Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory is a 1957 American antiwar film by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb. Set during World War I, the film stars Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax, the commanding officer of French soldiers who refuse to continue a suicidal attack. Dax attempts to defend them against a charge of cowardice in a courtmartial.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of powr, And all that beauty, all that wealth eer gave, Awaits alike thinevitable hour. The paths of glory lead but to the grave.The book was a minor success when published in 1935, retelling the truelife affair of four French soldiers who were executed to set an example to the rest of the troops. The novel was adapted to the stage the same year by World War I veteran Sidney Howard. The play was a flop on Broadway because of its harsh antiwar scenes that alienated the audience. Nonetheless, Howard continued to believe in the relevance of the subject matter and thought it should be made into a film, writing, It seems to me that our motion picture industry must feel something of a sacred obligation to make the picture. Fulfilling Howards sacred obligation, Stanley Kubrick decided to adapt it to the screen after he remembered reading the book when he was younger. Kubrick and his partners purchased the film rights from Cobbs widow for 10,000. ........

Source: Wikipedia