You can sense Kubrick stretching his cinematic wings in this prime slice of Hollywood liberalism, his third released feature. Famously banned in France until the mid-70s, it has Kirk Douglas (leading with the steely jaw) as a lawyer turned military man who takes on the invidious task of defending three of his men - plucked at random - who are put on trial for cowardice after a failed attack during the first world war.

A heartfelt plea for tolerance in postwar Europe, Paths of Glory clearly also has one eye on the recently-concluded HUAC hearings, America's own abuse-of-process scandal. Of perhaps equal interest now is Paths of Glory's place in Kubrick's own development as a film-maker: the dramatic compositions, expansive tracking shots, and ability to corral high-prestige actors into risky material. More to the point, Paths of Glory remains a model of narrative precision, owing more to the terse crime potboilers that Kubrick already had under his belt. It has dated a bit, though - nowadays you'd expect a bit more than those restrained reactions whenever a shell explodes.