Review of Paths of Glory (1957) by Matt C — 17 May 2010

I stumbled across this film originally on a rainy Sunday afternoon, 'Directed by Stanley Kubrick' appeared on screen and I decided to watch. I was in for a rare treat, not only a film I knew nothing about but also an excellent anti-war piece.

Returning to the film now it's still lost none of it's raw power. Some of the performances are a little too theatrical and the beer house conclusion with French soldiers weeping into their pints is a little melodramatic but these are small criticisms of what is essentially a brilliant piece of film-making.

Kubrick has never displayed such artistry on screen, some of the shots particularly in the cell prior to the execution are simply stunning. Douglas is brilliant as well and we can happily set aside everyone having American accents in the French army, better that than some sort of 'Allo 'Allo effort.

If you haven't watched this yet, search it out, you're in for a treat.