Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List
Spoiler-free premise
A French officer defends soldiers accused of cowardice after a disastrous World War I attack.
Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free+
During World War I, French General Mireau orders an assault on a heavily fortified German position despite warnings that success is impossible. After the attack collapses, three soldiers are selected for court-martial and Colonel Dax agrees to defend them.
Why it belongs
Paths of Glory contrasts muddy trench movement with rigid courtroom ceremony to expose how military authority answers failure by expending lives.
Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case+
Kubrick's long tracking shots through muddy trenches contrast with rigid, symmetrical courtroom interiors, while Kirk Douglas's contained anger and the officers' insulated elegance expose how military ceremony spends lives on impossible orders.
Major award wins
No verified wins in this six-institution crosswalk.
Awards are reference metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Good for
Date NightFilm Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.
Institutional reference ranks
Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 25067AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score
Great Cinema Master List scores
Greatness9.5
Engagement9.3
Ease8.8
English · Not Rated Narrative Feature Mood: Serious & Intense
