Paths of Glory

"There are times when I am ashamed to be a member of the human race and this is one such occasion...I protest against being prevented from introducing evidence that I consider vital to the defense, the prosecution presented no witnesses, there has never been a written indictment of charges made against the defendants, and lastly, I protest against the fact that no stenographic record of this trial has been kept. The attack yesterday morning was no stain on the honor of France, but this court-martial is such a stain...Gentlemen of the court, to find these men guilty will be a crime to haunt each of you to the day you die. I cant believe that the noblest impulse in man, his compassion for another, can be completely dead here. Therefore, I humbly beg you show mercy to these men."

"Saint-Auban: And I submit that the attack was a stain on the flag of France, a blot on the honor of every man, woman, and child in the French nation. It is to us that the sad, distressing, repellent duty falls, gentlemen. I ask this court to find the accused guilty..."

"[to Broulard] What would your, er, newspapers and your politicians do with that?...you are in a difficult position. Too much has happened. Someones got to be hurt. The only question is who. General Mireaus assault on the Ant Hill failed. His order to fire on his own troops was refused. But his attempt to murder three innocent men to protect his own reputation will be prevented by the Generals staff."

"If any soldiers in the world can take it, well take the Ant Hill."

"Stick to the stories youve told me, and dont let the prosecutor shake you out of them. Now remember, youll be soldiers in the presence of superior officers, so act like what you are - soldiers! - and brave ones at that...When you answer questions, look the judges in the eye, dont whine, plead, or make speeches. Thats my job. Simple statements, short, but make them so they can be heard all over the room and try not to repeat yourselves. Ill do that for you when I sum up."

"Its out of the question, George. Absolutely out of the question. My division was cut to pieces. Whats left of it is in no position to even hold the Ant Hill, let alone take it. Im sorry, but thats the truth."

"Nothing is beyond those men once their fighting spirit is aroused...We might just do it!"

"Hello there soldier, ready to kill more Germans?"

"Naturally, men are going have to be killed, possibly a lot of them. Theyll absorb bullets and shrapnel, and by doing so make it possible for others to get through...say five percent killed by our own barrage - thats a very generous allowance. Ten percent more again in no mans land, and twenty percent more again into the wire. That leaves sixty-five percent, and the worst part of the job over. Lets say another twenty-five percent in actually taking the Ant Hill - were still left with a force more than adequate to hold it."

"Looking over your rifle, I see? Well, thats the way. Its a soldiers best friend. You be good to it and it will always be good to you."

"Miserable cowards, theyre not advancing...theyre still in the trenches!"

"Narrator: War began between Germany and France on August 3, 1914. Five weeks later, the German army had smashed its way to within 18 miles of Paris. There the battered French miraculously rallied their forces at the Marne River, and in a series of unexpected counterattacks, drove the Germans back. The Front was stabilized and shortly afterward developed into a continuous line of heavily fortified trenches zigzagging their way five hundred miles from the English Channel to the Swiss frontier. By 1916, after two grisly years of trench warfare, the battle lines had changed very little. Successful attacks were measured in hundreds of yards - and paid for in lives by hundreds of thousands."