Paths of Glory (1957) Movie Review

 Paths of Glory is about a French Colonel in World War I is forced to carry out a suicidal attack by his superiors. After the attack goes predictably south, the Colonel must defend his men from a seemingly inevitable and tragic court martial. 

The film is a step up for Kubrick in a lot of ways; it’s heartbreaking, humanist, and particularly intense (especially in its final moments). The film also features a particularly electrifying performance from Kirk Douglas as the Colonel, which does the rest of the film a great service. 

The film is hard to watch - and I say that primarily as a positive. The film evokes a special emotion from it’s audience, particularly during the beautifully sad final act (the final scene is a particularly human take on the emotion of war). 

But because of this, it certainly can be itself a turn-off for some people or audiences who like more positive endings. The film is so beautifully executed, however, that I truly don’t care either way. 

With that in mind, I think that the film is especially beautiful in storytelling scope (even for the 1950s standards of quality) and in acting performance. Hopefully, all those who like movies can look past the old timey black and white color in favor of a brave, heart-wrenching war film with intensity, humanity, and heart.