Paths of Glory

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Paths of Glory

1957

1h 26m

War

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

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114 Reviews

95%

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25,000+ Ratings

During World War I, commanding officer General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders his subordinate, General Mireau (George Macready), to attack a German trench position, offering a promotion as an incentive. Though the mission is foolhardy to the point of suicide, Mireau commands his own subordinate, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas), to plan the attack. When it ends in disaster, General Mireau demands the court-martial of three random soldiers in order to save face.

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Critics Consensus

Paths of Glory is a transcendentally humane war movie from Stanley Kubrick, with impressive, protracted battle sequences and a knock-out ending.

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Philip Oakes

London Evening Standard

6 hrs ago

Paths of Glory is an adult, painful and absorbing film. It demands to be seen.

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Mae Tinée

Chicago Tribune

7 hrs ago

It's a grim, forceful story, presented in blunt, unvarnished fashion, entirely lacking in the customary cliches, deftly directed. The supporting cast is first rate, as is the entire film.

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Ronald Johnson

Globe and Mail

7 hrs ago

It has a sincerity and depth of emotion achieved by few of its larger, grander, more glorious brothers. This is due, largely, to the sensitive direction and crackling pace set by Mr. Kubrick.

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R.H. Gardner

Baltimore Sun

6 hrs ago

Paths of Glory is a superb work of art. It may lack the sweep, the thematic grandeur of The Bridge on the River Kwai, but, in its own way, it's every bit as good. Its relation to the latter is, perhaps, the same as that of a sonnet to an epic poem.

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C.A. Lejeune

Observer (UK)

7 hrs ago

Paths of Glory makes its points with power, and is about as cosy as an hydraulic drill.

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Albert Goldstein

Times-Picayune

7 hrs ago

A successfully fashioned screenplay which, in spite of its all but forgotten setting, points up by vivid implication the futility.

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Chase L

@RT62590826 1 day ago

Sometimes there's too much to say about a film's importance - that my brain shuts down and simply drools in awe of it's deep complexity. Easily one of the top 10 films in all of cinematic history. One must watch it to discover why.

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Lorenz L

@Lorenz1060 4 days ago

America has just announced – on 09 October 2026 – that it plans to livestream the execution by firing squad of a convicted mass murderer in December. As a result of his attack, the former United States Army major was paralysed from the waist down by a bullet. He will, ostensibly, be killed while sitting in a wheelchair. Everyone needs to see "Paths of Glory". Several times, throughout one's lifetime. Show it to your children.

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Mike N

@artcarney55 Sep 27, 2026

Excellent film. One of my top Kubrick films. One if the best anti war films ever made

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Roman T

@nomos Sep 26, 2026

ستانلێی کوبریک😍 ناتوانم وەسفی ئەم فلمە بکەم زۆر زۆر نایابە شایەنی سێرکردنە وە یەکێک لە چوار فلمە دڵخوازەکەم

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Tracy M

@RT47763928 Sep 17, 2026

Absolutely Incredible. A Movie with such deep meaning. The camera work is haunting and breath taking. So moving and just so good!

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Adelay C

@27adeco Aug 26, 2026

I honestly expected more depth and complexity from this film, but it made its point perfectly clear in a very blunt manner. The senseless execution of the three men surprised me in its simplicity- a part of me expected them to be let off. Kirk Douglas is also very good as Colonel Dax!

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Stanley Kubrick

Director

Kirk Douglas

Col. Dax

Ralph Meeker

Cpl. Philip Paris

Adolphe Menjou

Gen. George Broulard

George Macready

Gen. Paul Mireau

Wayne Morris

Lt. Roget

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - The Execution

1:48

Now Playing

Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Your Men Died Very Well

2:16

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Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Maintaining Discipline

2:09

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Paths of Glory: Official Clip - They're Going to Kill Us

0:53

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Paths of Glory: Official Clip - Charging the Ant Hill

2:36

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Paths of Glory: Official Clip - A Stroll Through the Trenches

2:10

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Paths of Glory: Official Clip - I Pity You

1:46

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Synopsis

During World War I, commanding officer General Broulard (Adolphe Menjou) orders his subordinate, General Mireau (George Macready), to attack a German trench position, offering a promotion as an incentive. Though the mission is foolhardy to the point of suicide, Mireau commands his own subordinate, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas), to plan the attack. When it ends in disaster, General Mireau demands the court-martial of three random soldiers in order to save face.

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Producer: Kirk Douglas, James B. Harris
Screenwriter: Humphrey Cobb, Stanley Kubrick, Calder Willingham, Jim Thompson
Distributor: United Artists, Criterion Collection, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Bryna Productions
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Mono, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1), 35mm

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