PATHS OF GLORY Clip - "Execution" (1957) Stanley Kubrick 

My French great grandfather (from Normandy) served in the expeditionary force in Turkey (along with Brits, Aussies, New Zealanders). He was a farmer by trade and returned home after years of battles, broken. He became a gardener, tending gardens of neighbors in his village willing to help out a vet. A few years later he passed away from kidney disease due to alcoholism. This is what wars do. Wars pile up the bodies long after the wars officially end.

A great movie that really captured the mentality of the men in charge of ww1. Paths of Glory should be listed more as an all time classic. Much more so than some others played continuously

To have your own men executed under false charges just to save face from a failed mission due to your own bungling, it makes you just as bad as the enemy if not worse.

True artistry, allowed to unfold at a natural pace. You don’t see filmmaking like this much anymore.

I saw the film for the first time about 30 years ago and it shook me. Blind obedience, incompetent officers who give a damn about their soldiers, vain idiots who, far from any danger, make decisions that have been catastrophic for the fighting troops. But the most perverse thing, after the First World War, many high-ranking officers of the General Staff wrote their memoirs where they pitied themselves or praised themselves, overfed in the war, never at the front and always in the warm, surrounded by lieutenants as servants.

I am always aware of how much space there is in Kubrick's scenes. We live in a big world and he is not going to crowd the senses in an attempt to be artistic. It plays out so much more realistically as to how we really see the world and experience ourselves in it.

As a child I watched this scene and had the realization that this wasn't real like the television news. It was crafted and turned into a dramatic piece with actors playing roles. That is the moment I decided I wanted to create movies myself. Now, over 50 years later I look back at a career in film and television production with some good degree of satisfaction. I worked with creative people giving life to a script, experienced tremendous challenges and rewards. I learned how to accept both failure and success with grace and a level head. I will always be in debt to Stanley Kubrick for opening my eyes to the miraculous world of cinema. There is no better form of communicating the complexities of life, the depth of wonder our hearts experience and the emotional highs and lows of our earthly existence. Often we are stirred to a breakthrough in our deepest spiritual journey and sometimes we just get to enjoy a good laugh - probably the most cleansing and invigorating diversion in times of loss or need. To all who have enjoyed making the impossibly wide array of film experiences come to life, whether in compelling stories of achievement or loss, sadness or laugher, I commend you. Like the storyteller singing songs by a campfire, the priest retelling the creation story of his people and even cave paintings depicting a successful hunt, you keep the fraternal framework of the human experience alive and growing. There is no greater calling. Thank you.

Breaker Morant is another classic of this trope. Edward Woodward's admonition to the firing squad to shoot straight was brilliant.

A cinema masterpiece that deserved more acclaim when it was released. Outstanding performance by Douglas who was so credible as the brave and loyal battalion commander. I also liked Vic Morrow, who died way too young in that movie accident. We see war in its various phases and the ultimate folly of it all.

Douglas' best film imho. The entire cast was outstanding, but special mentions to George Macready, Ralph Meeker, and Wayne Morris. Truly a superb film.

I remember seeing this for the first time and I was VERY surprised when this scene played all the way out. I expected the men weren't going to be shot. This is a phenomenal film

My favorite director. Plus the great Kirk Douglas.

The problem with movies like this is they make us examine our beliefs and that leads to very uneasy feelings-which is the point.These movies are made not to just entertain,but to educate and hopefully learn from.

Probably the best, "war movie", ever made.

Carry a wounded man on a stretcher to his execution. Damn , that's cold.

I keep forgetting that Kubrik did this movie.......it's a cinematic masterpiece that hardly sees much credit for what it is.

The incessant steady drum in the background is the work of a genius

A masterpiece that is under appreciated by film audiences.

I have heard of this film but never have I seen it. I am a fan of Kubrick`s films. A true genius. I have read this film was banned in france for years. Good post.Merci.

306 british and commonwealth troops inc 4 new zealanders in ww1 were executed for things like shellshock, this film was also banned in france for 17 years, the human race has a lot to answer for, i don,t think we will ever learn

The crying soldier’s acting is SO good! You feel Death breathing down your own neck just watching this.

I think I’ve seen this film at least a dozen times. It never gets old.

Douglas plays the part quite well His acting is Intense and credible!

Kubrick was a genius. He used lines and patterns are in every movie he made. There's always some kind of uniformity either in the foreground or the background.

One of my favorite movies. I see a little bit of myself in the personalities of each one of these executed men. That is the real art in telling a story.

Small overlooked detail of the scene, which may be just purely a technical thing. All French soldiers carry Label rifles even ones escorting the soldiers to be executed, apart from the firing squad. They have German Gewher 98s rifles. It may have different meaning or no meaning at all, but for me it meant that they died from German bullets, but ones condemning them to death were other French man. The whole movie, message of the film is encapsulated perfectly in this scene alone.

I watched this film on a whim years ago...very, very good. Probably one of Kirk Douglas' best roles and the film was so well made.

Awesomely stunning movie. Watched this movie sooooo many times and never tire of watching it.

Wayne Morris, who plays the cowardly Lt. Roget, was an actual World War II Navy flyer -- an ace and authentic military hero -- who was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. According to his biography at IMDb, "Assigned to the carrier Essex in the Pacific, Morris shot down seven Japanese planes and contributed to the sinking of five ships. He was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals."

The acting in this movie by everyone was brilliant.

One of the best/moving films i have seen.

I remember my Dad taking me to see this film more than 50 plus years ago..........it horrified and disgusted me about the death penalty as a 14-year-old and still does at 68...........

Any last requests? I wonder if you could have a brief pause between the words ‘aim’ and fire? 40 years perhaps? Capt E Blackadder

This movie shows the genesis of the genius of Kubrick

One of the best movies ever.

This film, was superb in every regard, IMO...So many, fine actors...How good was George Macready in this film?...

Brilliant movie. Classic

One of my all time favorite movies.

Shattering, intense, brilliant.

The wounded soldier wakened up before execution is straight out of the irish rebellion of 1916 and what the British did to the great james connolly.

One of my three favorite war films (not counting Strangelove). Grand Illusion, Thin Red Line and Paths of Glory.

Another amazing film from Kubrick

Despite this being a very powerful and magnetizing scene I think the best scene in the movie is another one : When the young german woman, prisoner, is forced to sing a song for the entertainment and debauchery of the french soldiers. She can't do it so she then starts to sing a lulaby (in german) but the sound reminds them of their own mothers and it softens their hearts.

Excellent film. Superb performance from Kirk Douglas.

It reminds me the start of "The Dirty Dozen", also a military execution. The faces of these men said it all, it must have been tough and revolting to execute a brother of arms on the charges of....lack of bravery in front of the enemy. Either kill or be killed in combat or executed by your superiors.😭😱

Great scene from a great film. It always struck me that when Richard Anderson reads the execution order, he seems to have realized what they have done and now really regrets what is about to happen.

This movie is such a masterpiece !

That is one of my favorite films. Everything about it is technically and dramatically right

„All quiet at the Western Front“ and „Path of Glory“ are the best anti war movies ever. The two films should be mandatory viewing for all militarists and war glorifiers who believe war is the right means to achieve their interests.

This is an heady dip into all things cinema for you guys... WOWZERZ.

This film and All Quiet on the Western Front ( the original ) were masterpieces of cinematography on the First World War showing the Leadership of the ordinary soldier treating them as "Cannon Fodder" and blaming them for their own inadequacies. For years I would always give to the Poppy Fund but refused to wear one as it had on the button Earl Haig Fund, a man who had God like power over men and slaughtered thousands needlessly !

Wayne Morris a coward in this movie and real hero of USAF during WW2.That's what I call a great performance's actor.He deserved a second role oscar

Good movie without a CGI in sight.

Watched All Quiet on The Western Front on Saturday Night and it was the 1930 version and truly a masterpiece .

Una peli genial que muestra la parte de la sinrazón de las guerras. Nada de honor, nada de épica, sólo muerte. A veces es necesario tomar las armas, pero no de esta manera.

Never heard of this film until stumbling on this clip.

Kinda off topic here but one of the arguments the west made in WW1 was that the axis powers were backwards and undemocratic but in reality was especially the Germans treated their soldiers with far more respect and had less of these executions that often happened on the allies side to cover up poor planning. The German command famously thought little of allied generals but had great respect for the rank and file

Previous generations gave us magnificent backdrops to film scenes like these, we on the other hand are leaving the future generations hideous concrete monstrosities created by talentless architects.

This is a great film. This is exactly what the British Army did during ww1 306 of it's own troops shot at dawn

5:14 lo potente que es esa toma con poca profundidad de campo cuando casi todo el resto de la película está filmada de la manera inversa. Hoy muchos cineastas eso no lo entienden y filman el 80% de la película con desenfoque en el fondo, se pierde así todo impacto.

Great movie.

Great scene by Raplh Meeker. Calm in the face of certain death.

This movie was banned in France for a LONG LONG time! It does not make the French army look particularly noble!

Amazing movie my friend.

0:04 Classic Kubrick panoramic shot.

That's cold man is literally on his death bed. And they can't wait. That's just cold.

R.I.P Joe Turkel..

That movie is awesome. Tough to watch, but, man, awesome.

Chilling scene. And accurate.

The shape of things to come from Stanley Kubrick

Una autentica Obra Maestra !!

A Great Film.

This movie will piss you off

I've always wondered about the three soldiers and what they represent. The incapacitated, totally oblivious to their own death. The man who is dragged out screaming, praying for salvation and sure that somehow something will save him before it's too late. And the man who's resigned to his fate and faces it head on. It's very clearly intentional, I've often pondored what point Kubrick was making.

Never understood that, force a man to go to war and then execute him for not wanting to fight.

Solang' die Sonn' auf Erden scheint...

I've probably watched this film nearly 20 times. Watching this clip, I noticed that the detachment bringing the three to be executed are armed with French rifles, but the actual firing squad is using Mausers.

Now I see where Liviu Ciulei got it from for his film Forest of the Hanged It’s had to be Kubrick who did it first. Greatly appreciated

I could never do better than the person's comment underneath me - " Wars pile up the bodies long after the wars officially end ". Where are all of these war-dead ? - THEY TOO are causalities of the war; but their own 'path of Glory' is courageously spared public scrutiny 😐.

The bump on his helmet matches the dimple in Kirk Douglas's chin.

If you haven't seen the full movie - do it. Knowing who and how was behaving before this moment is impoirtant.

War movie like no other. Very much explains the mentality of the high officials during this time. They just wanted some cannon fodder to be sacrificed for their ego.

Life is so precious, and Death so final. Death is the great equalizer. It comes for everyone....spares nobody in the end.

Kirk Douglas ~~~ Real Man ~~ Real Actor ~~ When the generals balls up ~~ Fire !!! ✝️✝️✝️

The dialogue in this scene has Jim Thompson written all over it.

Your men died wonderfully Colonel....

I like the guy pinching the cheek of the guy on the stretcher: "Hey... wake up... you're being executed."

Great Movie. One thing about it. The Soldiers who shot them as well as those not picked, were also doomed to death in the war.

He really needed to get a "good at convincing crying specialist actor" for that role

I think I read that Timothy Carey was fired from the film at some point and the back of a double was used in some scenes.

Simple, impressive: great movie.

The best movie about true of war

That is a great scene

4:02 The man holding blindfolds in his right hand shows to be smart as he avoids to wake forcibly up the soldier with his broken skull. At 2:57 the man behind him didn't show the same smartness by executing an order without even thinking a small bit.

Great acting

Epic movie

Esse aí da foto seria o Kirk?

An absolute classic and in a different league to most of the crapola released these days. You'd thing that things would get better wouldn't you? Not one it comes to film however. Seems that people who make movies these days don't really understand what it takes to make a good film. Well, it takes four things... 1/ A good story 2/ A good script 3/ Good actors 4/ A great Director... Tick, tick, tick, tick!

In my top ten of all time

If those brave men who were shot, had known what their lives were going to become, forever imprisoned from all of the horrors they witnessed during battle, then perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.