Primrose Paths

Rating: 9/10 (12 May 2014)

I haven't looked at the other reviews posted here but I would be very surprised to find even one negative comment. Frankly this is an excellent film and a more than worthy addition to the genre labelled loosely as 'anti-war'. The fact that it deals with the First rather than the Second World War tends to place it in the minority but it is well worthy of taking its place along the original version of All Quiet On The Western Front and it did, of course, inspire a rip-off in the shape of King and Country which covered its tracks by focusing on one soldier (Tom Courteney) rather than three (Joe Turkel, Ralph Meeker, Timothy Carey) on trial for alleged cowardice and being defended by a serving officer - in this case Kirk Douglas, in the rip-off Dirk Bogarde. All Kubrick's ducks are in a line beginning - as every movie must - with the screenplay, through the direction, photography, editing and acting and it would be churlish to single out any one performance. Deserves every accolade that comes its way.