Rating: 
Summary: A complex trip through the trenches of Kubrick's head
Review: Paths of Glory is a complicated film experience, that on first viewing appears to be an anti-war diatribe, but repeated viewings make it far more complex. The film's plot revolves around the brutality of trench warfare and the total disconnection between the suffering of the foot soldier and the French Army's High Command. The generals, fearing mutiny among their exhausted soldiers, order executions after the failure to take a position. The three martyrs are represented by their commanding officer, who also happens to be a lawyer (Kirk Douglas), but since they are sacrificial lambs, chosen by lot, their fate is preordained. It is the dance of death that Kubrick focuses on, in the trenches, in the elegant chateau that houses the senile General Command, and the courtroom where the farce is played out. This is not the first film focusing on the total stupidity of trench warfare. All Quiet on the Western Front(by Lewis Milestone) and The Road to Glory (Howard Hawks) are equally effective in portraying the madness of WWI. Paths of Glory is equally fascinating for revealing the concerns that Kubrick would focus on throughout the rest of his career. These concerns go way beyond plot and story. Kubrick worked with first rate writers on this film (Jim Thompson and Calder Willingham), but the vision is his own. The endless brutal moving camera as it snakes through the trenches, pulling the characters through the crazed landscape, the lateral tracking shots during the attack sequences, the brilliantly composed close ups of men under unending duress and pressure all help to create a universe that is beyond the control of man. Kubrick's vision is one of the strongest visual creations in modern cinema and should not be forgotten when we get caught up in the compelling storyline. His connection with Kirk Douglas was so successful that when the filming of Spartacus ran into directorial roadblocks, the star was able to convince the producers to bring in the unknown Kubrick to take on the Hollywood mega epic. The producers of Spartacus had never heard of Paths of Glory and it is only through video tape that we can get to see a crucial work from Kubrick's early career. It's also a great companion piece to Full Metal Jacket, another Kubrick war film released thirty years later and a film that continues to display the director's concern with creating a visual world of total entrapment that is outside the comprehension of the ordinary man.
Rating: 
Summary: Why use drama when the truth is even more compelling?
Review: Having just finished reading John Keegan's The First World War and being in progress on Nial Ferguson's The Pity of War, two recent WWI books, I must say I'm a little surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response to this movie. Sure, it's a good movie, but it's got nothing on Kubrick's later Full Metal Jacket. The plot and characters in Paths of Glory are painted with such a broad stroke, they become somewhat implausible and it leaves you wondering just how much the novel really has in common with how the French Army was commanded in WWI.My point being, that the true stories of WWI provide much more compelling, anti-war drama than this fictional screenplay - even if based on fact. My personal feeling is that a disservice is done when history is embellished to no point. If you want to convince people war is a bad idea, the truth is by far the most potent weapon (as a comparison between the first and last battle scenes of Saving Private Ryan should demonstrate).
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Summary: The most powerful anti-war statement ever put on film
Review: This film is devasating in its brutal yet compassionate view of soldiers caught up in the dehumanizing hell of the battlefield. It is truly infuriating to see innocent men die just to further the ambitions of their superiors. And the scene in which soldiers grow from jeering louts into silent listeners as a German girl sings is one of the most haunting, lovely scenes in all of cinema.
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Summary: Incredible acting performance by Douglas in a great movie
Review: Great commentary on the tragedy of World War I. Phenomenal performance by Douglas, to the point that he somewhat overshadows those of several other key actors. Very much worth seeing and testimony to the versatility of Kubrick's skills as a director
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Summary: Ooh, this made me boil.
Review: You know you are watching a good movie when the antagonists makes you so mad you want to break stuff and swear into the night. That's what this movie is like. "Saving Private Ryan" cannot touch Kubrik's genius.
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Summary: The first real anti-militaristic war movie
Review: The movie focuses on the immense stupidity and brutality of the French commanding officers during WWI. Only since the late 1970s was this movie allowed to show in France - this is in itself a warrant of how disturbing the message of the movie is. I consider Paths of Glory as the ancestor of films like Thin Red Line and Saving Private Ryan.
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Summary: Positively The Best War Movie Ever Made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Futility and War. Stanley Kubrick understood that these two wretches were bound watertight. His display of the harrowing and heart-wrenching decisions faced in war has never been matched. (Steven Spielberg came close with Saving Private Ryan) The audience is fully swept away by the confusion as to who the true enemy is and the feeling is of regret that we, the audience, cannot help these unfortunate souls. Many films attempt to be labelled as tear jerkers. The sheer pointlessness of the firing squad scene makes it undeniable that this film is a Soul Jerker.
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Summary: CULT MOVIES 58
Review: 58. PATHS OF GLORY (war, 1957) France, 1916: During W.W.I Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) is ordered by General Meraud (George McReady) to advance the enemy and take an important 'ant hill'. The General's orders prove suicidal as most of the advancing soldiers are killed. There is an inevitable retreat. Seeing this as an act of insubordination by Colonel Dax and his men he orders 3 men from each regiment be executed for mutiny. But Colonel Dax is determined to defend the men in court. Critique: Along with the legendary 'All Quiet on the western Front' this is considered as the most important war film made. Both take place in the mud-laden maze of trench warfare and deals with the inept attitudes of the military leaders. Whereas 'Western Front' deals more with the subject of innocent blood being taken to their slaughter by uncompromising Generals, 'Paths' delves into the political aspects and moral issues associated with war. Director Stanley Kubrick reveled in showing just how topsy-turvy authoritarian figures can be especially in times of war where all common sense disappears. He would take things to the absurd with 'Dr. Strangelove' and completely destroy social fabric with the pessimistic 'Clockwork Orange'. Every major Hollywood house initially turned down 'Paths' until Kirk Douglas stepped in and co-produced the project. The result was to prove Kubrick's first masterpiece establishing him as a major director. The film's many symbolic and outright topical points will remain important. QUOTES: Gen. Meraud: "The men died wonderfully. There's always that chance that one of them will do something that will leave everyone with a bad taste. This time you couldn't ask for none better."
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Summary: Kubrik,s Gifts.
Review: Kubrik, like most great directors knew if you cast a film properly the results will reflect such casting. George Macready and Adoplh Menjou are impeccable. This could be Ralph Meeker,s best performance. Timothy Carey, as one of the "three" has memorable moments. A superb film.
Rating:
Summary: One of the truly Great War Films
Review: This film, though not as well known as it should be, ranks among the all time war classics like 'All Quiet on the Western Front' and 'Glory.'
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