Paths of Glory (1957)

George Macready: Gen. Paul Mireau

Photos 

Quotes 

• Colonel Dax : Gentlemen of the court, there are times when I'm ashamed to be a member of the human race and this is one such occasion. It's impossible for me to summarise the case for the defence since the Court never allowed me a reasonable opportunity to present that case.

  General Mireau : Are you protesting the authenticity of this court?

  Colonel Dax : [pause]  Yes, sir. I protest against being prevented from introducing evidence which I considered vital to the defence; 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 records of this trial have been kept.

  [pause] 

  Colonel Dax : 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.

• General Mireau : If those little sweethearts won't face German bullets, then by God, they'll face French ones!

• General Mireau : I can't understand these armchair officers, fellas trying to fight a war from behind a desk, waving papers at the enemy, worrying about whether a mouse is gonna run up their pants leg.

  Colonel Dax : I don't know, General. If I had the choice between mice and Mausers, I think I'd take the mice every time.

• General Mireau : Hello there, soldier. Ready to kill more Germans?

  Private Ferol : Yes, sir.

  General Mireau : What's your name, soldier?

  Private Ferol : Sir, Private Ferol, Company A.

  General Mireau : Aha. You married, soldier?

  Private Ferol : No, sir.

  General Mireau : I'll bet your mother's proud of you.

  Private Ferol : Yes, sir.

  General Mireau : Carry on, Private, and good luck.

  Private Ferol : Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

• General Mireau : Who was this man?

  Colonel Dax : Samuel Johnson, sir.

  General Mireau : All right. Now, what did he have to say about patriotism?

  Colonel Dax : He said it was the last refuge of a scoundrel, sir. I'm sorry. I meant nothing personal.

• General Mireau : Have you got a wife, soldier?

  Shell-Shocked Soldier : My wife? My wife. Yes, I have a wife. I'm never going to see her again. I going to be killed...

  General Mireau : Get a grip on yourself. You're acting like a coward.

  Shell-Shocked Soldier : I am a coward.

  General Mireau : Snap out of it soldier!

  [strikes the Private] 

  General Mireau : Sergeant, I want you to arrange for the immediate transfer off this baby out of my regiment! I won't have other brave men contaminated by him!

• Capt. Rousseau - Battery Commander : With all respect, sir, you have no right to order me to shoot down my own men, unless you are willing to take full and undivided responsibility for it.

  General Mireau : Captain Rousseau, are you going to obey my order?

  Capt. Rousseau - Battery Commander : I must have a written order before I can execute such a command, sir. Supposing you are killed? Then where will I be?

  General Mireau : You'll be in front of a firing squad tomorrow morning - that's where you'll be! Hand over your command and report yourself under arrest to my headquarters!

• General Mireau : Perhaps I was a bit too anxious to see proper justice meted out. I've spent my entire life in the army and I've always tried to be true to my principles. It's the only mistake I can ever be accused of.

• Colonel Dax : How many casualties do you expect, sir?

  General Mireau : Say 5 percent killed by our own barrage, 10 percent more getting through No Man's Land, and 20 percent more getting through the wire. Say another 25 percent in actually taking the Ant Hill and we're still left with a force more than adequate to hold it.

• General Mireau : I beg your pardon, Sergeant. There is no such thing as shell shocked.

• General Mireau : Patriotism may be old-fashioned, but a patriot is an honest man.

  Colonel Dax : Not everyone has always thought so.

• General Broulard : Paul, I knew that I was right to come to you. *You* are the man to take the Ant Hill.

  General Mireau : As for that star is concerned -- that has nothing to do with my decision! If anything, it would sway me the other way.

  General Broulard : I realize that perfectly, Paul.

• Capt. Nichols - Artillery Spotter : Order the 75's to commence firing on our own positions. Captain, do you fail to comprehend the meaning of my order?

  General Mireau : No, sir, but I respectfully ask to...

  Capt. Nichols - Artillery Spotter : Captain, do you fail to comprehend the meaning of my order?

  General Mireau : No, sir.

  General Mireau : Then, carry it out, Captain.

• Capt. Nichols - Artillery Spotter : General, the battery commander reports those are our own positions. He says it must be a mistake.

  General Mireau : Confirm the order, Captain.

• Colonel Dax : They're not cowards. So, it some of them didn't leave the trenches, it must have been because it was impossible.

  General Mireau : They were ordered to attack. It was their duty to obey that order. We can't leave it up to the men to decide whether an order is possible or not. If it was impossible, the only proof of that would be their dead bodies lying about in the trenches. They're scum, Colonel. The whole rotten regiment. A pack of sneaking, whining, tail-dragging curs.

• General Mireau : Colonel Dax, when this mess is cleaned up, I'll break you! I'll find an excuse, and I'll break you to the ranks. I'll ruin you! It will be just what you deserve -showing such little loyalty to your commanding officer. That's all, Colonel.

• General Mireau : So that's it. You're making me the goat. The only completely innocent man in this whole affair.

• General Mireau : If a man's a ninny, let him put on a dress and hide under the bed. But if he wants to be a soldier, then by heavens, he's got to be one. He's got to fight.

• Colonel Dax : Tell me, Colonel, how did your relief come off last night?

  Colonel Dax : We drew some artillery. Twenty-nine casualties, sir.

  General Mireau : Yes, I noticed it on the road in. Utterly inexcusable. Stupid. All swarmed together like flies, just waiting for someone to swat them.

  Saint-Auban : Well, they never learn, it seems. They get in a tight spot under heavy fire - gang up every time. Herd instinct, I suppose. Kind of a lower animal sort of thing.

  Colonel Dax : Kind of a human thing, it seems to me.