Paths of Glory . Austin Chronicle . 07-27-98

Paths of Glory

DIRECTED BY: Stanley Kubrick

REVIEWED: 07-27-98

Kirk Douglas is a god. Kubrick is a god. Together in Paths of Glory they are magnificent. This is a film about proper and uppity French military snobs, cowards in the field, wrongfully accused men sentenced to death, and one noble man trying with all his heart to stop it. This film is amazing. I am trying to think of adjectives to make you go see this film, trying to describe all the nuances that are explored by the myriad of tortured human souls, a film that captures, as well as it has ever been shown, man's inhumanity to man. You will be riveted to your seat like an I-beam at the top of a skyscraper. This is one of those films that makes you think: They sure don't make movies like that anymore. Perhaps Spielberg can bring a bit of this in this summer's Saving Private Ryan. Perhaps Terrence Malick can show us the inhumanity of war in The Thin Red Line, but neither of them have Kirk Douglas, and that is very unfortunate. When Kirk chimes off on Adolfe Menjou, you'll understand what it's like to take a puff from your last cigarette.

--Harry Knowles

Other Films by Stanley Kubrick
A Clockwork Orange
Dr. Strangelove
Eyes Wide Shut
Lolita
The Killing
The Shining

Film Vault Suggested Links
The Siege
Three Kings
The Man in the Iron Mask

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