Review of Paths of Glory (1957) by Victor T — 07 Aug 2015

After the critical acclaimed -but box office failure- "The Killing", Kubrick-Harris managed to impress MGM, a studio that offered them enough money to make a film for them, a film that became the unforgettable anti war "Paths of Glory".

During World War I, the French army is in the middle of heavy trench warfare with German forces. French generals decide to unleash a massive suicidal attack in order to take control of a well defended German position known as "The Ant Hill".

Throughout the history of cinema, war has been used as a setting in innumerable occasions but the most common ones are World War II, The Vietnam War and the "War on Terror". So when a film is set in "World War I" it is a novelty, but "Paths of Glory" is more than that. "Paths of Glory" counts with a surprising take of the Great War, amazing performances with the highlight being Kirk Douglas as a determined and honorable Colonel, iconic imagery, the cinematography is mesmerizing and perfect (it truly outshines most of the film´s greatness), the dialog is powerful, mesmerizing, memorable and extremely quotable; the characters are well written and memorable, the moral ambiguity is handled perfectly, it has one of the most beautiful and emotional ending scenes I´ve seen in a war film, solid and timeless themes about dehumanization that will provide a thought provoking experience, the courtroom scene is short but striking, and Kubrick´s directing is as perfectionist, geometrical, precise and beautiful as he is known for. Forget about Douglas, Kubrick is the true star of this film.

"Paths of Glory" is a film has that everything that an unforgettable classic needs. It truly shows Kubrick´s directing style at its finest and shows what's to come in his impressive and admirable career. A must see for anyone who calls himself/herself a lover of the seventh art as it is one of the best anti war films ever made. If you believe that Kubrick was cold and couldn't get an emotional reaction from his audience (other than fear and shock), you need to check out this masterpiece.