Glory Days

Stanley Kubrick's 1957 anti-war flick Paths of Glory was the first of his films to really showcase the potential of one of the cinema's greatest artists. This film virtually wallows in the trenches of World War I Europe, and you can almost smell the rot through the screen. The focus...

By John Freeman

May 1, 2008

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Stanley Kubrick's 1957 anti-war flick Paths of Glory was the first of his films to really showcase the potential of one of the cinema's greatest artists. This film virtually wallows in the trenches of World War I Europe, and you can almost smell the rot through the screen. The focus of the movie is the bizarre practice of the French army randomly executing their own soldiers as a misguided motivational technique to get the rest of the soldiers to fight harder. There was definitely some weird shit going on in those days of trench warfare, and Kubrick captures it with a painter's eye and a pacifist's spirit. Kirk Douglas is perfect as the conflicted Colonel Dax, and his performance here most likely led to his role in Kubrick's next film, the homoerotic masterpiece Spartacus. It is a rare opportunity to see this movie on a big screen. The use of black and white film creates a more claustrophobic and realistic feel to the ugly, muddy fields and trenches of WWI Europe. Check it out 9 p.m. Wednesday at the AllGood Café, 2934 Main St. Visit allgoodcafe.com for info.
Wed., May 7, 9 p.m., 2008

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