Paths of Glory

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Paths of Glory

Released Oct 25, 1957

1h 26m

War

Drama

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96%

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77 Reviews

95%

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25,000+ Ratings

During World War I, commanding officer General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders his subordinate, General Mireau (George Macready), to attack a German trench position, offering a promotion as an incentive. Though the mission is foolhardy to the point of suicide, Mireau commands his own subordinate, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas), to plan the attack. When it ends in disaster, General Mireau demands the court-martial of three random soldiers in order to save face.

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Critics Consensus

Paths of Glory is a transcendentally humane war movie from Stanley Kubrick, with impressive, protracted battle sequences and a knock-out ending.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

The director Stanley Kubrick and the producer-star Kirk Douglas anticipated the countercultural energy of the 1960s with this angry anti-war parable.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 1, 2024

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

...the real enemy here is the French officer class who, from their opulently appointed chateau, use infantry as pawns in pursuit of personal promotion and in covering up of their own highly consequential failures.

Feb 19, 2024

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

Those who are used to 2001: A Space Odyssey or A Clockwork Orange will initially find this black-and-white First World War drama starring Kirk Douglas rather traditional, until its radical content is revealed.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 2, 2015

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Paths of Glory was too sobering to be a popular success, but it established Kubrick as a leading director.

Mar 12, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Arguably the greatest antiwar film ever made, Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory feels like a mule kick to the stomach no matter how many times one has seen it (in my case, too many to recall).

Rated: 4/4

Sep 25, 2022

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

The film also excels thanks to Kubrick’s visual choices particularly his decision to shoot in black and white. It is perfect considering the harshness of the material and the morally murky waters we navigate through.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 24, 2022

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Chris H

Brilliant - spectacular and intimate at the same time. A damning condemnation of the officer class and of war in general. In the UK we're used to the idea of "lions led by donkeys" in WWI so it's a refreshing change that this film is about the French army, but no doubt they were all the same. Watch this and watch All Quiet on the Western Front (the 1930 version) and then pause to reflect.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/04/25

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Luca D

Good start as an early Kubrick movie. Other than that not insanely well shot, just ok at best. The story is very straightforward and not that creative even though I understand it's based on a book loosely based on a true story, still doesn't excuse the very basic storytelling. Other than that the acting is very good and honestly carries the movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/25

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Mike B.

Classic and Iconic in every way.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

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RedApple A

It's impressive how a director in their early days handles the camera with such skill, but I still don't think it's quite "fresh" enough, as it's a bit far from the perfectionism you'll see in the future

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

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Tom F

One of the best war films ever, and the best look at military justice.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

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Stephen C

I love 1 hour and 26 minutes of war re-creations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

Full Review

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Stanley Kubrick

Director

Kirk Douglas

Col. Dax

Ralph Meeker

Cpl. Philip Paris

Adolphe Menjou

Gen. George Broulard

George Macready

Gen. Paul Mireau

Wayne Morris

Lt. Roget

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - The Execution

1:48

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Your Men Died Very Well

2:16

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Maintaining Discipline

2:09

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - They're Going to Kill Us

0:53

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Charging the Ant Hill

2:36

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - A Stroll Through the Trenches

2:10

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - I Pity You

1:46

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Synopsis

During World War I, commanding officer General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders his subordinate, General Mireau (George Macready), to attack a German trench position, offering a promotion as an incentive. Though the mission is foolhardy to the point of suicide, Mireau commands his own subordinate, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas), to plan the attack. When it ends in disaster, General Mireau demands the court-martial of three random soldiers in order to save face.

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Producer: Kirk Douglas, James B. Harris
Screenwriter: Humphrey Cobb, Stanley Kubrick, Calder Willingham, Jim Thompson
Distributor: United Artists, Criterion Collection, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Bryna Productions
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Mono, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1), 35mm

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