A review by Mike Shea Movie Rating: ( * * * * · ) DVD Rating: ( * · · · · )
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Stanley Kubricks first major war film, Paths of Glory is a hard gritty look at World War One. Kirk Douglas is a French Colonel who must deal with a political battle that could cost him the lives of three of his troops. The idealistic nature of the main character is a huge contrast to the deception and political malice. The look at the generals in their cocktail parties mixed with the soldiers who must deal with their fate at the hands of a firing squad bring this picture a full grasp of the situation and the war. The court marshal scene reminds me a lot of To Kill a Mockingbird, but Kubrick really shows off is true talent in a scene where a German girl is displayed on stage only to show each and every soldier how terrible war is and how all of their innocence is lost. The DVD is pretty bare bones with a 1.33 to 1 non 16-9 enhanced picture which I watched matted at 1.78 to 1. The sound is mono and there are no extras. Overall a truly powerful film and one that shows off just how good Kubrick was at film making and how good Douglas was at acting.