Paths of Glory pretends to be a war film, but don't be tricked. It's a ruse. Instead it's a masterful fable about the futility of speaking truth to power when the game is entirely rigged against you. The characters play off each other perfectly, the plot has enough to keep you guessing, the drumming and pulsating but sparse soundtrack keep you on the edge of your seat and the cloaked visuals draw you in. And it's all wrapped up in an hour and a half. Kubrick won't be remembered for his brevity, but Paths of Glory has all the hallmarks of his body of work without any of his later (often well deserved) excesses. Even with a short runtime it doesn't skimp on depth or scale. And there's a couple of stunners in there plot wise.

Stray Observations

• it’s got this claustrophobic feel, even in the long tracking shots and deep focus it’s these low angles and cramped spaces
  • Except, of course, for the officers mansions
• The sound of the men rallying being drowned out by gunshots and artillery fire is about as effective as any war sequence you'll see
  • You can see the influence it will have on war flicks, like Saving Private Ryan, which use a similar conceit.
• Kirk Douglas is pathos. It's literally impossible not to root for him
• It's got some of that 50's melodrama in there, but it's balanced so well with a steady message