Paths of Glory (1957)

Adolphe Menjou: Gen. George Broulard

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Quotes 

• General Broulard : It would be a pity to lose your promotion before you get it. A promotion you have so very carefully planned for.

  Colonel Dax : Sir, would you like me to suggest what you can do with that promotion?

  General Broulard : [angry]  Colonel Dax! You will apologize at once or I shall have you placed under arrest!

  Colonel Dax : [with building anger]  I apologize... for not being entirely honest with you. I apologize for not revealing my true feelings. I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man. And you can go to hell before I apologize to you now or ever again!

  General Broulard : Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me. You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality. You really did want to save those men, and you were not angling for Mireau's command. You are an idealist... and I pity you as I would the village idiot. We're fighting a war, Dax, a war that we've got to win. Those men didn't fight, so they were shot. You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist that he answer them. Wherein have I done wrong?

  Colonel Dax : Because you don't know the answer to that question. I pity you.

• General Broulard : Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me. You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality. You really did want to save those men, and you were not angling for Mireau's command. You are an idealist... and I pity you as I would the village idiot. We're fighting a war, Dax, a war that we've got to win. Those men didn't fight, so they were shot. You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist that he answer them. Wherein have I done wrong?

  Colonel Dax : Because you don't know the answer to that question. I pity you.

• General Broulard : Colonel Dax, are you trying to blackmail me?

  Colonel Dax : It's an ugly word, but you are in a difficult situation.

• General Broulard : There are few things more fundamentally encouraging and stimulating than seeing someone else die.

• Colonel Dax : Let me get this straight, sir. You're offering me General Mireau's command?

  General Broulard : Come, come, Colonel Dax. Don't overdo the surprise.You've been after the job from the start. We all know that, my boy.

  Colonel Dax : I may be many things, sir, but I am not your boy.

  General Broulard : Well, I certainly didn't mean to imply any biological relationship.

• General Broulard : Colonel Dax, I'm going to have ten men from each company in your regiment tried under penalty of death for cowardice.

  Colonel Dax : Penalty of death? - For cowardice!

  General Broulard : They've skim milk in their veins instead of blood.

  Colonel Dax : It's the reddest milk I've ever seen. My trenches are soaked with it!

• General Broulard : Colonel Dax, we think we're doing a good job running the war. You must be aware of the fact that the general staff is subject to all kinds of unfair pressures from newspapers and politicians. Maybe the attack against the Ant Hill was impossible. Perhaps it was an error of judgment on our part. On the other hand, if your men had been more daring, they might have taken it. Who knows? In any case, why should we have to bear any more criticism than we have to?

• 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.

• General Broulard : We don't want to slaughter the French army. All we want to do is to set an example.

• General Broulard : Colonel, troops are like children. Just as a child wants his father to be firm, troops crave discipline.

  Colonel Dax : I see.

  General Broulard : One way to maintain discipline is to shoot a man now and then.

  Colonel Dax : May I ask - do you sincerely believe the things you've said?

  General Broulard : It's been a pleasure discussing this with you, Colonel, but I'm afraid that I'd better be getting back to my guests.

• General Broulard : There's the troops' morale, don't forget that.

  Colonel Dax : The troops' morale?

  General Broulard : Certainly. These executions will be a perfect tonic for the entire division.