverment to promote the movie production facilities in Munich to foreign producers and attract them to produce their movies there. The policemen would be sent to the movie set during their official work hours and got paid by the state. Another advantage of hiring policemen as extras was, that they were naturally used to handle arms, so the production had not to spend considerable time in giving unexperienced extras some training lessons in it. ( Five years later another classic American war movie would be produced here as well : "The Great Escape" with an all star cast. And in 1979/80 another classic, "Das Boot", this time as a complete German production.) But it is pretty likely, that most of these men had also actually fought as soldiers, the older ones in WW1 ( and maybe they were even forced to fight again in the "Volksturm" during the last months of WW2 ) and the younger men probably in WW2. So most of the non-speaking extras certainly knew the song and could fully understand the lyrics. So it was probably no big acting deal for them to tear up, when Christiane Kubrick had sung it in front of them so movingly and in such plain fashion like a German mother from a hundred years ago would have sung it to her little child. There lies so much "innocence" in the unpretentious way she sings this simple tune, that you can't help but being deeply touched by it. Btw. Kirk Douglas had quite a relation to Bavaria and the movie studios in Munich there. He would make three movies there in the second half of the fifties and at the beginning sixties. This one and then immediatly after that "The Vykings" ( yes, that movie was actually shot for the most part on and near a lake in the Bavarian Alpes, the Walchen Lake, which was quite a convincing stand-in for a Norwegian fjörd, and the battle scenes actually in the Normandy/France.The Harlangerfjörd in Norway was only used for a few establushing shots by a second-unit camerateam, because the Vyking-ships-replica were actually not ocean-going; and in 1961, "Town without Pity", a movie, that had felt into rather oblivion today ( probabably due to its even more controversial subject), and where Kirk played a very similar role, but this time an American military lawyer. And of course Kirk Douglas got good connections to Germany since in 1954 he'd married his second wife, Anne, who was from Hannover. Kind regards from a classic movie buff from Germany !

Despite calling myself a Kubrick fan, I just watched this film for the first time last night. I was brought to tears during the end scene. I didn’t bother trying to examine why I was so moved by the scene. That was until today; my initial theory was that the scene was meant to be more sentimental than the rest of the movie. Your explanation of the contrast of the cynicism most of the movie displays against the hope the last scene displays kind of confirms my theory. Nevertheless, wonderful movie and great breakdown. You deserve more subscribers! Keep up the great work.

The first time I saw this movie, I stayed angry the entire time. The injustice of three innocent and brave men being executed for what amounts to no good reason got to me. It is very well filmed and acted-Kubrick is, of course, a genius. Fun fact: The (villain) general with the scarred face actually appears in Kim Newman’s book The Bloody Red Baron, a sequel to Anno Dracula, which depicts a world where Dracula killed Van Helsing and married the queen of England-a historical piece featuring fictional and historical characters from the period in question. These are fun reads-a bit like Alan Moore’s and Kevin O’Neil’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and they inspired Moore’s books, I believe. Regarding your assessment that Douglas’ character is an enabler. I never felt like he had many choices in the matter. He was steamrolled by the political machine with no recourse, and did his best to save his men. I do think I would’ve done more to save them, but I recognize that in the time period in question, the kind of rebellion I’d be willing to commit was almost unthinkable. Most ppl did just follow orders. Words like ‘loyalty’ and ‘duty’ have been used to manipulate the masses for a long time. I doubt Douglas’ character could’ve quit outright-even today that’s a court martial, and during war time it would be a bigger deal. Idk. I think it says more about the system: Douglas tried to use the court system to exonerate his men, only to find the system itself was corrupt, ruled by corrupted men. Either way, the film is heartbreaking. And don’t watch it if you’re having problems at work with a superior, lol. Good stuff.

This is such an amazing movie. I think it's in a toss up for which Kubrick film is criminally underrated (the other being Barry Lyndon). Both are masterpieces but are rarely mentioned as people's favorite Kubrick movie. Paths of Glory speaks strongly to my personal beliefs about the US military empire and my general skepticism/disdain for unjust bureaucracies. It's all so tragic. Sadly, you can understand the dilemma Dax faces. When you're just a cog inside of a big machine, raising a fuss is really only going to lead to your own personal demise and end up accomplishing nothing.

i was so angry and hated those generals throughout the movie hoping theyll get what they deserve but it ended with a bitter yet realistic tone. saddest part is... this stuff really happened... often during the war. men who fought valiantly then got shell shocked were abused. men who even recovered were sent back to the front lines and were physically unable to move were tried and executed for "cowardice" So infuriating that such brave men who fought for that war were treated as enemies. its a great movie with an accurate recounting on how the politicians and elites "fight" these wars. you did a great analysis. good job!

Some bits of trivia about the song, that the young German woman sings in the last scene and the marching band plays during the end credits: It's actually a soldiers-/folk song, this melodic version at least even stands in the march metrum, therefore the singing blends in the marching band version without any effort at the end credits. The song the girl ( played by Kubrick's later wife, Christiane, they both had met for the first time on the set of this movie )is singing, is the Austrian/German folk- or soldier- song "Der treu' Husar" ( "The Faithful Husar"), that had first appeared around 1820 and was printed in several German folk song editions throughout the 19th. century with half a dozen different text and melodic versions, but all tell the same story at the core. The version to be heard here is certainly the most popular and famous one, but interestingly Kubrick allowed himself a slight anachronism here, since that version in march rhythm was only composed and released shortly AFTER the end of WW1 by the Colognian composer , Heinrich Frantzen ( 1880 - 1953 ). And ironically it became hugely popular as a Carneval song in Cologne INSPITE its actually bittersweet and sad lyrics. Today it's a sort of "National Hymn" of the city of Cologne and its melody is played each hour by the Glockenspiel at the house of 4711 in Cologne. By the time Kubrick had made the movie it had become quite popular also in the USA, since no other than Louis Armstrong had released a cover version just recently. There is also an English cover version by Vera Lynn. Here are the three verses of the song Christiane is singing : ( I admit my translation has no poetic quality at all, since it's just literal and regards no rhyme- or metric pattern.) ========================== 1. Es war einmal ein treuer Husar, Der liebt’ sein Mädchen ein ganzes Jahr, |: Ein ganzes Jahr und noch viel mehr, Die Liebe nahm kein Ende mehr. :| ( Once there was a faithful husar, who loved his girl one whole year. One whole year and much much more, the love never came to an end.) ( she is leaving out this verse : 2. Der Knab’, der fuhr ins fremde Land, Derweil ward ihm sein Mädchen krank, |: Sie ward so krank bis auf den Tod, Drei Tag, drei Nacht sprach sie kein Wort. :| ( The lad, he went to a foreign land, while by that time his girl became ill. She became so ill, ill onto death, so that she spoke not a single word for three days and three nights.) ) (And she directly jumps to verse 3:) 3. Und als man ihm die Botschaft bracht, daß sein Herzliebchen im Sterben lag, |: da ließ er all sein Hab und Gut, und eilte seinem Herzliebchen zu :| ( And when he got the message, that the dearest to his heart would lay down onto death. he left all his belongings at the spot and hurried to his dearest of heart.) 4. Ach bitte, Mutter, bring' ein Licht, Mein Liebchen stirbt, ich seh’ es nicht, |: Das war fürwahr ein treuer Husar, Der liebt’ sein Mädchen ein ganzes Jahr. :| ( Ach, Mother, please, bring a light, my dearest is dying, and I can't see her ! That was truly a faithful husar, who loved his girl one whole year. ) ========================== There are some more verses, that are not sung in this scene telling, how the girl eventually dies and the mourning husar is looking for six strong young peasant men as pallbearers for her funeral. But Christiane simply sings only three of the first verses and after that she just starts to repeat the same verses from the beginning. While the first verse had ended: "The love came never to an end., the very last refrain ( as said not sung in this scene ) profoundly ends: "The grief came never to an end " Really a sad song indeed ! And the blending of the sung version into the military march version played by a big brass band, when the end credits are rolling, is perhaps the last and perfect hint without words by Kubrick to the audience, that this short moment of relief for these men was only a short, peaceful reconnection with their human heart, before they were thrown again without mercy into the trenches, where they would soonly have to mutate into fiercly fighting beasts again in order to survive. Btw. this kind of big-brass-marching-band arrangement during the end credits is just of the same kind as those, one can hear in Cologne during the sessions of the big carneval societies there, when the big carneval gardes are marching into the festivity halls. There is even a famous garde in Cologne named after this song, "Der treu' Husar" ! Kind regards from Germany !

The sad song at the end of the movie is very haunting. Their eyes & expressions show ice cold fear & the 1000 yard stare. A war which was about very little, caused massive death for little gain. It's still hard to comprehend the bravery & stupidity of it all...

This is one of the greatest films ever made. It really resonates with the modern world on a level that no other film has either during the period or since. I have felt like Col. Dax on many occasions. Bureaucracy is a fact of life. You can push back, go after them, but in the end, if you’re an idealist, you will be accused of being “disrespectful” or “opinionated” by those inside the bureaucracy. It’s not just about war, it’s a commentary on everyday life. This is why I love Kubrick, he is the director of the idealists, a personality type that is continually being discouraged by our modern society. It’s almost as if to succeed in the modern world, we must go against our basic instincts of compassion, integrity and honesty. This film does a fantastic job at showing this absurdity. Paths of Glory is perhaps Kubrick’s finest work.

Spielberg thought the woman singing was the best in cinema of all time.

Another excellent film of a similar theme is 'Breaker Morant', set in the earlier conflict, The Boer War, which is well worth anyone's time to view.

One of the greatest movies, period. It's a shame it's rarely listed among Kubrick's best works. I put it in his top 3.

Before I watch the video I will say "Thank you". You are helping to keep these works of art out there in a very jaded, stagnant world.

outstanding analysis of the end scene

In addition to the almost obligatory tracking shots following Dax through the trenches, or when he is scrambling over rough terrain during the attack on the Ant Hill, the high point was meeting Christiane Kubrick singing in the bar at the film's end.✔✔✔ Evidently, she met Kubrick on set and they were married after the film's release.

Interesting points made on the movie’s ending scene. Another way I interpreted it was that the masses/ordinary soldiers are just puppets in a larger dispute between elites. The captured German girl serving as “entertainment” was a sign of how easily distracted and how easily they’re able to forget about the injustices the generals impose upon them. Before the men show compassion and start humming along to the German song, you can see this on Colonel Dax’s face when he reacts to the crowd being rambunctious, as if they had already forgotten about the executions. He knows that this system will carry on with or without idealists like him.

All directors should aspire to make a movie like this one…

I've just watched Paths of Glory, and I am still trying to form my opinion and perspective of it. I wish there were more videos like this to analyze and tear it down. A fantastic film, to the brim with emotion, politics and ethics. It does not drag for a moment, and I was mesmerized the instant we were cut from that European mansion to the reality in the trenches. Amazing cinematography, a film ahead of it's time, as stated in the video.

Kubrick is a master in his craft. I always get stunned about how he even made a black and white film from the 1950s look so beautiful and detailed. I dream about being a director for an epic film for a studio but some of Kubrick works intimidate me. He was too good for words.

Kirk Douglas: I met the director, Stanley Kubrick. He said he had a script called PATHS OF GLORY. I read the script and fell in love with it. "Stanley, I don't think this picture will ever make a nickel, but we HAVE to make it." I got financing. It wasn't easy. When I arrived in Munich, I was greeted with a completely rewritten script. "Stanley, why would you do that?"

What grabbed me at first was the gorgeous cinematography, then the stellar cast. It's up there with "All Quiet on the Western Front" as far as its statement about war, in general.

See "12 Angry Men," also from 1957.

George McCready from Providence, R.I. as General Mireau, was just just awesome in this film, while enhanced, his facial scar was very real...Dax was a damn, good, officer who followed his orders...

I could never figure out why the last scene of the men humming was emotional until this video, thank you mate

Apparently, Churchill said that the film portrayed accurately, the story as it went down. I just recently saw this film on PBS...

Thanks for making this. Definitely deserves more views, one of my favorite movies

What a christmas gift! Happy holidays from Sweden!

Your point about Col. Dax being courageous to criticize but also being an enabler is well put. In my limited career and exposure to the military I noticed many very competent and sincere officers who ignored service politics rarely advanced passed the O5 (Lt. Colonel rank). Honesty and frankness is not often rewarded. The founders where suspect of a permanent military but we have let what Eisenhower called "the military industrial complex" to flourish.

There are a few movies and videos that should be REQUIRED VIEWING for every citizen, and this is one of them. Our nation has been at war 224 of 247 years of its miserable existence. The scene where Douglas tells off his superior is one of my top ten scenes of cinema. Kubrick, the man who produced the moon landing footage and fooled the world, is one of the great directors.

Just think, 100 years ago or so we ( the U.S. ) didn't have a military industrial complex. It took one year to train a military sufficiently to fight in that war.

"The men died beautifully!"

thanks for the clever insights.

One of my personal favourites in Kubrick's filmography. This film is a transcendentally humane war movie with impressive protracted battle sequence and a knock-out ending. I give this film a 9.2/10. Happy New Year Dr. Josh. Cheers!!! 🍹 🍹 🍹

Hours before the 11/11/2018 armistice was scheduled to begin, attacks were still being ordered, positions fought over that would soon be surrendered. Several thousand men were needlessly sacrificed. Dax was operating consistent with military protocol. You can disagree behind the scenes but must ultimately obey orders. That's why the attacks continued as previously mentioned. The French army mutinied in 1917 for a short time. Fortunately the Germans didn't find out.

The final scene's song is called "The Faithful Hussar", that were hugely famous at WW1 era... it's not random and it's lyrics is about a knight that is put in a conundrum pretty relatable with the three soldiers story. This is the reason that the soldiers got triggered... because they related with their executed comrades. The morale of the scene is that the girl gave a huge slap in the face of her captors

Kubrick was brilliant as a battle scene director.

Great stuff, keep it on!!

thanks for a nicely explained take on a compelling film. I don't think i've been so infuriated whilst watching a film as i was when those 3 men were executed. I guess i'm used to the eleventh hour reprieve where the right thing is ultimately done ie. the men are saved but no Kubrick follows through on this bleak and cynical vision and for that i applaud him but man it was a tough watch. Like you said the cinematography is outstanding i marvelled at the crispness and stunning contrasts. The decision to shoot black and white added an another layer entirely and the way Kubrick moves the camera around and about the trenches is sublime. That ending i wasn't quite sure of at first but rewatching it here and listening to your opinion i can see how the men are tamed by the folk singer and taken out of their world of shit just for that moment and how Dax ultimately needed to witness it for his own sanity to remain intact. I wonder though how a man such as Dax, a learned man, can really sleep that night knowing that absolute disdain with which those men are treated. Fascinating film and great vid. Thanks

Paths of Glory is right up there with the 1930 version of All quiet on the Western Front. Both excellent movies about WW1. The ironic thing those films share is that the Germans were killing Frenchmen, and the French were killing French, too.

I'd like to point out that hierarchy even though begins from the generals point... In the middle goes to one of the soldiers ordered to be executed, kills a cockroach and says "now you got the edge of im' " I think thats one of the depth points kubrick used to portray.

I find a lot of similarities in the character Kirk Douglas plays in this movie and the character he plays in Seven Days in May.

No matter how many times I have watched the film I still get teary eyed at the final scene with the German barmaid singing to the soldier, who in turn get teary eyed. They don't know the lyrics to the song but understand that for some this might be the last female they will ever see or hear something other than bombs exploding. After this film Kubrick didn't get very emotional with his characters. The films of his later years are mostly satires on the failure of human behaviour but in Paths of Glory it is a straightforward drama about the merciless nature of war. It is a great film and filled with many outstanding performances. I'd rank this among my top five favourite Kubrick films....probably ranking at number 3 after 2001 and Barry Lyndon.

I don't know if it is schmaltzy. The historical backdrop is the great mutiny of the French Army during WWI. The French Army almost broke down. The French soldiers by the thousands were going AWOL. The French army executed hundreds of soldiers. I believe it was 1917. It's not to hard for a soldier to have empathy for those men and (as you said) feel a sad joy that those men showed the girls something other than hatred and lewdness.

After watching this film many times, I've only just realised that it's Richard Anderson taking the General's coat.

great new commentary on Paths of Glory in your Substack; i was watching the new All Quiet on the Western Front again last night and of course Paths of Glory came to mind - the eternal return of man to war, or so we still trod

I think that you calling the end schmaltzy is cynical too. This was the only point of the movie where the men saw the enemy as human. (If you are to assume they understood the German, the song is about a soldier who runs home to his love). However, you are so right about bbureaucracies where the people on the lower level are punished by the higher-ups. An important point you missed was that the commanding general knew about the plot to shell the friendly troops, but kept silent about it (which would have saved the three men's lives) and got that other general Court martialed for the attack and potential shelling

Hey man. I just found your channel... It looks good. I'll subscribe. 👍🏻 I hope your channel grows more! Great content..!

Acho que quando os soldados começam a chorar quando a garota canta a música triste, mostra uma solidariedade que somos todos seres humanos e por que estamos lutando entre si?

Interesting discussion of cynicism in this movie... did not see that angle. Usually when Kubrick is discussed I think of the modern cynicism, not the cynicism of olde, but it makes totally sense what you say. Josh, are you in any way familiar with the early work of Peter Sloterdijk? I don't know if he's discussed in any way outside of Europe.. Colonel Dax as an enabler... love the discussion that this view sparked here in the comments as well. In some way this struggle of individual values and his idea of what his occupation/organization (the military) should be versus organizational structures/management (the staff of generals) reminded a bit of The Wire. The Wire also does not simplify the story to a values-driven individual who can overcome the systemic pressure against all odds, but lets the tension stick and leaves us in murky moral grounds.

great intro, will watch thanks

My greatgranfather was killed on April, 1918, near the Belgian border. His body was never to be found, like thousends of others. His wife spent 2 years looking for his final resting place. My granmother, born in 1914, had no memories of her father. 1939 came, and her recent wedding husband went to war.Luckily, he made through it safe. Their son spent 2 years in Algeria, during the war with that country. So, when you call us "cheese eating surrender monkeys", i am prone to break your face.

You have to do a video about "Ballad of a Soldier" which has some of the same elements but also the most breathtaking and heartbreaking love stories of any film I've seen. Anyone who loves movies has to see it.

I agree, this is a superb movie. Thank you for this review.

Ce film est "great" parce qu'il s'inspire de faits réels. Et parce que c'est Kirk Douglas.

Excellent

The men had to protect and defend their country (France)from invasion. They had to see it through.

Who knows? Colonel Dax may be an enabler but my reading on this is that the military unit is better led into battle by him than to risk that a different leader could very well be more of the corrupt ineptness he has had to deal with recently.

How I should feel about it? I think I can work that out for myself!

A lot of emphasis on the message, but I think some mention should have been made of the acting here. Both generals are tremendous. The weasely old man, the pompous hypocrite and his suck-up subordinate. They're perfectly cast and hit just the right note of despicability. And they're not cartoon exaggerations; you need time to see their true depths. Kirk Douglas has incredible emotional intensity that just pops off the screen, because his character has it.

His greatest movie

Please someone agree that the scene where the soldier Arnauld confronts the priest before their death sentence And burst into rage is Inspired from "The Stranger" of Albert Camus like cmon just everything about the movie is so Camus

Interesting discussion about Colonel Dax maybe not being a hero because he still goes along with the system. But I would disagree though, because I don’t see how he has any other reasonable paths to take. What is he expected to do, try and take his men and stage mutiny? Would that be heroic? Or maybe he should resign his post, if even can, but then who takes it over? Who is now responsible for those men’s lives? It’s unlikely to be another Colonel Dax. He fights for his men’s lives and when he loses, he does the selfless thing and goes back to his post to do what he can for the men he still has, even though he disagrees. It’s not reasonable to ask one man to change the world and Dax is not in any position to do so. He did all he could, in my opinion.

Have you seen the film “ *It happened tomorrow* ” ?

Interestingly, I recently watched a documentary specifically about these morale executions during WW1 and it appears that the British excelled in this mistreatment of their soldiers. So here is a movie based specifically on three executions perpetrated by British officers, created by a British movie studio that depicts the tyrants as French officers executing French soldiers. I wonder if the French were incensed by this film in 1957?

Really good video, got more out of the film after watching this

Dax lived by a code of honor that wasn't situational. He was going to be honorable and adhere to his code even if the system wasn't. That wasn't "enabling" but it is was used against him. That's the key to Paths of Glory. The only issue s that war movies always show soldiers as a bunch of middle aged men. That's not the case.

No: Colonel Dax can't do anything about the trial verdict, but he does try anyway, at risk to his own career.

You missed the point about Dax entirely! He's trapped in this system as much as his men are. It's 1916 not 2021! Dax is a hero because he does the best he can for his men! I'd guess you never served in the Military? Bucking that system is as tough as it gets. And the further back in history you go the harder it was! .... See : "The Life of Emile Zola" which highlights the Dreyfus Affair if you want a true picture of French Justice!

The singing woman at the end was kubricks real life wife.

To say that Colonel Drax was ultimately an enabler is, to me, a tragic misunderstanding. He did everything in his ability to save those men, bordering on the insubordinate which could’ve landed him in a court martial the same as his men. He even managed to drop the number of men that would be tried for cowardice from 100 to 3. Would you say that Oskar Schindler was an enabler because he couldn’t save every Jew in Płaszów? One of the things that this film captures brilliantly is that military justice is very different from civilian justice. In the military it is a crime to not do your job, that cannot be said of the civilian world. This is a sad reality of war, and sometimes, as shown in the film, it gets muddled. It was also a much different time. The lines which divided class were much more rigid than today. And yet the Colonel Drax crosses this line with graceful ease. He sees in his men the humanity and dignity that we all deserve. The film even takes great pains to show The Colonel being the first man to jump over the line and lead the charge right there with the men, an act which almost certainly guaranteed his death. Unfortunately he had not the power to save his men, but he tried damnit, and that means something. Would you say that it would’ve been more honorable for him to have ended up facing a firing squad to uphold these virtues? If so you’re no different than the evil generals portrayed in the film. The generals who so callously executed these men for some measure of “honor”. This “honor” which can’t be quantified or defined anymore than the wound to their pride that the failed attack in the Ant Hill inflicted.

Interessante

AT 04:24 :Sorry to be that guy, but the Germans were not NAZI in World War 1. And i think i made the same comment a year ago. Anyway thank you for video.

From trial to execution, I felt very bad and nauseous, as if I was being tried and would be executed. A Soldier killed under the open sky, it seems as if his soul is going straight to heaven.

Tambien es de mis favoritas junto con Dr. strange Love

A tragic masterpiece by a genius. Should be an eye opener for all those "proud" about themselves, or their offspring, being wheeled off as cannon fodder and then receiving a half of a dog tag and a piece of starstriped cloth in return. Kubrick's genius was led up the path to more glories and eventually up the garden path leading to his greatest cinema masterpiece of his career, the filming of the moon hoax.

Great movie, if you like this one check out Breaker Morant.

Because my dad showed me this movie.

One of the greatest anti war movies ever made. It makes me sick to see how vile and useless war is.

Not only the substance of the story told and the characterisation within it, but also the manner in which the story is told. The opulence of the commanding General's offices is juxtaposed with the grubby and war-torn dugout occupied by the soldiers under his command. The muck and gore of the battlefield contrasts with the spotless dress uniforms of the courts martial. These collide only twice during the film: during the corp commander's tour of inspection, where he encounters a front-line soldier exhibiting symptoms of shell shock; and when the three soldiers selected are executed before the regiment. The senior officers prefer to distance themselves from the orders they give, and the effect of those orders on human beings.

Great movie .

None today questions authority. Sad.

You asked for a comment; Excellent review of a film I wasn't even aware of and I thought I knew all of Kubrick's films. I won't get all emotional right now, but the cruelty and Injustice that you are describing here, comes across at a time when I have been watching pieces of American news items and I think maybe we haven't learned anything. Kubrick had searing social messages. I wish he was still around so he could do the definitive film to portray trump, Alex Jones, Bannon, all the rest of them as the slithering devils that they are. But, great film review. My dad was a war veteran and told me many times there is no madness worse than the military mind.

Would not agree with the assessment of the ending. This was war. Dax simply had no choice but to go back. At least this has always been my assumption.

Kubrick said, "To make it commercial. I want to make money." I hit the ceiling. "You come to me with a script. I love THAT script. I got the money, based on THAT script. Not this shit!" I threw the script across the room. "We're going back to the original script, or we're not making the picture."

I saw this on first release as a 9-year-old at the drive-in.

Well done ...talk about satire ...Kubricks forte 😅

🙏

I disagree with your reading of Dax at the end, he stays because his men have no choice but to do so and they have in their humanity proven themselves worthy of being lead by someone who at least cares about them, unlike the generals.

European mansions could be anywhere French chateau is the thing you're looking for

Anthill, like little ants men clime and die...

Commentator lost the poignancy of the last scene by deeming it too sentimental . Embarrassed by emotion ? The point of the whole movie is in that last scene . Kirk Douglas as commander shows compassion and empathy by allowing his men a few moments more without recognition of this good. 🤔

Have to see this great movie....why the fuck Netflix doesn't have these gems on.

Kirk.

6:24 You said "Can he just quit? Well maybe, maybe not." To be clear, in the French military system in World War One, there was no chance of anyone being able to quit. Most militaries don't allow people to quit during war, and France was suffering enormous casualties. France suffered 1,150,000 killed and 4,266,000 wounded, out of a total population of 40 million, so something like 25% of the male population was killed or wounded. So that's something like 50% of the adult male population killed or wounded. So.....no-one was allowed to leave, or they'd be shot for dissertation. Dax went back to command his men because both because he had no choice, but also because his men had the most chance of surviving with him there, probably.

The best military officers, are those who salute smartly when given orders. Even if those orders are a frontal attack. If you believe in the Bible, death will be more exciting than life. But only for those who trust in the Lord. Charge!

Or maybe he decided to not leave the men to the generals so he could fight for them again

Learning About Movies' narrator misses a critical point about Kirk Douglas' character...Col. Dax faces a dilemma at the end of the movie. The Regiment has been through the gut wrenching assault on the "Ant Hill" and the subsequent Court Martial and execution. Then because of Col Dax's insubordinate remarks the Regiment is ordered back into the lines...Col Dax has to decide does he relinquish command and leave the Regiment to be commanded by someone who may or may not be as concerned about their welfare or does he risk himself to stay with the Regiment, keeping faith with his men his "Compains" ? In the end while Col Dax has his skepticisms about the war and the Army he also knows the importance of the relationship between a commander and his men...he chooses the stand with his men. Col Dax isn't a complete skeptic, he's a realist and a hero at the same time.

I don't think Dax is an enabler as much as a victim, he is the voice of the audience crying foul and being ignored. The only thing that could have made it more realistic would be a child soldier being one of the executed.