In WWI, a group of soldiers refuse to follow through with an impossible attack, prompting their superiors to make an example out of them.
DRAMA/WAR
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Paths of Glory (1957)Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Written by Stanley Kubrick, Calder Willingham, Jim Thompson Starring Kirk Douglas, George Macready, Adolphe Menjou, Ralph Meeker, Wayne Morris, Richard Anderson, Joe Turkel, Timothy Carey, Peter Capell, Emile Meyer Based on the novel by Humphrey Cobb |
Paths of Glory cemented Stanley Kubrick's work as an auteur, and gave the world one of the most unforgiving, realistic war movies ever made. In place of bodies and blood, Kubrick gave us the cruelty of man through court-martials and hubris. The result is a film that attacks head on the societal norm that war can be controlled by generals and politicians. In the end, it is always men who fight these wars. Men whose names will likely never be known to the world.
Kirk Douglas stars as Colonel Dax, an officer who cares about the lives of the men under his command. When he is ordered to follow through with an attack through No Man's Land that is deemed impossible, his men refuse to go. Because of their insubordination in the face of the psychotic General Mireau's (George Macready) orders, three men are picked at random from the battalion and court-martialed for cowardice. The performances are stellar and go a long way towards making this film the timeless classic that it has become. I must also point out that George Macready steals the show as one of the slimiest, most egotistical villains of the 20th century. In a movie where all the French soldiers have English accents, the fact that it never bothers you stands out big time. Paths of Glory is one of Kubrick's best films and may be the best film ever made about World War I. With a flawless heroic performance from Kirk Douglas and a powerful story that goes against the grain of typical war films, it's no wonder that this movie has stood the test of time and will be talked about forever. |
Stanley Kubrick is one of the greatest directors of all time. His filmography speaks for itself but one of his films that is normally passed over without a thought is this anti-war film. Paths of Glory brings up the idea of cruelty of war in a time when combat was being praised for its success and passion.
This film is an interesting and beautiful commentary on war, life, and death at a time when was was viewed as glorious and virtuous. The camerawork in the trenches are the shots that stand out the most to me. This film made me feel like I was next to the soldiers in these claustrophobic trenches. This film will make you ask yourself about war and its ideology while staring at the amazing cinematography that Kubrick has become known for. |