Paths of Glory

[Hedley Malloch]

One of the French history mags is carrying an article by Nicolas Offenstadt, the historian who specialises on French SAD. In it he tells an amazing story about Stanley Kubrick's 1957 movie 'Paths of Glory'. The film is a fictional account of the shooting of three French soldiers pour encourager les autres. It's a brilliant movie, featuring great performances by Kirk Douglas andAdolphe Menjou, made by a producer who later went on to make '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'Spartacus', 'Full Metal Jacket' and many others.

Offenstadt says that the French Government banned the movie for 15 years, considering it an insult to the honour of the French Army. Further, they brought pressure on the Belgian and Swiss governments in a successful attempt to persuade them to block its showing in their countries. The ban was lifted in 1972, but even then it was a further three years before any French distributor would handle it. It did not have its first showing in France until 1975, 17 years after it was made.

Incredible. But then if governments have such big problems in managing fictional accounts of SAD,then perhaps we should not be too surprised that they cannot respond to the truth.

[uncle bill]

It was apparently the French anciens combattants who were incensed by the film and through lobbying brought about a ban on what they saw as a slur on the French army. Kubrick being non French couldn't have helped matters either. The events were based on thereal life executions of four French corporals from the same regiment who were shot as an example after a failed attack near Souin in 1915. Blanche Maupas, the wife of one of the poor victims, fought hard in the post war years for her husband's rehabilitation, something she eventually achieved.

[Terry_Reeves]

Hedley

The French authorities did refuse to licence the film for public viewing although it could be seen privately. In the latter case, I suspect that the majority of the French public had little opportunity.

In the 1930's, not unsuprisingly, Italy and Germany banned Jean Renoir's "La Grande Illusion", although Mussolini was known to have a private copy and Goebells was believed to have been an admirer of the film.

Terry Reeves

[Hedley Malloch]

I think the refusal to show had more to do with the Army in France in the 1950s. They were running an unpopular war in Algeria and under considerable criticism for their conduct there. It is true that the film drew on the Souin incidents, but the account is fictional; it's as much about life in the chateau with the Generals as with the poilus. But however one looks at it, it is incredible that such a film could be banned.

[Fleur]

Did you know that Patick Magoohan has cited Kubricks Paths of Glory as one of the influences for The Prisoner series??

Apparently he was very much affected by the story and the cinemaphotography.

Fleur

[Guest paddy]

G'day Hedley

What does SAD mean? please

Thanks

[Guest Hussar]

Paddy,

Shot At Dawn.

[Guest paddy]

G'day Hussar

Thanks

[Alan Lines]

Paddy,

Shot At Dawn.

It was something the Australians had the sense not to do Paddy.

[john w.]

... and the New Zealanders forgave

John