Paths of Glory

Is it a coincidence that I, a baby-boomer brought up on a near-continuous stream of laudatory WW2 films, rate as my most admired anti-war films two from WW1 (this one and All Quiet) and one from WW3 (Strangelove)?Is it also a coincidence that two of the three are Stanley Kubrick films?This is a masterpiece even by the standards of masterpieces. The narrative itself is not particularly original: following the failure of a "Lions Led By Donkeys" attack, three scapegoats are subjected to a kangaroo court and shot at dawn for cowardice.The genius lies in Kubrick's exploitation of the potential. All sorts of subtleties add continuously to the impact. The deeply moving ending, with a terrified young German woman bringing calm and humanity to a rowdy group of French soldiers, is simply (to employ a grossly overused expression) iconic.

PATHS OF GLORY was Stanley Kubrick's first large-budget feature film with major actors, and it's a good one. This film, made in 1957, portrays a French Army colonel (Kirk Douglas) given an impossible combat assignment in 1916 at the height of WW I in France. Since the film shows some fictional French generals and other staff officers in a negative light during the First World War, the French government refused to allow Kubrick to shoot the film on French territory. It was also banned from playing in French cinemas. Undeterred, the production company shot the film on location in Germany and hired 700 German border policemen as extras to play the French infantry troops. PATHS OF GLORY is a grim story with no happy ending, but it is extremely well done as a movie. Due to the gritty combat scenes and "kangaroo" court martial of three innocent French soldiers, it's often described as an antiwar film, which is essentially true.Ralph Meeker, Joseph Turkel, Timothy Carey, Burt Freed, Wayne Morris, Richard Anderson, George McCready and Adolphe Menjou all give outstanding supporting performances as French infantry soldiers and staff officers.

I watched this movie at the State Theater in Gary, Indiana, in 1958. I would have attended any movie showing on that day. I came out changed for life. An interesting way to grade a film is to read bios of each actor - the bios for the actors who played in this film often make the point that Paths of Glory was one of the most important films in the actor's career - Kirk Douglas's head explodes.The film is in black and white - In my youth I had a short-hand way of evaluating films: black and white meant serious, deep, real; color meant shallow, exploitative, sentimental, spectacle. This film is real. I have watched it many times in my life, and I hope to many times more.The ending made me squirmy and deeply uncomfortable in 1958. Since then, I sing and weep along with the French soldiers.My favorite scene in the movie: Sgt. Boulanger (Bert Freed) enters the condemned men's cell and greets Cpl. Paris (Ralph Meeker). I think it is one of the best-played, best-written scenes ever filmed. In the context of the drama - three lines I often hear in my mind: "I don't want to die." "Act like a man." "I don't want to die." "This is the last decision you'll have a chance to make on earth."Kubrick is an effusive genius who I think peaked twice: Paths of Glory and Dr. Strangelove.A film can be known by its friends and enemies, and Paths of Glory made the right ones on both sides.

This captures the absurdities of WWI superbly. Point of fact in 1916 at the Battle of Somme the first day there was 60,000 British casualties alone with only a few kilometers ever captured throughout the campaign. Within context of largely senseless slaughter of this war, we see the blunders of the callous military leadership, who place the blame on the common soldier for their own deficient plan. A cowardly lieutenant is depicted exacting revenge on a rank-and-file accuser. Final scene is a tour de force. Quite superior in narrative to ballyhooed "1917" and it's graphic depiction of the horrors of war.

Strong performances by Kirk Douglas and supporting cast. Fine directing by Stanley Kubrick. Excellent cinematography.. Very good special effects for the 1950's which involved so much explosive that German authorities closely questioned the film makers before issuing a permit. Banned in France and some other countries until the 1970's and 80's.Even though this movie is based loosely on actual events, it is not so much a scathing indictment of the French high command as it is an indictment of a certain kind of officer present in all of the armies I've read about. Officers more concerned with career and personal advancement than with their men or even the good of their countries. Officers whose cupidity, stupidity and culpability make them easy targets for film and literature. For more on self-serving and incompetent officers in World War One, try THE DONKEYS by Alan Clark. Incidentally, things became so bad for French troops that there was a mutiny in 1917 which affected almost half of the infantry divisions on the Western Front. Had the Germans known about it, the history of the world would probably be quite different.

How could I possibly praise this film more highly?Kubrick's World War One drama shows the grim reality of the struggle and the irresponsible officers who send the troops to die. Stanley Kubrick may have made better films (Doctor Strangelove, 2001) but few have the raw power of this movie. It is a worthy accompaniment to "All's Quiet on the Western Front" as a depiction of the conflict.I cannot say you will have fun watching this film. But you should watch it.

One of my all time favourite Movies,this still packs a mighty punch 60 years after it's initial release.Kirk Douglas gives a memorable performance as Colonel Dax,a French army officer defending his men against Court Martial charges brought by the High Command to cover their own mistakes and set an example.the trial is a farce with the verdict already decided beforehand.Impressive directing from Stanley Kubrick ,making just his third film,also excellent performances from Gerard Mcready and Adolphe Menjou as the senior Commanders out to satisfy their lust for blood.This is really an anti-war film and was banned in France for over 20 years due to it's negative portrayal of the French Military .I purchased this Spanish Disc before the film was available on Blu-ray in the UK,the English Audio track is easy to find on the menu and the sound quality is excellent too.I never tire of watching this Movie and it's message still resonates powerfully all these years later.

I suppose when of the best anti-war films in that lives did not matter. A General who only cared about his own reputation and not the lives ofhis men under his command and the subsequent fallout of the attack and getiing thme charged for cowardice. The court martial seemed realisitc in that there were cases where it was a sham and were over in minutes/hour and sentencing carried out within hours of the verdict by firing squad. Agreat film and shows how Generals far behind the lines lived so differently to the men in the front line.I recommend this film

Brilliant film, found it hard to hide my emotions at the end. A classic.

One of the great films about the French Army in WW1. A true classic. Many thanks.

This DVD arrived on time. Very good film with Kirk Douglas giving a fine performance. A story of French soldiers being shot for cowardice in the Great War. Sad of course and shocking