Paths of Glory

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Summary: Young Kubrick triumph
Review: The Amazon review of this film is inaccurate in its assertion that this film was Kirk Douglas' idea. In fact the project was initiated by Stanley Kubrick and his partner James Harris. The script was shown to Douglas, whose committment secured the financing.The film was shot while Kubrick was still young and had his wits fully about him. It's wonderfully acted and crisply directed, and makes its sledgehammer impact in a hour and a half. No less a luminary than Winston Churchill purportedly commended its realism.To compare this masterpiece with Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket", another war film, released exactly thirty years later, is a very sad experience. All of his skills and mental acuity had deserted him, and he took two and a half hours to say nothing at all. But that pratfall can't diminish the brilliance of "Paths of Glory."

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Summary: The Brilliance of Kubrick...
Review: ...is seen in this incredibly powerful WW1 anti-war masterpiece. Bleak trench warfare, incompetent leadership, and a monkey trial culminating in a sacrifice are the basic components. What I found odd and yet enjoyable was the fact that Kubrick didn't even bother with French accents - as if it really didn't matter that it was WWI, it could be any war, any year, any country. Bottom line: Must see for Kubrick fans and war-movie fans alike...enjoy.

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Summary: Anti-war? More like anti-poor leadership film
Review:

Pretty good film with excellent scenes and photography, great acting, and great drama.

I hope this film is used as an entertaining instructional film for officer candidates. It's great at showing the hypocrisy, egotism, and unchecked evil that can seep into a unit's leadership when the wrong personalities are present.

This was based on a work of fiction, but truth is stranger than fiction, so I'm certain situations like the one this film is about have occured at some point, or some side or another, in the Great War.

I don't get why everyone says it's an anti-war movie. There were no pacifist speeches or overt debates about the morals of fighting. Instead, it just focused on a massive abortion of justice and the terrible leaders the men of the 701st regiment had.

In any army, or unit, be it a corporation or a rifle company, there are always going to be 'stupid' orders the grunts have to follow. But men will instinctively know when something is total BS or not, but morale and leadership have to be pretty damn low for guys to outright refuse orders, which, by the way, none of the guys in the trial did.

When troops refuse orders en masse, it's usually not because they're cowards, but they lack the proper leadership. That was apparent in this movie, when the general orders a single battle-weary, understrength regiment to take an entire hill in broad daylight without sufficient artillery prep, reinforcements, or even a smoke screen to hide their approach along a clear field of fire for dozens of Boche machine guns. Hell, these guys wanted to fight the war, but no one wants to die for no reason at all. If you're sitting in a trench and you know that an advance is completely futile, why would you use yourself as target practice for the enemy machine gunners?

In any case, the French generals were a little bit over the top. Other than that, it was a good idea to just speak English without attempting a silly French accent. Also, the lack of blood and guts ala some modern war movies allowed one to concentrate on the drama of the story. All around a decent 4-star movie.

-- JJ Timmins

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Summary: he's a go getter
Review: cannot believe that this has been released in a package with the killing for under [$$$]. unreal. obviously one of the best anti war films ever. words cannot obviate the need to see this for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: This is probably the best anti war film ever made. I don't think you could find a better representation of cowardice and ignorance in the French General Staff during WWI. However, the movie touches themes much more complex than the throwing away of the lives of millions of young men. The nature of war itself and the men who are chosen to "lead" soldiers is called into question. The camera work is another highlight of the film, it just adds to the tragic and somber tone of the film. I think the final scene that takes place inside the cabaret is one of the most emotional and disturbing scenes I have ever seen in a movie. Just an absolute masterpiece.

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Summary: In The Clutches Of The Madding Crowd
Review: If it were made today, "Paths of Glory" would be a two-and-a-half hour long epic, loaded with self-importance and chest thumping. It would contain scene after scene of Oscar-baiting speeches performed by American actors with phony French accents, a soaring Hans Zimmer (or, most likely, John Williams) score meant to tug at the heartstrings, and more splattered blood than vampire's day at the Red Cross. But it wasn't made today. It was made in 1957. And not by some Hollywood hack, looking forward to awards season. But by Stanley Kubrick, a young director ready to burst through the doors of cinema history. "Paths of Glory" announces his presence, and oh what a wonderful noise it does make.

The film is set in France, 1916. World War I is in full swing, and the French front is stabilized. Trench warfare is prevalent, and though battle lines changed very little, the casualties used to make those changes are astronomical. General Mireau, a seemingly pragmatic man at the film's onset, is given an important task by General Broulard: take 'The Anthill", a highly important strategic position, currently in the hands of the Germans. Mireau knows it can't be done, for his troops' numbers are already depleted, but the promise of an extra star on his chest sways him. It is this moment that typifies the themes of the film: the glory of one is put ahead of the safety of many.

This opening scene between Mireau and Broulard establishes Kubrick's camera work from the get-go. It moves fluidly around the room, following the two men in conversation while capturing the posh luxury they live in. The camera appears to be doing figure eights. This highly stylized movement is maintained throughout the rest of the film. Most notable in this regard are the trench scenes. A series of long tracking shots, single takes all, establish the size and terror to be found in the trenches. It helps contrast the conditions in the trenches with the ornateness of the general's quarters, allowing the audience to almost understand why Mireau would do anything to maintain his position.

Kubrick's camera is on fire here, giving a stylized but relevant look to the film's court martial scene. It circles endlessly around the judges, the prosecution, the defense, and the accused, unifying them all in the grand room bathed in soft sunlight (the whole film is a textbook example of how light -- and shadow -- should be used to set the mood of a scene).

Kirk Douglas, whose star-wattage helped Kubrick and Co. get the film made, is an imposing presence. Besides the fact that his pompadour never looks ruffled, even during the battle scenes, Douglas' Colonel Dax has credibility and power to spare. Once the "foremost criminal lawyer in all of France", Dax leads the platoon charged with the impossible mission. Although he sees the folly in it, he's enough of an army man to not go against orders. But he does make his views known. A liberal pragmatist, Dax is sharp of tongue and doesn't suffer fools gladly, enough so that when Mireau gives the order, Dax can't help quoting Samuel Johnson under his breath: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel". Douglas plays all sides of the man with skill and grace. He's at his best during the court marshal scene, where his anger nearly overtakes him, and his passion is palpable.

The supporting cast is, for the most part, fairly good, led by the three actors who played the condemned men. Timothy Carey previously worked with Kubrick in "The Killing". Carey is a weird on-screen presence, not much of an actor, but he's perfect for the nervous "social undesirable" that is Private Ferol. Joe Turkel, who would later play the bartender in "The Shining", looks tiny and unintimidating. But his small role as Private Arnaud calls for him to show a cool demeanor and then wield terrible anger. Turkel does well on both counts. Ralph Meeker is probably the soul of the film, as the doomed Corporal Paris. A man of principle and character, Paris is caught in a tough situation when a commanding officer, a former schoolmate who he doesn't respect in the slightest, bribes him into compliance with a cover-up scandal. Paris is the kind of soldier every army would die for, if said army wasn't awash in self-serving egotism. Meeker plays this dignified man perfectly.

There are some dubious performances here, most notably by George Macready and Wayne Morris. Macready, as Colonel Mireau, is little more than a cardboard villain. A crowded theatre would boo and hiss every time he comes on screen, his villainy is so one-sided. Macready is probably to blame, playing every scene with over-the-top hamminess. Morris, a real life war hero, is cast against type as the drunken buffoon, Lieutenant Roget. Although his amateurness works well in some scenes, it undermines the character in others. How could a man this foolhardy ever rise to such a position? We never see Roget as anything less than incompetent, and it hurts his credibility. Still, these minor quibbles don't tarnish the fine work of the entire cast.

"Paths of Glory" can be a frustrating film to watch, especially for those aghast at inequities caused by hubris and the hunt for glory. The court marshal scene, in which Douglas' Dax is set back at every turn, had me nearly screaming at my TV, as it became apparent that the officers were fully prepared to be selfish, and ruin the lives of a few innocent men. "There are few things more fundamentally encouraging and stimulating than seeing someone else die," says General Broulard at one point, with a beatific smile on his face. He thinks that his addressee, a subordinate, will accept his words as stated. Thankfully Colonel Dax, and Kubrick's remarkably compact film (running a taut 84 minutes), doesn't.

Rating:
Summary: Kubrick's Best
Review: and the only film he ever made that truly has withstood the test of time. While his brooding pretentiousness got the better of him through the '60's until his death--this film is an honest and straightforward Hollywood movie in the best since of the word.

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Summary: paths of shame
Review: Watching Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" is a schock and disturbing..Its amazing to see a movie 35 years old be so impressive and so actual.We've seem the insanity of war in manny great movies, but Paths of Glory has something else.Its Kubrick,its a genius screenplay,is Kirk Douglas in one of his finnest moments and a wonderfull cast. There were great pacifists movies like Johny get your Gun,and others, but Paths of Glory shows how scary, manipulative and dangerous is the search for power. How obcessive and insane is the war and the ones who make it. Yes the ones who make it.The ones behind the desk,or in theirs buildings playing with "ordinary" people's life.Its amazing how actual the movie still is.
We are living a dangerous moment in our history,were a lot of hipocrysie and insanity is taking over. We talk about war,about enemies whose we dont know ecxactly who they are, but we attack no matter what. Its about a dirty glory,were there's no sense at all.
Films like Paths of Glory made me think if this game for power is still playing.Its so clear that still is.How wrong some leaders, generals and politicians are.
They should all see this movie and reflect that war never was and never will be a solution for our problems.
This movie deserves a five stars medal condecoration. Salut!!

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Summary: Paths of Glory: An Ironical Title If There Ever Was One
Review: Stanley Kubrick's PATHS OF GLORY is one of the most gripping war movies ever filmed. Its power does nor come from an impressive body count. THE LONGEST DAY and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN have higher counts but what makes this movie so special is the battle that goes on in the courtroom. Kirk Douglas plays Colonel Dax of the French army, a man of bravery and impeccable integrity. When he is given an order to attack, he will obey it since he assumes that the order is a rational one that fits into the larger scheme of winning a battle. His commanding officer, played with sublime officiousness by Adolphe Menjou, orders a suicide attack on a heavily defended German position with predictable results. Dax's men are beaten back with ruinous losses. The general seeks a scapegoat for the defeat since if he has none, then he must shoulder responsibility. He chooses to blame his regiment for cowardice, and randomly chooses three soldiers for a courts-martial. It is Dax's job to defend them. It is during the trial that Kubrick raises some tough questions about the morality of war and the need to obey all orders, regardless of their surface illogic. Despite a solid defense, Dax realizes that the verdict was in even before the trial began, and the three unlucky soldiers are shot by firing squad. As Dax grows to understand the nature of the beast called war, so does the audience. In war, top commanders often regard their armies of men as little more than chess pieces, to be placed here and there on whim. Losses are expected and uncried over. Dax shakes up the entire French High Command by demanding that someone in a high place owes it to the dead to cry over them, even if he is the only one willing to do so. Whatever illusions about fair play in military justice that remain after the guilty verdict is in vanish when he speaks to the commander of the general who ordered the attack in the first place. This general tells Dax that the offending general has been relieved of command. However, he also tells Dax that despite knowing the idiocy of the attacking order and the equal idiocy of demanding the guilty verdict, he still insists that it was more important to safeguard the holiness of obedience to orders than to safeguard the well-being of the men attempting to carry out those orders. It is this closing scene of disillusionment that teaches Dax that though war may be inherently chaotic, human beings must not be so. The events of the war following this war teach us that some lessons humanity will probably never learn.

Rating:
Summary: The Heart of Stanley Kubrick
Review: Kubrick was always criticized for being a 'cold' director, but if one examines his films closely, they will realize he had more heart than his reputation. 'Paths of Glory' is probably the best war movie ever made. The story is about an crazed general who wants his soldiers to conquer and anthill. The mission is ridiculous and the soldiers know it. Nontheless, they proceed and it is disasterous. Three soldiers are going to be executed for "cowardice" on the battlefield. Kirk Douglas' mission is to stop the execution. Kubrick makes some strong points about the stupidity and absurdities of war and the people who govern them. No doubt, it is one of the best war films ever made.