Paths of Glory

Released Oct 25, 1957

1h 26m

War

Drama

List

96%

Tomatometer

78 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

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

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Kate Muir

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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Roger Moore

Movie Nation

A brisk and biting World War I anti-war film, a politicized combat movie that reset the standard for trench warfare movies.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 22, 2023

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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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Daniel N

I'd never seen such a smart storytelling with a perfect characters development, ‘Paths of glory’ makes itself honor to his name, it is just too ridiculous that Stanley Kubrick was even able to think in this story and write it down in a script to give us all a film masterclass.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

Full Review

Fer S

Good, but after 40 minutes you already know what to expect from the rest of the movie. You will find it more shocking if you are a more sensitive person

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/01/24

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Mason M

Definitely Kubrick's most emotionally driven film. It's probably my favorite war film. Paths of Glory doesn't glorify the war and fighting itself, it shows how horrifying war is behind all of the battles. And it's one actual war scene is amazingly done. Memorable for the beautiful cinematography and one of the greatest endings of all time, Paths of Glory is a must see.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/07/24

Full Review

ssean p

dont know why it took so long to see this film. gripped from the start, first battle and the artillery noise was horrendous and made the scene almost unbearable. through out the film the officers sidestepped responsibility and played the blame game...definitely one of the best war films ever made. can see why it was banned in france for a while..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

K W

Unmissable. Superb acting from everyone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/04/23

Full Review

Sarah T

This movie exists to be agreed with.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

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

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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 - Closing Argument

1:59

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

0:53

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - A Controversial Order

2:18

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - The Faithful Hussar

3:44

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 - We'll Take the Ant Hill

2:10

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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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