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Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris ... see more see more... , Richard Anderson , Joe Turkel , Timothy Carey , Peter Capell , Susanne Christian , Bert Freed , Jerry Hausner , Harold Benedict , John Stein , Ken Dibbs , Emile G. Meyer

Adapting Humphrey Cobb's novel to the screen, director Stanley Kubrick and his collaborators Calder Willingham and Jim Thompson set out to make a devastating anti-war statement, and they succeeded abo... read more read more...ve and beyond the call of duty. In the third year of World War I, the erudite but morally bankrupt French general Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders his troops to seize the heavily fortified "Ant Hill" from the Germans. General Mireau (George MacReady) knows that this action will be suicidal, but he will sacrfice his men to enhance his own reputation. Against his better judgment, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) leads the charge, and the results are appalling. When, after witnessing the slaughter of their comrades, a handful of the French troops refuse to leave the trenches, Mireau very nearly orders the artillery to fire on his own men. Still smarting from the defeat, Mireau cannot admit to himself that the attack was a bad idea from the outset: he convinces himself that loss of Ant Hill was due to the cowardice of his men. Mireau demands that three soldiers be selected by lot to be executed as an example to rest of the troops. Acting as defense attorney, Colonel Dax pleads eloquently for the lives of the unfortunate three, but their fate is a done deal. Even an eleventh-hour piece of evidence proving Mireau's incompetence is ignored by the smirking Broulard, who is only interested in putting on a show of bravado. A failure when first released (it was banned outright in France for several years), Paths of Glory has since taken its place in the pantheon of classic war movies, its message growing only more pertinent and potent with each passing year (it was especially popular during the Vietnam era). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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41 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: Stanley Kubrick

Release Date: December 25, 1957

Keywords: war, anti-war

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DVD Release Date: May 15, 2001

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Flixster Reviews (1,752)

  • JonathanHutchings
    April 15, 2012
    JonathanHutchings
    I know Paths of Glory is a beloved classic, and yes, it features the masterful Kubrickian technique we've all come to love, but aside from the two standout final scenes, it's hard to get past Kirk Douglas' scene chewing. Call me crazy, but I don't buy him as a French Colonel -- s... read moreurely some attempt (from anyone) to avoid using colloquial English, with American accents and attitudes, while studiously making it look as much as possible like a document of the French Army in World War I would have helped. But, then again, I don't buy Douglas a good actor either. He's the king of vanity projects, and this film is no exception.
  • phubbs1
    January 23, 2012
    phubbs1
    Despite being known as a bit of a classic Kubrick's anti war film was not a box office hit at the time of release and was actually frowned upon by various European countries for the portrayal of the military and its negative message towards the establishment in general.

    It is cl... read moreear to see the moral injustice carried out which is the films basis and the theme for the anti war message. The fact that men were shot by their own country for petty charges such as 'cowardice' or less shows really how poorly humans treated each other and at this time how life was cheap, high ranking officials grasping for honours by playing war games with real lives at stake. This of course caused the controversy at the time of release amongst military leaders, the truth stings.

    As a film there isn't much better, there are numerous classic war films of the age and this Kubrick offering is up there with the greats. What is impressive, like 'All Quiet on the Western Front, is the trench/nomans land sequences are highly realistic looking with fantastic camera work, a real work of art showing mud, bomb craters and debris set in a barren misty wasteland scattered with bodies and barb wire.

    Told from a French point of view of course (WW1 trench warfare against the Germans) but amusingly you wouldn't think it as the cast bare no attempt to sound French with everyone having an American accent, Wayne Morris as the drunken Roget especially with his slightly southern twang, these days that would be more accurate I'm sure.
    But no one can dispute the quality of the cast line up with a strong headed Douglas leading the way with fire in his eyes as he tries his best to remain civil against a sly heartless Macready who in turn is trying to butter up the quietly cunning Menjou for promotion. There is added entertainment with a surprisingly good portrayal from Carey as one of the doomed soldiers as he displays some dark gallows humour to the whole affair and lets not forget a young Joe Turkel who will later turn up in cult classic 'Blade Runner'.

    The films message is clear and virtually stated by Douglas during the court martial scene and its spot on. Kubrick's adaptation of the Cobb novel is pinpoint and speaks volumes, the fact the whole story is also based on a true event makes it even more poignant.
  • CreedsDelight
    January 6, 2012
    CreedsDelight
    A testament to the human spirit. The best WWI film ever made.
  • fb1710827246
    November 3, 2011
    fb1710827246
    Excellent movie, and easily one of Kubrick's best, then again when has Kubrick made a lackluster movie? Paths of Glory is very thoughtful, insightful then horrid and insinuating to humanity. The cinematic genius of Stanley delivers its message of the absurdity of life, of the hor... read morerors of having no control of one's own fate, the greed of man, and the our very existence as humans.
  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Kubrick's black and white war masterpiece.
  • fb100000257973100
    September 20, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    I will be honest and stand corrected when I once said that all War films are the same. Yeah, if they are based off of fact then you might as well say they are all the same (as in the outcome), but there is something with Stanley Kubrick's Paths Of Glory that just shines above the... read more rest in terms of being a great war film. Now, this film is known for the sequence of Kirk Douglas (Col. Dax) walking through his army's war trenches, looking at all of his men with the knowledge that next to no one will survive. You can see in his face that he, himself, will have to live with this loss and that he is against this due to him seeing beyond the order and into it's own heart of stupidity. Then, the soldier next to him starts counting down to thirty. As he is doing so, Dax stands on the top wall of the trench, a whistle in his mouth, then gives a war cry that tells his men to attack their enemy. What follows next is one of the most haunting, yet beautiful war attacks I have ever seen and that I doubt any film director can beat (not even Kubrick could have topped this with Spartacus and Full Metal Jacket). Now, this being the first collaboration between Douglass and Kubrick, the chemistry of greatness is present that would go on to be in Kubrick's next film: Spartacus. But, this film is much more dark, grainier, and just a better film in a lot of respects. Stanley Kubrick will always be a genius, and that is that. With every film he made, he always expanded on his power in terms of social commentary, story telling, cinematography, directing, writing, and even making you think of the situations. With this film, you see the early works of him making you think about the situations at hand, and how would you react to the choices the characters make. Mostly this part deals with the famous Court Trial that happens during the second act. As the debate over three men's lives are discussed and are at stake, you start to learn that the judges have something else in mind that alternates their choice in the matter: Public Opinion. They do not care about these men. All they care about is making examples of how powerful they are in the eyes of their people. With this, Kubrick shows us of the corruption people have in their mind and their desire to appear powerful. But, Col. Dax tries to save their lives. Does he accomplish this? Watch the film to find out. But, there are a few things that need to be acknowledge. The first is Kubrick's position as writer, cameraman, and director. While an early film of his, Kubrick still shows what he would soon end up becoming. Mostly what shocked me about this film was how Kubrick made every image in the film beyond focused and fine point. Now a days, most people will not notice this, but for a film made in 1957, this is impressive and still to today, it looks breathtakingly beautiful. The one shot that shows this is the battle of Ant Hill. Just the audacity to show the violent side of war, the clarity of so many details, it makes an already haunting and slightly disturbing scene morbidly beautiful and breathtaking. It takes a lot for my jaw to drop during a film, and that entire war scene based on how it looked was amazing. With acting, only one name needs to be mentioned: Kirk Douglass. Kirk Douglass is one of those iconic actors in cinema that will always be compared to, and this film showcases his acting styles the best that I have seen. He gives this film his all, changes from a well reasonable, order taking Col. and turns into something of a psychopath towards the end as he sees the true 'justice' of the France he believe in. Plus, his facial expressions are just amazing in this film as he gets across the main idea of the character. As I said, later on Douglass would team up with Kubrick for the epic Spartacus where he will show his talent again. But between the films if you want to see his acting at his best, this is the film to see. Now, I am not going to touch base on the writing or score due to that, if thought about, does not really matter with this film. Well, maybe the writing. But this entire film works on look, acting, and the direction and in those senses, this film hits high marks and is just wonderful. A great war film that still works and is still strong today.
  • fb619846742
    August 29, 2011
    fb619846742
    A powerful, under-rated work of art that deserves to be seen, especially for any Stanley Kubrick fan. Although the ending gets a little too idealistic and "Hollywood", Kubrick is still able to create a near-masterpiece of a war story concerning three men accused of cowardice in t... read morehe face of the enemy - all of them being completely innocent. Kirk Douglas is the perfect fit for the role of a confident and strong leader who is breaking down seeing his men being put on trial as a result of a bad commander looking for someone to blame for his atrociously set-up war plan. While it certainly doesn't topple the most obvious of Kubrick's achievements ("The Shining", "2001: A Space Odyssey"), it's still and under seen anti-war film that isn't too long, but gets it's point across excellently.
  • stevenecarrier
    July 22, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" is a dazzling anti-war film. What makes the film so effective and in no way alienating, is Kubrick's refusal to dip into convention to offer easy answers. Anti-war films can often be extremely blunt and simple minded, but not "Paths of Glory." H... read moreere is a film that questions every side of a moral issue, rather than simply stating what is 'wrong' about a given situation. The cinematography is beautiful as well, showing the dark beauty of war. Kirk Douglas delivers a fine central performance and is backed by numerous, excellent, supporting players. "Paths of Glory" is much more effective than Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket," and one of the legendary directors most assured and instantly engaging films.
  • garyX
    July 13, 2011
    garyX
    The irony of the title of Stanley Kubrick's powerful anti-war film cannot be missed. Kirk Douglas plays a colonel in the French army of WWI who is ordered to make a futile attack by an arrogant and effete general for his own personal and ambition fuelled reasons. When the offensi... read moreve inevitably fails, he orders the execution of three men picked at random for cowardice. This film contains none of the usual flag waving and macho heroics, Kubrick preferring to make a blistering attack on the hypocrisy of the politics of war and those who wage it from behind their lines, luxuriating in chateaus and attending costume balls while the men they so casually send to their deaths suffer under impossible conditions. It is much an attack on the class system as anything, as the aristocratic officers can perpetrate appalling acts of cowardice with impunity while innocent fighting men are made "examples" of or treated with disdain when suffering from shellshock (which "does not exist"). A powerful and intelligent examination of how war is fought from one of the true masters.
  • fb500439213
    July 3, 2011
    fb500439213
    One of the best anti-war movies and it's encased in one of Kubrick's shortest runtimes. The foibles of military chicken-hawks is epitomized in this incident where several soldiers retreated from an impossible ascension up the German "Ant Hill". For promotion and self-aggrandizeme... read morent in the face of dwindling support from the public, they forced soldiers to their deaths at enemy hands and ultimately their own firing squad. Inflammatory and potently cynical, the crisp black-and-white photography is extraordinary and the walk through the trenches is another magnificent example of Kubrick's sustained long takes.

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Critic Reviews

May 8, 2007
Variety

While the subject is well handled and enacted in a series of outstanding characterizations, it seems dated and makes for grim screen fare. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
May 8, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

This masterpiece still packs a wallop, though nothing in it is as simple as it may first appear; audiences are still arguing about the final sequence, which has been characterized as everything from a... Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 20, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Songs at the ends of dramas usually make us feel better. They are part of closure. This song at the end of this movie makes us feel more forlorn. Full Review

Ken Tucker
December 9, 2005
Ken Tucker, New York Magazine

Paths of Glory is all about that greatest of all movie subjects: power. Full Review

J. Hoberman
November 29, 2005
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

There's a near mathematical logic to the scenario and the cruelty is compounded by class. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
February 24, 2005
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

Both a terrifying, grim look at battle and an excruciatingly tense courtroom thriller. Together, it's a devastating indictment of war as conducted by opportunists and liars. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
January 1, 2000
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

As for the picture's significance, it comes to an inconclusive point. Full Review

Wesley Lovell
August 15, 2011
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

Stanley Kubrick often spoke out against war in his film, using violence as a weapon against the audience's sensibilities. Never was he more convincing as here. Full Review

James Kendrick
October 26, 2010
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

watching it is to watch the birth of the one of the greatest filmmakers of the second half of the 20th century Full Review

October 3, 2007
Film4

For all its chilly symmetry and beauty, the sheer injustice shown will have your pulse racing. Full Review

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Paths of Glory Trivia

  • what World War I movie had the line "they died well"?  Answer »
  • Stanley Kubrick's 'Paths of Glory' was banned in which country because it made that country's army look bad?  Answer »
  • He directed "Lolita" starring Shelley Winters, "Paths of Glory" starring Kirk Douglas and "Barry Lyndon" starring Ryan O'Neal, name this director.  Answer »
  • What director links the movies "Lolita" (1962), "Spartacus", "Paths of Glory", and "Barry Lyndon"?  Answer »
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