One of the great anti-war films

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2001)

Paths of Glory is one of the best World War One pictures. Stanley Kubricks work is nothing short of brilliant , and in this production , the term genius can be totally justified in how Kubrick managed to film this tale of World War One.
The plot centres around a military objective "The Ant-Hill" and the French General is persuaded by a Senior at Staff HQ that if he and his division could take the Ant-Hill , then a room for promotion would be made for him. Naturally the General laced by his own reactionary beliefs is easily succumbed to flattery , as the Senior Staff General knows , and accepts the task of demonstrating French will and determination , even though he privately knows that his division is tired and strained , plus the logistics for the Offensive will be completely inadequate .
Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) is to lead the division on this slaughter...er..sorry , mission. Dax knows the cost will be heavy , even before the division can even reach the German wire. Kubrick also manages to introduce a sub-plot in this saga as a sergeant displays cowardice in front of the enemy in a reconnisance mission...I'll come back to that later... The offensive is a complete failure and some soldiers seeing the carnage refuse to move from there trench..The French General orders Cannon fire on his own line..condemning there cowardice.
As the aftermath of the failed offensive is known. The Commanding General refuses to take responsibility for the debacle and as a gesture condemns 3 individuals from each Unit to stand trial on charges of cowardice. The sergeant takes his opportunity in stitching up 1 of his antagonist soldier's and duly puts him up for trial , with 2 other decorated soldiers...
The trial takes place and is very emotive , but when the scene ends as the Military Tribunal considers its sentence..The next scene is the assembled excecution squad , pure Kubrick brilliance.
Paths Of Glory , brilliant and superb ,only Come and See surpasses this picture..in truly showing the horror of war.