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.
The plot begins with a proposed addition of another star to a general's rank, and a suicidal plan for attack against the Germans to attempt to please the public. Without regard to practicality, the French General Staff orders an attack on a highly fortified area to boost public morale after a long stalemate with the enemy. Their brash decision puts a weakened and worn-torn regiment at risk with no back up, and no time to prepare. And so begins a recipe for disaster.
Set in the vicious trench warfare of the First World War, the story takes its cues from the pure humanity of its characters, all of them showing weakness, strength, and the undeniable desire to survive. This leads numerous film critics to credit the movie with encouraging a more realistic approach to telling the story of battle. They also applaud the artistic and technical merits the story delivers through the precise delivery of its actors, and the complex emotional quality each character portrays, even without lengthy back-stories.
The plight of Colonel Dax to defend the lives, honor, and rights of his troops is among the most heroic ventures a character can take. When the attack fails, as the Colonel and every soldier involved predicts, the General points to the troops themselves as the cause for their acts of cowardice. With the random assignment of three soldiers to take the fall for the entire regiment, the main hook of the story begins, and a court hearing begins to decide their fate.
As with all black and white films from the time, use of lighting and color gradient (how dark an object appears when turned into gray instead of color) are the most important aspects to creating the visual experience. Even without the modern use of CGI effects, let alone color, good directing and cinematography can depict a range of emotion just as deep in black and white film as any other medium. Kubrick uses the dense blackness of the trench scene at night to instill fear, and the spotty lighting of Colonel Dax's bunker to present doubt when the General delivers the order.
One technical issue that many in today's audience may notice is the tendency of the characters to pace around the room during thoughts and speech, sometimes to an unrealistic extreme. The reason for this is to keep the feeling of motion alive while characters are set in lengthy conversations. With the limited ability to move the camera itself due to the touchy nature of lighting at the time, shot diversity depended on the actors' theatrical movements and gestures to stay interesting.
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.
Though Paths of Glory did not become a wild success in the box office, film critics claim its inclusion with the great classics of storytelling history. The message behind the film remains potent, even today, as the conflict with death and the value of a life still burden us today. Though the director himself believed it was impossible to create an anti-war movie directly, he did manage to create a fantastically deep gaze into the judgment of how wars are run, and what sacrifices should be justly made.
The plot begins with a proposed addition of another star to a general's rank, and a suicidal plan for attack against the Germans to attempt to please the public. Without regard to practicality, the French General Staff orders an attack on a highly fortified area to boost public morale after a long stalemate with the enemy. Their brash decision puts a weakened and worn-torn regiment at risk with no back up, and no time to prepare. And so begins a recipe for disaster.
Set in the vicious trench warfare of the First World War, the story takes its cues from the pure humanity of its characters, all of them showing weakness, strength, and the undeniable desire to survive. This leads numerous film critics to credit the movie with encouraging a more realistic approach to telling the story of battle. They also applaud the artistic and technical merits the story delivers through the precise delivery of its actors, and the complex emotional quality each character portrays, even without lengthy back-stories.
The plight of Colonel Dax to defend the lives, honor, and rights of his troops is among the most heroic ventures a character can take. When the attack fails, as the Colonel and every soldier involved predicts, the General points to the troops themselves as the cause for their acts of cowardice. With the random assignment of three soldiers to take the fall for the entire regiment, the main hook of the story begins, and a court hearing begins to decide their fate.
As with all black and white films from the time, use of lighting and color gradient (how dark an object appears when turned into gray instead of color) are the most important aspects to creating the visual experience. Even without the modern use of CGI effects, let alone color, good directing and cinematography can depict a range of emotion just as deep in black and white film as any other medium. Kubrick uses the dense blackness of the trench scene at night to instill fear, and the spotty lighting of Colonel Dax's bunker to present doubt when the General delivers the order.
One technical issue that many in today's audience may notice is the tendency of the characters to pace around the room during thoughts and speech, sometimes to an unrealistic extreme. The reason for this is to keep the feeling of motion alive while characters are set in lengthy conversations. With the limited ability to move the camera itself due to the touchy nature of lighting at the time, shot diversity depended on the actors' theatrical movements and gestures to stay interesting.
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.
Though Paths of Glory did not become a wild success in the box office, film critics claim its inclusion with the great classics of storytelling history. The message behind the film remains potent, even today, as the conflict with death and the value of a life still burden us today. Though the director himself believed it was impossible to create an anti-war movie directly, he did manage to create a fantastically deep gaze into the judgment of how wars are run, and what sacrifices should be justly made.
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