Still from Stanley Kubrick’s Paths of Glory (1957) featuring Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax.
Memorial of the Corporals of Souain
Souain Corporals Affair – Four French soldiers with the rank of corporal are executed by firing squad at Souain-Perthes-lès-Hurlus, France after being convicted by courts-martial on charges on insubordination against General Géraud Réveilhac.
Critics of the affair argue the charges were made through a
“kangaroo court” and the men were scapegoated for the leadership
failings of the French Army senior staff. All four soldiers were later
pardoned posthumously.
The events inspired the 1935 anti-war novel Paths of Glory by Humphrey Cobb, later adapted for film by Stanley Kubrick.
ADIEU COLONEL.
Kirk Douglas (Issur Danielovitch) 1916 – 2020.
Kirk Douglas in Paths of Glory.
The attack yesterday morning was no stain on the honour of France, and certainly no disgrace to the fighting men of this nation. But this Court Martial is such a stain, and such a disgrace. The case made against these men is a mockery of all human justice. Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty would be a crime, to haunt each of you till the day you die. I can’t believe that the noblest impulse for man – his compassion for another – can be completely dead here. Therefore, I humbly beg you… show mercy to these men.
Paths of Glory (1957) dir. Stanley Kubrick
The attack yesterday morning was no stain on the honour of France, and certainly no disgrace to the fighting men of this nation. But this Court Martial is such a stain, and such a disgrace. The case made against these men is a mockery of all human justice. Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty would be a crime, to haunt each of you till the day you die. I can’t believe that the noblest impulse for man – his compassion for another – can be completely dead here. Therefore, I humbly beg you… show mercy to these men.
Paths of Glory (1957) dir. Stanley Kubrick
The attack yesterday morning was no stain on the honour of France, and certainly no disgrace to the fighting men of this nation. But this Court Martial is such a stain, and such a disgrace. The case made against these men is a mockery of all human justice. Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty would be a crime, to haunt each of you till the day you die. I can’t believe that the noblest impulse for man – his compassion for another – can be completely dead here. Therefore, I humbly beg you… show mercy to these men.
Paths of Glory (1957) dir. Stanley Kubrick
The attack yesterday morning was no stain on the honour of France, and certainly no disgrace to the fighting men of this nation. But this Court Martial is such a stain, and such a disgrace. The case made against these men is a mockery of all human justice. Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty would be a crime, to haunt each of you till the day you die. I can’t believe that the noblest impulse for man – his compassion for another – can be completely dead here. Therefore, I humbly beg you… show mercy to these men.
Paths of Glory (1957) dir. Stanley Kubrick