Stanley Kubrick worked with Kirk Douglas.
Paths of Glory is a 1957 American anti-war film by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel of the same name by Humphrey Cobb . Set during World War I , the film stars Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax , the commanding officer of French soldiers who refuse to continue a suicidal attack . Spartacus is a 1960 American epic historical drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick . Stanley Kubrick ( [ ˈkuːbrɪk ] July 26 , 1928 -- March 7 , 1999 ) was an American film director , screenwriter , producer , cinematographer , editor , and photographer . This was followed by two collaborations with Kirk Douglas , the war picture Paths of Glory ( 1957 ) and the historical epic Spartacus ( 1960 ) .