Rating: 
Summary: Now you got the edge on him...
Review: One of Stanley Kubrick's earliest films, and one of his finest, "Paths of Glory" stars Kirk Douglas as a French colonel who must defend three soldiers against trumped-up charges of cowardice. Within that simple framework, and with an amazingly short running time (just under 90 minutes), Kubrick and company create a powerful, universal story about the abuse of power, the horrors of war and the indomitability of the human spirit, and its possible redemption.
"Paths" draws a lot of its power from some amazing, naturalistic performances by its supporting cast. Ralph Meeker, Joseph Turkel and the hulking Timothy Carey (one weird-looking guy) portray the accused, three very different men with sharply delineated reactions to their shared predicament. Their final scenes have the feel of a Arthur Miller play, tragic and vital. Wayne Morris, himself a real-life war hero, is exceptional as a cowardly officer. George Macready ably limns a self-righteous general, with support from film legend Adolphe Menjou as his wily superior. And star Kirk Douglas delivers one of his typically impassioned performances; few have ever matched his ability to dynamically combine physicality and intellect with strong idealism.
Some criticize Kubrick for giving into sentimentality during the scene in which French soldiers torment a captured German girl, then hum along with her as she sings, while Douglas' character listens and draws strength. I would argue that this is actually more daring than Kubrick's later detachment. Starting with his brilliant "Dr. Strangelove," and continuing through his final film, "Eyes Wide Shut," Kubrick often kept the viewer separate from the subjects; almost like watching lab experiments in a refrigerator. It's easy to feel superior when you keep everything at arm's length, smugly observing behaviors alien to yourself. It's easy to assign undesirable actions to freaks like Alex, from "A Clockwork Orange," or Jack Torrance in "The Shining" without having to feel uneasy about one's own tendency towards violence, or whatever behavior Kubrick chose to film, criticize, or satirize.
Actually, we are like these soldiers, and frequently, we are the victimizers ourselves, just as vain and self-justifying as Macready's hypocritical general. "Paths," then, can be seen as a challenge to the viewer, and it gains authority from its unwillingness to excuse us for our flaws, even as it embraces these battered men. Okay, so it's overt humanism... but it's heartfelt and honest. And true.
Altogether, this is one of Kubrick's most human films. From the rat-infested trenches and the slaughterhouse floor of No Man's Land (the combat scenes, while fairly brief, remain some of the most visceral ever filmed) to the glacial elegance of the general's chateau, Kubrick takes us down all the paths to glory and the grave.
Rating: 
Summary: WAR IS HELL!
Review: A masterpiece by the visionary genius Stanley Kubrick dealing with the absurdity that takes place durning and after a war. General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou "A Woman of Paris") comes to General Mireau (George Macready) with a special mission, but one they both know will cost many lives. That is all spared, as if the mission goes thru General Mireau will be given yet another star. The strive for greed and power then sets the stage for one of the most powerful film ever made, whether by Kubrick or in general on the subject of war. Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas "Spartacus")right from the begining is all but too aware of the amount of lives this will cost. But is called a coward in the process, and is told to take time off if he can't pull thru. With that being said, he accepts command. The odd, or should I say the amazing thing about this story is the screenplay written by Jim Thompson, Calder Willingham, and Kubrick himself is all based on a book by Humphrey Cobb which is a true story! To think that these unprecedented acts actually occured to unbelieveable. There are Oscar caliber performances here by Douglas and Macready, who both went overlooked as well did the directing, screenplay,and photography! This is a one of a kind film that remains as one of the greatest of all time. A must for anyone's video collection whether your a Kubrick fan, war movie fan, or a fan of any of the actors in the movie (Douglas, Menjou). A powerful, raw, real movie everyone has to see!
Rating:
Summary: Probably Douglas' best role ever!
Review: I saw this film in a college course on film and I realize why. It is one of the best directed films ever made. The black and white works to perfection. This is my favorite Kirk Douglas film about the French military during WWI. A group of French soldiers are sent on an impossible mission. When they obviously fail, the General afraid of losing face for a stupid decision, decides to court martial some of the soldiers as a punishment. Three soldiers are singled out. One obviously fought very bravely and another was hit on the head and knocked unconcious during the battle. Their stories are futile against the kangaroo French military court. Douglas tries valiently to act as their legal council and present their defense in vain. From what I understand this film is still banned in France! I guess the humiliating loss during WWII did nothing to sway the French military from its self-conceived notion of being a great military power!
Rating:
Summary: All is Quiet
Review: Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas), a French Officer in WWI, must lead his men into a towering battle against enemy forces. But when the battle is lost, and Dax and his men are forced to retreat, one of Dax's crazed generals orders three soldiers from the unit to be picked at random, and put on trial on charges of showing cowardice in battle, the penalty for which is execution. And only Colonel Dax can defend them.... "Paths Of Glory" is one of Stanley Kubrick's earliest films, and it's also one of his best. This is a brilliantly powerful anti-war film that will make you VERY angry, indeed, that such a tragic mockery of justice as this WWI incident actually occurred. Like in his later films, Kubrick directs outstandingly. The stark black & white film is excellently photographed, the script is first-rate, and the cast led by Kirk Douglas all give top-notch performances. I'm totally flabbergasted that this film went unrecognised by the Academy back in 1957. Not even any *nominations*, let alone awards? That's incredible. But I'm very pleased that "Paths Of Glory" has wonderfully stood the test of time, and is regarded not only as a war-film classic, but also as one of Stanley Kubrick' finest works. Over four decades after it's release, the impact of "Paths Of Glory" still resonates.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant portrayal of a corrupt army and nation.
Review: The time, world war 1. The place, the French Army on the Western Front. A French infantry regiment is ordered into an impossible attack against a powerfully fortified position. They fail, of course, in some of the most realistic combat scenes of any movie. (The combat scenes are essentially "Saving Private Ryan" without the gore.) Of course, this impossible mission was motivated by corrupt French politics and the venal ambition of the French division commander, and now three soldiers are to be scapegoated for "cowardice" and tried by court-martial. Kirk Douglas plays the role of the commander of the attack who also acts as defense counsel for the scapegoated soldiers, whom he knows to be innocent. This was a great role for Douglas. The acting in this flick is very good, the story line is excellent, and the movie moves along at a brisk pace to its predictable but nonetheless hard-hitting conclusion. This movie will make you think, and helps one understand how an army full of tough soldiers can nevertheless be corrupted by politics and ambition, as the French army and nation indeed were.
Rating:
Summary: Preaching to the Choir
Review: First of all I want to say that I enjoyed this film completely. The problem is I enjoyed the film mostly because I agreed with it and not because it was necessarily an amazing film. I'll try to make that more clear. Films often times have a political or personal message to its audience. I have no problem with this, but I believe a great and successful film is one that leaves a certain ambiguity to its premise. I love a film that allows me to make my own views and provides for an arena of open dialogue. This film is heavy handed. The good guys are good and always good, the bad guys are bad and always bad. War is always bad and the military is always evil. The problem is life, and nothing in it, is ever that simple. It would have been better for the audience to be allowed their own thoughts. The truth is I have strong feelings against warfare and have yet to study about a single war that was necessary. Certainly the war presented here, World War I, could have been avoided. Yet that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone who was responsible for it was a cold hearted sadist twisting their mustache hair hatching a plan to end the world. That I am against war is why I liked it, but I did not like it in terms of aesthetic criteria, complicated story lines and deep layered characters. These elements were lacking because Kubrick was too focussed on making a message. Unfortunately the only ones who will accept this message are ones who already believe in it. In terms of anti-war, Full Metal Jacket is a far superior and more mature film because it presented itself simply and let the audience come up with their own opinions. Paths of Glory straight up tells you want to think and how to think about it. What dissapoints me about this, is that this type of heavy handed style is common in Speilberg, a director I loathe. To see it in Kubrick makes me wish desperately that he would have done something else with this film. It is much easier to see why this narrative is flawed when you watch a film that you disagree with. I think of the film Just Cause. It's a movie that not only supports capital punishment but also police brutality and reinforces stereotypes of the black criminal. I couldn't have hated it more, mostly because of its heavy handed nature. It's just better to let the audience make up their minds rather than handing them their opinions with overly melodramtic scenes and drastically exaggerated story lines. A director should never have the message and theme of the movie in mind when he or she sets out to make it. Motifs and ideologies emerge from a piece naturally through the course of its creation. I can't give it five stars because it only ammounts to preaching to the choir, but I give it four because after all I am in the choir.
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest anti-war films ever made.
Review: Kirk Douglas argued long and hard to get this film made. The studio felt it would not be profitable and it was not, but in retrospect, it turned out to be one of Douglas's finest performances and one of Stanley Kubrick's greatest achievements. This film was made almost fifty years ago, but time has not diminished its power and relevance. It is a classic! Kirk Douglas plays the role of Colonel Dax, a French regimental commander in World War I who is given a suicide mission to attack a German position, "the Ant Hill." The attack is a failure and a fiasco, with many soldiers losing their lives senselessly. The attack had no chance of success. Even so, the high command orders that three men from the regiment be selected by their officers and tried for cowardice in the face of the enemy. Dax is to be the officer who defends them. The trial is a sham and Dax, a brilliant lawyer, realizes that he has little chance of saving the lives of his men. Even so, he perseveres and demonstrates the absurdity of the trial and the criminal intent of the French high command. The men are condemned to death by firing squad. None of this will come as any surprise to the viewer, who early on realizes the stupidity, ineptness, and evil intentions of the high command. For the high command war (and the lives of the ordinary soldiers who must participate in its ultimate absurdity) is a game and the business of the generals is to get good press and enhance their reputations. Colonel Dax stands for all good people of courage and conviction who speak out at risk to themselves against lies and criminal behavior. Unflinchingly, he confronts Adolph Menjou, the commanding general, listens to his nonsense, and condemns him for the misguided fool that he is. All to no avail. The order stands and the condemned men die on public display for the troops and general staff to witness. If the movie ended with the executions, it would stand as one of the darkest portraits of fallen human nature yet filmed. But one final scene remains. Dax goes back to his headquarters after the executions and on the way he observes his men in a tavern shouting derisively at a young German woman who stands on stage as an object of ridicule and scorn. Then she starts to sing and her song transfixes and then transforms the men who begin to accompany her as she sings. Her song moves them to tears. Kubrick shows us that common soldiers are not animals whose lives are expendable, but human beings who are debased by war and uplifted by simple acts of human dignity and kindness. This final scene is one of the unforgettable moments in the history of cinema. Few viewers will ever forget it.
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST
Review: If Stanley Kubrick had not directed anything else, he'd still be lionized for this unrelenting look at the irony of war. Praise must also be bestowed on Kirk Douglas who had a big hand in getting this picture made. The trench scenes are realistic, the HQ drama is devastating and the 3 doomed soldiers are symbolic of the lost generation of WWI, picked at random and executed for cowardice to make up for lost honor and stupidity. The Humphrey Cobb novel sadly is out-of-print and how can this be? It is a classic on the level with Red Badge of Courage, All Quiet On The Western Front and Catch-22. I urge anyone who is interested in an intelligent war film (no oxymoron) to buy this for repeated viewings and to search out the book for a fuller appreciation of the artistic vision of Kubrick's masterpiece. The final scene where the German girl sings for the war-weary soldiers chokes me up everytime I see it. No other war film holds a candle to this one.
Rating:
Summary: "Paths of glory lead but to the grave"
Review: "Paths of Glory" is a beautifully filmed B&W movie by director Stanley Kubrick, and stars Kirk Douglas in one of his finest roles. It is a timeless anti-war movie whose message will not go out of style. Basically, 3 French soldiers are court-martialed to take the blame for a failed suicide attack on the Germans. Although Kirk Douglas commanded the men, he also defends them at the trial. Well acted by all, with excellent photography and direction, this movie currently resides at #39 on the IMDB list.
Rating:
Summary: "They died well."
Review: Two years into the First World War close to the French-German front in a well-kept château used as head quarters, General Paul Mireau (George Macready) receives an order to attack the Ant Hill at all costs. At first General Mireau resists the order as he knows it will costs a large amount of lives, but he gives in as General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) gives him a choice of dishonorably accepting another post together with one more star. General Mireau visits the front where he informs Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) about the upcoming assault. General Mireau puts Colonel Dax under a similar stressful situation as he was put in the previous evening. Consequently, Dax confirms that he is ready for the assault, which ends up in a suicidal massacre. However, General Mireau views the failure as an result of cowardly behavior and wants to set an example by executing a few chosen men from the battalion.
Paths of Glory is an anti-war film that depicts a cold atmosphere experienced by men at war where officers are deciding the value of life and emotion is deemed as weakness. The officers arrogant and neglectful attitude stands out in several scenes throughout the film. For example, the initial scene where two Generals enter a magnificent room one of the General displays his preoccupation with self-importance and pride while men are dying on the front. Another example is how the officers address the death of a few men by saying, "They died well.", which displays their own arrogant beliefs. Overall, Paths of Glory is a brilliantly directed film as it presents logical reasoning supported with strong visual examples that are enhanced by great performances from the cast.
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