imdb.com Kirk Douglas in Stanley Kubrick’s 1957 film, “Paths of Glory.”

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Film Society is continuing its World War I film series Tuesday, Sept. 12 with a screening of the 1957 film “Paths of Glory” at 6 p.m. at the New Ulm Public Library.

The film is the third screening in the Film Society’s WWI series and is based on a book of the same name.

Both the book and the film are anti-war stories that are critical of military bureaucracy. The title openly mocks the pursuit of glory and is taken from the Thomas Gray poem “Elegy written in a country churchyard.” A line in the elegy reads “The paths of glory lead but to the grave.”

The film was directed by Stanley Kubrick and stars Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax. During the first World War, Col. Dax is the commanding officer of French soldiers who refuse to continue a suicidal attack. In an attempt to set an example, higher ranking officers order the execution of three of the soldiers for cowardice. As a criminal defense lawyer in civilian life, Dax serves as the defense during the men’s court-martial.

The film is unique among war film in that the main antagonists are not the Axis Powers, but rather the military officers who would order futile attacks and abuse their power for advancement.

In the film Gen. Paul Mireau (George Macready) tells his superior the attack on the German stronghold will fail, but after being promised a promotion he changes his tune and decides the attack will work, but does not plan the attack. His subordinate is charged with the planning, which everyone else knows will benefit no one but Mireau.

The three men court-martial for cowardice are actually scapegoats for Mireau once that attack proves a failure. Even though the entire company refused to commit to the attack, only three men are charged. Two of the men are selected for the court martial due to personal grievances from those in power. The third is chosen randomly despite being previously cited for bravery.

Col. Dax is the true hero of the film, not for his accomplishments on the battlefield, but for being the only man doing the right thing for the right reason. At first, Dax’s superior tolerate his moral behavior, but only when they believe it is a ploy to obtain promotion. Late in the film one of Dax’s superiors becomes angry upon learning Dax’s idealism is genuine. The implication is clear. The military is fighting for their own individual glory, not the benefit of the people they represent.

“Paths of Glory” is loosely based on a true story of French soldiers executed during WWI for failure to follow orders. Most countries fighting in the war did execute soldiers for this reason with the exception of United States and Australia. The U.S. did issue death sentences for cowardice, but none were ever carried out.

The film’s anti-military tone led to censorship in other countries. France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland all banned the film for a time. American bases in Europe even banned it from being shown.

The film was not a critical success on first released but it has since received strong critical attention. It is often praised as one of Kubrick’s best films. It has even served as inspiration for future films and T.V. series.

Douglas was a strong supporter of the film from the beginning. He told Kubrick the film probably would not be a financial success, but the story was too strong to wait. Douglas and Kubrick would work together again in the 1960s classic “Spartacus.”

“Paths of Glory” even received praise from Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Churchill felt the depiction of trench warfare was accurate, but also the “sometimes misguided workings of the military mind.”

This is the second film the New Ulm Film Society has screened with an anti-war message. “All Quiet on the Western Front” also featured similar themes about the de-humanizing and faux glory of warfare, but “Paths of Glory” was released over two decades later after the events of the second World War and Korean War placing it in a much different context.

The screening of “Paths of Glory” will begin after a short introduction to the film from the New Ulm Film Society at 6 p.m. After the film the Film Society will moderate a discussion.