Paths of Glory

Name: Paths of Glory
Genre: Drama, War
Released: December 25, 1957
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 90
Cast: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker

1957

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Universal acclaim based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 45 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 45 Ratings

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Paths Of Glory

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: December 25, 1957 | TV-14

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker

Summary: When soldiers in World War I refuse to continue with an impossible attack, their superior officers decide to make an example of them.

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Genre(s): Drama, War

Rating: TV-14

Runtime: 88 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

David Mermelstein

One of the greatest war films ever made. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

Paths of Glory was the film by which Stanley Kubrick entered the ranks of great directors, never to leave them. Read full review

100

Time Out London Tom Huddleston

Apr 29, 2014

This is the director’s most vivid, most emotional and humane film, and perhaps his best. Read full review

Josh Larsen

Hardly a flattering portrait of the military machine, Paths of Glory suggests a soldier’s best hope often is to survive the chaos that his or her own army causes. Read full review

Tom Dawson

The searing Paths Of Glory continues to impress with its striking blend of formal brilliance, economical storytelling and emotional directness. Read full review

Ken Tucker

Paths of Glory is all about that greatest of all movie subjects: power. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

While the subject is well handled and enacted in a series of outstanding characterizations, it seems dated and makes for grim screen fare. Read full review

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User Reviews

kyle20ellis

Mar 30, 2022

I saw this movie for the first time on television today, after being persuaded by the reviews I read beforehand praising it. Also I like Kirk Douglas. Although I am not directly familiar with Kubrick's work, a shameful admission I know. Out of what I have seen so far I loved Dr StrangeloveI saw this movie for the first time on television today, after being persuaded by the reviews I read beforehand praising it. Also I like Kirk Douglas. Although I am not directly familiar with Kubrick's work, a shameful admission I know. Out of what I have seen so far I loved Dr Strangelove and despite only seeing it once while flicking through channels liked The Shining too. Anyway back on target, Paths of Glory was brilliant in my opinion!

Winston Churchill famously claimed that it was this movie that was closest to evoking the atmosphere of WW1 and the military mind. And you know what, he is right. For one thing, Paths of Glory is gorgeously filmed, with relentlessly beautiful cinematography and nice costumes and scenery. The screenplay is sometimes humorous, sometimes moving and sometimes even haunting, either way it was some fine writing. The efficiency of Kubrick's direction is proof of a great man at work.

The performances were superb. As the general who orders the hopeless attack on the German position, Adolphe Menjou's character is perceived as a villain not because of being an officer adhering to the letter, but that he is seen as "the arrogant aristocrat" because of his fear of the working classes than his hatred of the enemy. Among the cast, Timothy Carey and Kirk Douglas especially were outstanding. And the music? That is one rousing score I can tell you. Great movie. 10/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

zNeverSleeping

Aug 23, 2020

Uma perspectiva da guerra pouco explorada. Enquanto muitos tem uma visão voltada a conceitos como gloria, bem maior, patriotismo etc; Kubrick aborda o que há de mais ignorado no tema.

Esse talvez seja o filme mais anti-climático no que se diz respeito a atmosfera bem conhecida e utilizadaUma perspectiva da guerra pouco explorada. Enquanto muitos tem uma visão voltada a conceitos como gloria, bem maior, patriotismo etc; Kubrick aborda o que há de mais ignorado no tema.

Esse talvez seja o filme mais anti-climático no que se diz respeito a atmosfera bem conhecida e utilizada de guerra. Aqui o diretor direciona todo aquele cenário a uma critica a guerra de forma geral, mas focando na falta de humanidade que a politica do exercito tem em pratica.
O diretor nos guia apresentando um contraste entre Col. Dax e Gen. Paul Mireau. É claro que Mireau é apenas uma reflexão de todo politica militar baseada na hierarquia criada pelos mesmos.

A atmosfera de medo criada aqui, principalmente nos momentos antecedentes ao ataque, é quase palpável de tão presente. Sentimos medo por eles mesmo sem conhecê-los. O ataque é cruel e mostra uma pintura quase real do que de fato é a guerra, longe de todos aquele retratos de heroísmo/patriotismo criados por puro marketing e vaidade própria. Os diálogos são excelentes, fazendo-nos refletir sobre diversas visões cujo não tive contato antes. Aquele relacionado ao medo de morrer ou de ser ferido remete muito a mim, pra ser sincero. O discuso do Col. Dax no julgamento emociona, mas não de uma forma satisfatória, pois o que estamos a ver é um retrato injusto e contraditório por parte de toda instituição do exercito. Toda a cena, de forma geral, é magistralmente bem dirigida. Senti uma raiva descomunal pelo fato de que dialogar naquele período era uma baralha perdida, afinal, não há o que fazer quando se está cercado de alienados - parece que a coisa não mudou muito no seculo seguinte...

No aspecto técnico, o filme é igualmente impecável. Os efeitos práticos tornam toda cena demasiadamente realista, junto ao efeitos sonoros. A fotografia trabalha muito bem com a luz, e tem um controle muito grande da cena em planos abertos. A cenografia também está afiadíssima, assim como o figurino.

Por fim, a visão de Kubrick sobre a guerra é deprimente, anti-esperançosa, cruel e depressiva. O pior é que ele não aprece ter se esforçado muito pra chegar nesse ponto a final, nós, seres humanos, nos superamos em dar mais e mais conteúdo pra ele.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Onlyclassicvg1

Feb 10, 2021