Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory is a 1957 American anti-war film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the 1935 novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb. Set during World War I, the film stars Kirk Douglas as the French Colonel Dax, commanding officer, 701st Infantry Regiment. Commanding officer General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders his subordinate, General Mireau (George Macready), to attack a German trench position, offering a promotion as an incentive. Though the mission is foolhardy to the point of suicide, Mireau commands his own subordinate, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas), to plan the attack. When it ends in disaster, General Mireau demands the court-martial of three random soldiers in order to save face. Dax, who was a criminal defense lawyer in civilian life, volunteers to defend the men at their court-martial, but the trial  is a farce. In his closing statement, Dax denounces the proceedings: “Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty would be a crime to haunt each of you till the day you die.” Nonetheless, the three men are sentenced to death.