FilmJudge - Paths of Glory

REVIEW

Paths of Glory
1957
Certificate: PG | Runtime: 85 | Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Kirk Douglas, George Macready, Ralph Meeker

During World War One, a group of French soldiers refuse to continue an attack which will result in certain death. With their own careers on the line, their superiors decide to make an example of them and put three troops on trial for their lives. The task of defending the men falls to Colonel Dax (Douglas), who has to compete with the hopeless bias of the court and the determination of General Mireau (Macready).

There are many anti-war films, but Paths of Glory is special not only because it's a fine example of the genre, but because of its almost unique approach. All the classic anti-war elements are here, but the most apparent message is one of disdain for military commanders who use the lives of men for their own advancement, and for the egotism that comes with power.

Kubrick's varied skills are on full show here, and he demonstrates his fanatic eye for detail in intimate scenes as well as his ease with the sprawling epic, which would later serve him well in Spartacus. His pace is relentless, jumping right into the crux of the plot, with the arrogant Generals plotting their career advancements from the very beginning. The screenplay, written by Kubrick, Calder Willingham and Jim Thompson is sharply focused with many biting lines of dialogue - "there's no such thing as shell-shock", General Mireau exclaims at one point.

If there's anything which even slightly lets the film down it's some of the performances. Douglas is excellent as Dax, and manages to convey a man full of emotion but constricted by protocol. Macready is also fine, although he has a tendency to go a little over-the-top at times. However, the performances of the doomed men are somewhat mixed, with all three guilty of the occasional bit of over-acting, and Timothy Carey as Private Ferol seems out of his depth at times. It's also fair to say that with only one main character sporting a French accent, it is quite easy to forget these are French soldiers, but this is a minor criticism.

What is crucial though is that it's largely impossible not to get absorbed in the drama of the film. The epic battle scene is perhaps the finest depiction of trench warfare yet captured on film, and the court martial itself is utterly frustrating yet extremely compelling all at once. It is near impossible not to feel a sense of indignation as every argument in favour of the three men is shouted down, and the film creates an atmosphere whereby it's apparent there won't be a happy ending, but you're left hoping there might be. Not only is there the sense that the court martial itself is unjust and unfair, but the way the three ended up in that situation also creates a wealth of sympathy - one isn't liked by his sergeant, another pulled the short straw.

Paths of Glory is a very different look at war. Although epic in scale, the occurrences of military action are sparse, and the core of the story is of the plight of the three men. Moving, handsomely made and skilfully performed, Paths of Glory remains just as fresh and poignant as when it was made, and remains one of the very best World War One films.

RECENT REVIEWS

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button