This is an oft-times overlooked film in the Kubrick canon, and that's something that is unfortunate.  At the base, the story is a satire on injustice in the military / injustice in war.  It takes on a number of themes all at once, and does so gracefully without ending up looking like a rudderless plot.

Kirk Douglas plays a French colonel (Dax) in World War I.  He is one of the few officers in the film who has genuine integrity.  As such, he finds himself in conflict with the nefarious actions of his superior officers nearly as much as he is fighting with the Germans.  Douglas delivers a fabulous performance as an officer who is torn between duty and honor (always a dubious thing when these two traits clash).

Dax must cope with generals who who are perfectly content to send young men (by the thousands!) to their death in order to secure a promotion & add decorations to their dress uniform.  As such, they use their warfighters like pawns on a Chessboard with an utter dis-regard for the safety of the men under their command.

The film also details cowardice and brave men unjustly punished for it.  Even worse, using the Roman Legion model of decimation, the French army gives 3 men the facade a courts-martial where the outcome has already been decided.  The film is not short on the corruption of power!

This is a film that is as relevant today as it was 50 yrs ago, and is one that every general & admiral should watch - especially if they're on their way to a combat zone.  It is a sobering reminder of what happens when officers get too big for their britches.
This is an oft-times overlooked film in the Kubrick canon, and that's something that is unfortunate. At the base, the story is a satire on injustice in the military / injustice in war. It takes on a number of themes all at once, and does so gracefully without ending up looking like a rudderless plot. Kirk Douglas plays a French colonel (Dax) in World War I. He is one of the few officers in the film who has genuine integrity. As such, he finds himself in conflict with the nefarious actions of his superior officers nearly as much as he is fighting with the Germans. Douglas delivers a fabulous performance as an officer who is torn between duty and honor (always a dubious thing when these two traits clash). Dax must cope with generals who who are perfectly content to send young men (by the thousands! ) to their death in order to secure a promotion & add decorations to their dress uniform. As such, they use their warfighters like pawns on a Chessboard with an utter dis-regard for the safety of the men under their command. The film also details cowardice and brave men unjustly punished for it. Even worse, using the Roman Legion model of decimation, the French army gives 3 men the facade a courts-martial where the outcome has already been decided. The film is not short on the corruption of power! This is a film that is as relevant today as it was 50 yrs ago, and is one that every general & admiral should watch - especially if they're on their way to a combat zone. It is a sobering reminder of what happens when officers get too big for their britches.