8 Incredible Movie Scenes Shot In A Single Take

3. Paths Of Glory -€“ Through The Trenches

This particular scene may not be incredibly long or theoretically complicated, but it's an absolutely incredible example of how a single take can be used to set a certain tone and portray a certain message.

The scene sees General Paul Mireau (played by George Macready) take a trip through the trenches during World War I, speaking to various soldiers along the way (and noting the various explosions taking place increasingly close to their location). The climax of the scene sees Mireau reach one particular soldier who is completely incoherent, failing to engage with the questions the general asks and confessing to being a coward. The general is told that the soldier is experiencing shell shock, which the general staunchly refutes, causing him to beat the soldier in question.

As mentioned, the take isn't an incredible example of technical prowess, but it completely captures the spirit of the movie, which Kubrick meant as a great anti-war statement. The General Mireau's inability to understand the plight of his soldiers, then, coupled with the deep, chaotic view of life in the trenches achieves this aim perfectly, culminating in the general's violent display of ignorance.

The take also makes use of extensive tracking and most notably practical effects in the form of explosives. Getting this scene right, then, required not just the actors to be on form (they could easily start another take if a performance was off) but for the explosives to be timed precisely and framed immaculately.