Glory

8.75

Rating: 8.75 | Votes: 20

This Movie @ Amazon.com

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Submitted by Unknown
This is an awesome movie about standing up for what you believe in, standing up for yourself, and daring to attempt the impossible.

Hats Off To The Massachusetts 54th
Over the past several years that this space has existed I have touted the heroic experiences of the American Civil War pro-Union black volunteer regiment, the Massachusetts 54th Infantry many times. Recently in preparing materials for this space to be posted in honor of Black History Month I noticed that I had not reviewed the subject of this entry, the Oscar-winning film "Glory". I make amends here.

This fictionalized version of the creation of an all black volunteer regiment (at least in the ranks) hews pretty closely to the actual events in that process, taking into account the inevitable dramatizations required by the "laws" of cinematic license. And that fact is important. In other commentary on the history of the 54th, and in previous recollections of my own personal history of "discovery" of the regiment I have noted that in my high school years in the 1960s no mention was ever made of the exploits of this hardy band of soldiers fighting for their freedom and the preservation of the American union. None. And that, my friends, was here in Massachusetts the home of the regiment and of the famous, if then obscure, Saint-Gaudens memorial plague to the regiment that in front of the State House that, at one point in my life I passed every day.

Lincoln and other Northern war leaders hesitated to create all black regiments for a number of reasons despite the need for man power on the battlefield as the war drew out inconclusively for a long period. Those reasons did not include the fact that the likes of the revolutionary black abolitionist Frederick were clamoring for black soldiers not only to preserve the union but to actively gain their own freedom, to prove their manhood and worth in the parlance of the time. This film details the struggle by hard abolitionist Massachusetts Governor Andrews and a significant portion of the white Boston citizenry, including the eventual leader of the regiment, Robert Gould Shaw and his parents, to create such a unit.

The film goes on to look at the actual creation of the unit , its training, the troubles over pay, the racial animosities on both sides of the class line that were then current in that American time, the deployment of the regiment South and the mauling that it took at Fort Wagner, including the deaths of Shaw and many brave black soldiers. I will tell you the best part though, although this is not brought up in the film. At war's end what was left of the Massachusetts 54th marched through Charleston, South Carolina, in many ways the ideological and political center of the Confederacy, singing "John Brown's Body". That seems just about right. Hat's off to the 54th.

Note: I have not mentioned the very good performances here by Denzel Washington as a testy recruit and Morgan Freeman as the wise old man of the regiment. Let me put it this way, if you had a choice, wouldn't you have this pair in this type of film. No-brainer, right? Matthew Broderick also shines in an understated performance as Colonel Shaw.

A Quick review of Glory
This 3 time Academy Award winning movie tells the account of the first black regiment in the U.S. army. Set during the civil war, this awe-inspiring movie tells the story of friendship, brotherhood and fortitude. See how racial barriers were broken as the blacks and their white commanders fought side by side, but most importantly, see how they died side by side. This film contains one of James Horner's best movie scores of all time that will leave you moved to the point of tears. Starring an all-star cast: Mathew Broderick, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington and Carey Elwes.

Glory
Historical war drama about the Civil War battle at Antietam, and the formation of the first black regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry. Glory is a masterful piece of work that will leave you breathless. Matthew Broddrick plays Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and performs him masterfully. Denzel Washington's performance was powerful as well. This movie stands as a great achievement, that could very well be called a classic.

Great Civil War Flick
Great movie. Plenty of action and drama. Too bad we treated the Negro soldiers like that.

Great movie bad strategies
This was a great movie. The cast was amazing. Sets, direction. Everything was great but when the troops would go into battle I kept thinking what horrible field strategies they were. It was like the troops were just marching into the line of fire. I have read a little about american history but I have not read about this battle (yet) but I find it hard to believe that the strategies of the north for this battle was this stupid.

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