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Paths of Glory

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Probably Kirk Douglas's Best Role Ever!

May 8, 2009

by MichaelN

Rating:

I saw this film in a college course on film and I realize why. It is one of the best directed films ever made. The black and white works to perfection.

This is my favorite Kirk Douglas film about the French military during WWI. A group of French soldiers are sent on an impossible mission. When they obviously fail, the General afraid of losing face for a stupid decision, decides to court martial some of the soldiers as a punishment. Three soldiers are singled out. One obviously fought very bravely and another was hit on the head and knocked unconcious during the battle. Their stories are futile against the kangaroo French military court. Douglas tries valiently to act as their legal council and present their defense in vain.

From what I understand this film is still banned in France! I guess the humiliating loss during WWII did nothing to sway the French military from its self-conceived notion of being a great military power!

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QUEENBFLIX September 09, 2009

When it comes to Kirk I'm partial to LONELY ARE THE BRAVE. Makes me cry every time.

MichaelN September 09, 2009

I haven't seen it but you seem to have excellent opinions so I will look for it on AMC.

QUEENBFLIX September 09, 2009

Thanks for the compliment. It has shown on the tube within the last year or so after decades of being unavailable for some reason or another.

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review by MNeulander. August 13, 2010

posted in Movie Hype

When the leadership at the top is rotten!!!

As a retired army officer and an adjunct history professor I thought it was important to review what I consider the best war movies depicting the challenges of leadership and the command of men. Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" depicts the futility and irony of the war in the trenches in WWI. French battalion commander Col. Dax (Kirk Douglas) must deal with the mutiny of his men and a glory-seeking general after part of his force falls … more

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Quick Tip by MNeulander. September 02, 2010

posted in Classic Silver Screen Film Reviews!

A Quick Tip by MNeulander

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review by Captain_Couth. May 08, 2009

Kubrick's first film about the horrors of war.

Paths of Glory (1957) has to be one of the greatest anti-war films ever made. The cast is excellent, everyone from Kirk Douglas to Timothy Carey Jr. (who steals the show). Stanley Kubrick solidifies his directorial career with this film. Their would be no turning back for this young and head strong film maker who directs a very compelling anti-war movie. During World War I, the French are losing ground to the Germans. The pompous French generals only care about glory and the … more

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About the reviewer

MichaelN
Ranked #11

I first got on this blog to discuss my first passion which is books. Since I have gotten on I find that books are only a piece of this blog and I can discuss just about anything that comes to mind. It … more

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About this movie

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Details

Cast: Joe Turkel, Kirk Douglas, Adolphe Menjou, Wayne Morris, Emile G. Meyer, Bert Freed, Jerry Hausner, Ralph Meeker, George Macready, Richard Anderson, Timothy Carey, Harold Benedict, Peter Capell, Ken Dibbs, Susanne Christian, John Stein

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Genre: War, Drama, Action, Adventure

Release Date: December 25, 1957

MPAA Rating: Unrated

Screen Writer: Jim Thompson, Stanley Kubrick, Calder Willingham

Runtime: 87 minutes

Studio: Bryna Productions

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