Movie |
Idealist | War
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Main Competition | 1957 | Stanley
Best Foreign Director Regista del Miglior Film Straniero | 1959 | Stanley
Best Foreign Director | 1958 | Stanley
Best Screenplay | 1957 | Stanley
Motion Picture | 2020
Best Film from any Source | 1958
Top Male Supporting Performance | 1958
Best Written American Drama | 1958 | Jim
Best Film | 1957 | Stanley
Budget 935,000 USD
Box Office Collection 1,200,000 USD
Banned in Spain under Gen. Francisco Franco's dictatorship for its anti-military message. It wasn't released until 1986, 11 years after Franco's death.
Winston Churchill said that the film was a highly accurate depiction of trench warfare and the sometimes misguided workings of the military mind.
An early critical test of Stanley Kubrick's obsession with control on the set came during the making of this film, as recalled by Kirk Douglas: "He made the veteran actor Adolphe Menjou do the same scene 17 times. 'That was my best reading,' Menjou announced. 'I think we can break for lunch now.' It was well past the usual lunch time but Kubrick said he wanted another take. Menjou went into an absolute fury. In front of Douglas and the entire crew he blasted off on what he claimed was Kubrick's dubious parentage, and made several other unprintable references to Kubrick's relative greenness in the art of directing actors. Kubrick merely listened calmly, and, after Menjou had spluttered to an uncomplimentary conclusion, said quietly, 'All right, let's try the scene once more.' With utter docility, Menjou went back to work. Stanley instinctively knew what to do".
The title is a quotation from Thomas Gray's 'Elegy written in a country churchyard': "The paths of glory lead but to the grave".
This film was banned in France for its negative portrayal of the French army. Switzerland also banned the film (until 1978), accusing it of being "subversive propaganda directed at France." Belgium required that a foreword be added stating that the story represented an isolated case that did not reflect upon the "gallantry of the French soldiers."
"General Broulard: It would be a pity to lose your promotion before you get it. A promotion you have so very carefully planned for. Colonel Dax: Sir, would you like me to suggest what you can do with that promotion? General Broulard: [angry] Colonel Dax! You will apologize at once or I shall have you placed under arrest! Colonel Dax: [with building anger] I apologize... for not being entirely honest with you. I apologize for not revealing my true feelings. I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man. And you can go to hell before I apologize to you now or ever again! General Broulard: Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me. You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality. You really did want to save those men, and you were not angling for Mireau's command. You are an idealist... and I pity you as I would the village idiot. We're fighting a war, Dax, a war that we've got to win. Those men didn't fight, so they were shot. You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist that he answer them. Wherein have I done wrong? Colonel Dax: Because you don't know the answer to that question. I pity you."
"Pvt. Pierre Arnaud: I'm not afraid of dying tomorrow, only of getting killed. soldier in bunk: That's as clear as mud. Pvt. Pierre Arnaud: Well, which would you rather be done in by: a bayonet or a machine gun? soldier in bunk: Oh, a machine gun, naturally. Pvt. Pierre Arnaud: Naturally, that's just my point. They're both pieces of steel ripping into your guts, only the machine gun is quicker, cleaner, and less painful, isn't it? soldier in bunk: Yeah, but what does that prove? Pvt. Pierre Arnaud: That proves that most of us are more afraid of getting hurt than of getting killed. Look at Bernard. He panics when it comes to gas. Gas doesn't bother me a bit. He's seen photos of gas cases. Doesn't mean anything to me. But I'll tell you something though, I'd hate like the devil to be without my tin hat. But on the other hand I don't mind not having a tin hat for my tail. Why is that? soldier in bunk: You're darn tootin', because... Pvt. Pierre Arnaud: Because I know a wound to the head would hurt much more than one to the tail. The tail is just meat but the head- ah, the head is all bone. soldier in bunk: That's... Pvt. Pierre Arnaud: Tell me this. Aside from the bayonet, what are you most afraid of? soldier in bunk: High explosives. Pvt. Pierre Arnaud: Exactly, and it's the same with me, because, because I know that it can chew you up worse than anything else. Look, just like I'm trying to tell you, if you're really afraid of dying you'd be living in a funk all the rest of your life because you know you've got to go someday, anyday. And besides... soldier in bunk: Yes? Pvt. Pierre Arnaud: If it's death that you're really afraid of why should you care about what it is that kills you? soldier in bunk: Oh, you're too smart for me, Professor. All I know is, nobody wants to die."
