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This is a interesting film because it takes a point of view and shows the view of the film maker in this case Stanley Kubrick,of a fictionalized version a true case of surrogate executions by the French during the war.If you wish to really examine the war you have to understand that all sides were in fear of open revolution as well as each other.That was the nature of the time. Witness the Soviet revolution as well as the Balkan's unrest and tension within Austria Hungry empire.And before the war there was a growing diversity of ethnic strife within the Ottoman Empire.What happened in France was a general protest and unwillingness to continue to fight by French soldiers while their family suffered shortages at home and no clear focus was shown in the battle plans.Trench warfare bread a sort of malaise with a "don't shoot at them and they won't shoot at me"attitude that brought the fear of open revolution to the forefront.This is after all a country of BOTH Napoleon and citizen revolt historic past. So therefore I believe the number was 59 men from different units were executed BUT demands for more food and clothes as well more leave to go back to families were implemented to keep the war going and avoid revolution.I had totKE star off this movie for being in B&W and not really addressing the larger issue.However it is compelling and the fact that something like this did happen deserves to be told,just not as a pure anti-war film but also as a much deeper political film to show the lengths leaders will go to to maintain power.Released in 1957 it runs only 88 minutes.Trailer follows below pix and a IMDB summary below.Thought provoking and should be seen.
The futility and irony of the war in the trenches in WWI is shown as a unit commander in the French army must deal with the mutiny of his men and a glory-seeking general after part of his force falls back under fire in an impossible attack. Written by Keith Loh <loh@sfu.ca>
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