Talk:Paths of Glory

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Contents 1 Comment 2 Anti-war? 3 Suicide Mission ? 4 Suicide attack? 5 Not Banned

[edit] Comment

I just saw the re-run on TCM; in the final scene, the young German refugee (played by Kubrick's wife) sings to a group of boisterous soldiers; they are quieted, and sing / hum along; Col. Dax (Kirk Douglas) asks a messenger not to order the soldiers back to the front, for a few moments.

My question is: are these French soldiers from Alsace-Lorraine? How else would they have known a song in German? Ancheta Wis 07:53, 9 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I don't think the soldiers in the scene necessarily know German(or are from Alsace-Lorraine). I've seen the movie many times, and am always moved by this scene. It appears to me that, as it begins, the rough, battle-weary soldiers are hooting and making fun of the young German girl who is clearly no performer and quite nervous as she starts her simple song. Gradually, as she continues despite their heckling, the charm of the song, the beauty of her voice and her waif-like appearance begin to win the soldiers over. The contrast with the hellish combat they have experienced(and will soon experience again), and the memories of their own loved ones that the girl's song evokes, affects some of the soldiers to the point of tears as they begin to hum along with her or try to mouth the words themselves.

Paths of Glory has many great scenes, but this(for me)is the greatest.

Anyhow, that's the way I see(and hear)it!

65.54.98.143dubeaux65.54.98.14312-05-05

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In border areas like Alsace Lorraine and such people are at least familiar with their neighboughers language (Switzerland!). Besides it isnt hard to teach folks to sing a short song in another language. This scene by the way is a perfect ending to the movie. A cold General staff, unfair military laws, a horrible war and these miserable French troops show some respect to the German bar-maid... Priceless.

[edit] Anti-war?

Why is this film declared an anti-war film in the first sentance? I wouldn't say that it's a pro war film, but it just seemed more like a war film. I think the declaration is very subjective and probably doesn't have a place in this article, perhaps an interpretations or common opinions section should be added. Tinman8443 17:19, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

It is declared ant-war film because it shows how bad the justice in the army is and how the generals are willing to send their men out to die without hesitation when looking at a promotion.

[edit] Suicide Mission ?

This is nit-picking I suppose, but the line "Mireau, seeking a promotion, orders a regiment on a suicidal mission to take a hill, a common occurrence during World War I..." bothers me. A "suicide mission" is commonly understood - today - to be rather like a Kamikaze mission where the individual goes out intending to die. Is that the case in this movie? Or did Mireau just recklessly send his troops forward, intending them to win (and get his promotion) at all costs? Subtle difference.... Engr105th 22:33, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Suicide attack?

Everything I've read about Kubrick indacates that he was an unsentimental realist with a harsh if not cynical estimation of human nature. He particularly emphasizes that power corrupts and that the struggle for power and status embodies much desperation and pathology together with (and here's the irony) much intelligence. This theme in Kubrick's work is an up-to-date version one found in Shakespeare cf. villains like McBeth and Edgar (in King Lear). That the attack would result in massive casualties was known by the commanding officers from the start, as was the fact that it's chance of success was doubtful. Commanders have ordered such attacks from before recorded history even when their own safety was jeopardized much more when they were not personally liable to be killed or maimed. What sort of men rise to military command, or any sort of command for that matter? Experience in life on-the-job in the military and equally in civillian work tell me: not the man, or woman, over burrdened with scrupples or without a stain of ruthlessness. The men embarked on the attack don't have a death wish, quite the contrary. Consider if you will Hume's paradox: How is it that a few, a very few, can lord-it-over the many despoticly and terrorize the many? There's the rub.

The talk page is about discussing changes to the article not about the moral and philosophical implications of sending men on a suicide attack. However if would like to use sources and references to support your assertions, then please add them to the article. LordHarris 10:20, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Not Banned

" The French authorities banned the film."
The film has actually never been banned nor censored, because it was not released in France. The producers were afraid of the reaction of the french authorities, and decided not to release it. The film was banned in Belgium and Switzerland, under pressure of the French, but never officially in France.
Nowadays, the film is aired on tv, no problem.