Paths of Glory

War began between Germany and France on August 3, 1914.

Five weeks later, the German army had smashed its way...

to within 18 miles of Paris.

There, the battered French miraculously rallied their forces at the Marne River...

- and in a series of unexpected counterattacks — - Detail, halt!

drove the Germans back.

The front was stabilized...

then shortly afterwards developed into a continuous line...

of heavily fortified trenches...

zigzagging their way 500 miles...

from the English Channel to the Swiss frontier.

By 1916, after two grisly years of trench warfare...

the battle lines had changed very little.

Successful attacks were measured in hundreds of yards...

and paid for in lives by hundreds of thousands.

General Broulard, sir.

Hello, George. How are you?

Paul, wonderful seeing you again. Really wonderful.

Well, this is splendid. It's superb.

It's grand, very grand.

Well, I've tried to create a pleasant atmosphere in which to work.

Well, you've succeeded marvelously. I wish I had your taste in carpets —

- Oh! - and pictures.

You're much too kind, George. Much too kind.

- Sit down, George. - Thank you.

I really haven't done very much. The place is much the same as it was when I moved in.

Paul, I've come to see you about something big.

It's top secret and must go no further than your chief of staff...

and not to him unless you can trust his discretion.

Of course.

A group of armies is forming on this front for an offensive very soon.

Headquarters is determined to make a complete breakthrough.

- Why are you smiling? - I'm really sorry.

I thought for just a moment I knew what you were going to say. Please go on.

I never knew you were a mind reader. What did you think I was about to say?

- Something about the "Anthill." - You are a mind reader.

Well, it is a key position. It's in my sector.

To be perfectly honest, I've heard some talk.

You know, there's nothing really secret around headquarters.

- Well, what do you think? - It's the key to the whole German position in this sector.

They've held on to it for a year now...

and it looks as though they'll hold on to it for another year if they want to.

Paul, I have formal orders to take the Anthill no later than the 10th.

- That's the day after tomorrow. - That comes pretty close to being ridiculous, don't you think?

I don't imagine I'd be here if I really thought that.

Paul, if there's one man in this army who can do this for me, it's you.

It's out of the question, George. Absolutely out of the question.

My division was cut to pieces.

What's left of it is in no position to even hold the Anthill, let alone take it.

I'm sorry, but that's the truth.

Well, Paul, there was something else I wanted to tell you.

However, I'm sure that you'll misunderstand my motives in mentioning it.

- What was it? - Oh.

You'd be bound to misunderstand.

However, as your friend, maybe I should tell you.

What are you trying to say, George?

Paul, talk around headquarters is that you are being considered for the 12th Corps.

- The 12th Corps? - Yes, and with that, another star.

Now, I've pushed it all I can.

The 12th Corps needs a fighting general, and you're overdue on that star.

Now, we both know that your record is good enough...

for you to refuse this assignment on the grounds you've stated.

No one would question your opinion.

They'd simply get someone else to do the job.

So you shouldn't let this influence your opinion, Paul.

- Oh, I'm sorry. Have a cognac? - No, thanks, Paul, not before dinner.

George, I'm responsible for the lives of 8,000 men.

What is my ambition against that?

What is my reputation in comparison to that?

My men come first of all, George, and those men know it too.

I know that they do.

You see, George, those men know that I would never let them down.

That goes without saying.

The life of one ofthose soldiers means more to me...

than all the stars and decorations and honors in France.

So...

you think this attack is absolutely beyond the ability of your men at this time?

I didn't say that, George.

Nothing is beyond those men, once their fighting spirit is aroused.

Paul, I don't want to push you into it if you think it's ill-advised.

Don't worry, George. You couldn't do that if you tried.

Of course, artillery would make an enormous difference.

- What artillery support can you give me? - Well, I'll see.

What about replacements?

We'll see what we can do, but I feel sure that you can get along with what you have.

- Might just do it. - Oh, Paul.

I knew that I was right to come to you. You are the man to take the Anthill.

- Now, as far as that star is concerned — - That had nothing to do with my decision.

- If anything, it would sway me the other way. - I realize that perfectly, Paul.

Now, when do you say you see this coming off?

No later than the day after tomorrow.

We just might do it.

Hello there, soldier. Ready to kill more Germans?

- Yes, sir. - What's your name, soldier?

Sir, Private Ferol, Company "A."

- Uh-huh. Are you married, Private? - No, sir.

- Well, I'll bet your mother's proud of you. - Yes, sir.

Well, carry on, Private, and good luck to you.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

- Good morning, General. - Good morning.

Hello there, soldier. Ready to kill more Germans?

- Yes, sir. - Aha! Working over your rifle, I see.

Well, that's the way. It's a soldier's best friend.

You be good to it, and it'll always be good to you.

Yes, sir.

Well, uh, good luck to you, soldier.

- Carry on. - Thank you, sir.

Hello there, soldier.

Ready to kill more Germans?

Well, is everything all right, soldier?

All right? Yes, sir, I'm all right.

Aha. Good fellow. Are you married, soldier?

Married? Me, married?

- Yes. Have you got a wife? - A wife? Have I got a wife?

Sir, he's a bit shell-shocked.

I beg your pardon, Sergeant. There is no such thing as shell shock.

- Have you got a wife, soldier? - My wife?

My wife. Yes, I have a wife.

I'm never gonna see her again. I'm gonna be killed.

Get a grip on yourself! You're acting like a coward!

- I am a coward, sir. - Snap out of it, soldier!

Sergeant, I want you to arrange for the immediate transfer of this baby out of my regiment!

I won't have other brave men contaminated by him!

- Yes, sir. - Carry on, Sergeant.

You were right, sir. This sort of thing can spread if it isn't checked.

You know, General, I'm convinced that these tours of yours...

have an incalculable effect upon the morale of these men.

In fact, I think the fighting spirit ofthe 701st derives from it.

No, no, Major. That spirit was just born in them.

The general is coming, sir.

- Always a pleasure to see you, Colonel. - I'm honored, General.

It's our privilege entirely.

- Well, quite a neat little spot you have here. - Colonel.

I reserve comment on the neatness, sir, but it is little.

- Pretty shy on seating accommodations though.

More than enough for me. I never got the habit of sitting.

Like to be on my feet. Keep on the move.

I can vouch for that, Colonel.

I can hardly get the general behind a desk long enough to sign an order.

Well, that's the way I am, you know, Dax.

I can't understand these armchair officers...

fellows trying to fight a war from behind a desk...

waving papers at the enemy...

worrying about whether a mouse is going to run up their pants leg.

I don't know, General. If I had the choice between mice and Mausers...

I think I'd take the mice every time.

You'll never make me believe that, Colonel.

Seriously though, if a man's a ninny...

let him put on a dress and hide under the bed.

But if he wants to be a soldier, then, by heavens, he's got to be one.

He's got to fight, and he can't do that unless he's where the fighting is.

That's my credo.

I think I have to agree with you, presenting your case so convincingly, sir.

And you've never failed to live up to it, sir.

- I imagine you'd like a look around, wouldn't you? - Yes, Colonel.

Well, here's something to see.

The Anthill. About as good a view as you can get without actually being there.

Well, that won't be long now, will it?

Ah.

Ah. Yeah.

Well, I've seen much more formidable objectives.

Much, much worse.

Well, not something we can grab and run away with...

but certainly pregnable.

- Sounds kind of odd, though, doesn't it? - Why?

Well, like something to do with giving birth.

Oh, yes. Quite. You're right on your toes this morning, Colonel.

Even sharper than usual.

But we mustn't forget, the colonel was perhaps the foremost criminal lawyer in all France.

- Of course, General. - Gentlemen, you're both much too kind.

Tell me, Colonel, how did your relief come off last night?

We drew some artillery. Twenty-nine casualties, sir.

Yes, I noticed it on the road in.

Utterly inexcusable. Stupid.

All swarmed together like a bunch of flies, just waiting for someone to swat 'em.

Well, they never learn, it seems.

They get in a tight spot under heavy fire, gang up every time.

Herd instinct, I suppose. Kind of a lower-animal sort of thing.

Kind of a human sort of thing, it seems to me...

or don't you make a distinction between the two, Major?

Oh, yes, uh, very regrettable, of course. Very. Yes, indeed.

Uh, Major, would you be kind enough to excuse us for a few minutes?

Yes, sir. Of course.

Colonel.

Well, Colonel, what do you think of it?

- What do I think of what, sir? - The Anthill.

Colonel, your regiment is going to take the Anthill tomorrow.

You know the condition of my men, sir.

Oh, naturally, men are going to have to be killed. Possibly a lot of them.

They absorb bullets and shrapnel...

and by doing so make it possible for others to get through.

- What support will we have? - I have none to give you.

What sort of casualties do you anticipate, sir?

Hmm, say, five percent killed by our own barrage.

That's a very generous allowance.

Ten percent more in getting through no-man's-land...

and 20% more getting through the wire.

That leaves 65% with the worst part of the job over.

Let's say another 25% in actually taking the Anthill.

We're still left with a force more than adequate to hold it.