Paths of Glory Review: Kubrick's Angry Anti-War Drama
9/10 — Paths of Glory (1957)
Pros
- Kubrick's dynamic camerawork
- Kirk Douglas's conviction
- Moving final scene
Cons
- Caricatured villains
In 1916, a French general orders a suicidal attack and, when it fails, has three soldiers court-martialled for cowardice. Kirk Douglas plays Colonel Dax, who defends them.
What works
Kubrick’s tracking shots through the trenches are astonishing, and the battle scene is chilling and efficient. Douglas is righteous and exhausted, and the court-martial is a sharp critique of the establishment. The closing scene with a captured German girl is unexpectedly moving.
Where it falters
It’s brief at 88 minutes, and the villainous generals are somewhat one-dimensional.
Verdict
Compact, furious and powerful. A defining anti-war film.
