When somebody mentions Stanley Kubrick's name, chances are the first movies that spring to mind are The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey or Full Metal Jacket: all great movies, but not one of them is anywhere near as good as that of Paths of Glory, a motion picture that people tend to forget Kubrick every had anything to do with. It might well be on the Top 250, but it absolutely demands a lot more attention. Paths of Glory might well be the most effective anti-war movie ever made, as Kirk Douglas' valiant Colonel Dax attempts to prevent the execution of a group of French soldiers who refused to commit what was essentially suicide by going over the top of the trenches during a ill-judged battle. Douglas is truly wonderful in the role, whilst the cinematography, script and direction are first rate: it will truly give you something to think about.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
