A classic war film has been hailed as a “genuine hidden gem” and one of the “best” of its genre. Paths of Glory (1957) is one of legendary director Stanley Kubrick’s lesser known films, and stars Hollwood icon Kirk Douglas as a French colonel in the First World War who stands up for three soldiers scapegoated for a failed attack.
The film is based on Humphrey Cobb’s novel of the same name which is fictional, but inspired by real events. The black-and-white epic is hailed for its searing indictment of military leadership during times of war, and the price all-to-often paid by those in the lower ranks. Though it hit the big screen almost seven decades ago, it continues to hold up as an classic, beloved for its enduring message.
However, perhaps due to its age and the technical advances that have given war films a new level of realism and immersion since, some believe it’s unfairly overlooked.
One person reviewing a Blu-ray release of the movie on Amazon said it’s “a genuine hidden gem”. They said though Douglas “may seem an unlikely candidate as a French officer, but he plays the part well”.
An audience reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes called it Kubrick’s “most emotionally driven film”.
They said 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,” they continued. “Memorable for the beautiful cinematography and one of the greatest endings of all time, Paths of Glory is a must see.”
Another said: “One of the best war films ever, and the best look at military justice.”
A third argues it is “easily one of the best, if not the best anti-war film I’ve seen”.
“At the very least, it’s the best anti-war film set in the first world war, an era I still feel is not explored enough through film,” they added.
However, another said though the movie contains some “gorgeous cinematography and staging”, it’s “so heavyhanded and frequently trite that much of the potential power is lost”.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Paths of Glory has a 96% Tomatometer score (based on percentage of approved critics who gave the film a positive review). And it’s also popular with audiences overall with a 97% score on the Popcornmeter (the percentage of users who rated it 3.5 stars or higher).
Paths of Glory is available to buy or rent on various platforms including Apple TV and Amazon Prime. You can also stream it on Amazon Prime if you have a MGM+ subscription.