Introduction
Glory is a 1989 historical war drama based on the military career of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and how he commanded the 54th Massachusetts Regiment in the Civil War. Directed by Edward Zwick, the film stars Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes, Denzel Washington (who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this film at the 62nd Academy Awards), Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher, and Jihmi Kennedy among a slew of other actors playing the soliders in the regiment. Distributed by Tristar Pictures, the film recieved critical acclaim (93% of 44 critics aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes gave an average score of 7.88/10) and made $27 million at the box office. I first saw this film when I was about 12 or 13 and rather than watch it in history class, I watched it on TV at home with my Dad. I've since rewatched this movie many times over the years and have come to appreciate it as a great film that perfectly captures the great impact Col. Shaw and his men had on the Civil War. So without further adieu, let's dive right into why this film is one of the best war films every made.
The Plot
As with all films based on real life, some liberties were taken to make the film more dramatic. I personally forgive any and all inaccuracies if the final product turns out to be a well made film; and in my opinion, this is a very well made film. As said before in the intro, this is based on Col. Robert Gould Shaw's career during the Civil War and how he commanded the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. The film opens with him recieving the offer to lead the regiment and after accepting, he trains the men to be battle ready while also dealing with the systeminc racism of the military at the time. This film takes the time to humanize not just Col. Shaw, but also the soliders in the Regiment and how they handle the systematic racism of the military. The film addresses the lack of proper foot wear for the black solider, how they were paid less than the white man and used for general labor as opposed to fighting in battles. The film manages to tackle all of these issues and more by keeping the focus on either Col. Shaw or the soliders. It also helps that the film has stupendous production quality. The sets and costumes look excellent and the Matthew Broderick looks like Col. Shaw leaped off his portrait from May 1863. The battle scenea are explosive and noisy, yet the focus is never taken away from either Col. Shaw or his men. And James Horner's score is awe-inspiring with that majestic choir and powerful orcastra. The best moment in the entire film is one that would not exist if this film were more "historically accurate." After Private Trip was caught trying to escape, he is flogged in front of the whole regiment. When he removed his shirt, it's shown that Trip has been whipped before with several scars on his back to prove it. As he's being flogged, he looks at Col. Shaw with a straight face as a single tear rolls down his face. If you're a history buff, you know that flogging was abolished in 1861, long before the regiment was formed. And yet this moment is necessary for the film because it shows something very important about Trip. He doesn't see Col. Shaw as any different than his former master. It's because of this that Col. Shaw spends the rest of the film trying to be better. This film, first and formost, is about how Col. Shaw and the regiment complimented each other and moments like this show that perfectly.
Cast & Characters
The cast for this film is excellent and each one of them brings such raw authenticity to their respective roles. Starting with Col. Shaw himself, this is one of Matthew Broderick's greatest performances in his career. He's so calm and generous, yet also a real commanding officer who knows what he's doing. I also love how Broderick portrays Col. Shaw during the heat of battle. He's scared, yes, but he's also very brave and willing to die fighting. Cary Elwes was really good as Major Cabot Forbes, a friend of Col. Shaw's. Him and Broderick have good chemistry and he's quick to object Col. Shaw's training methods. Yet by the end he finds that the men became great fighters because of Col. Shaw and respects him. Denzel Washington was fantastic as Trip and more than earned his Oscar. Trip is a relatable character that doesn't get along well with free black men but as the film progresses he comes to respect his fellow soliders as well as his commanding officers. Morgan Freeman is always a win and his performance as Sgt. Major John Rawlins is no exception. Playing a smart, no nonsense sergeant is something Freeman can do in his sleep and that speech his gives to Trip before their first battle was perfect. Lastly we have Andre Braugher as Private Thomas Searles, a free black man who grew up with Col. Shaw. Training was hard for Thomas, to the point where he broke down in tears. But as the film continues, he grows more confident and becomes a true soliders by his first battle. Andre Braugher gave a wonderful performance as Thomas and I really bought that him and Col. Shaw grew up together. Other cast members such as Jihmi Kennedy as Private Jupiter, John Finn as Sgt. Major Mulcahy, RonReaco Lee as the mute drummer boy, and more all do a good job of fleshing out the regiment and making them all feel like real people.
Where It Falters
I really have just a few nitpicks that aren't really deal breakers, but just things I would've liked to have seen in the film. Abraham Lincoln is mentioned alot in this film and yet were never see him in the film. Not saying he needed to be in the movie, but it would still be nice if we had a scene of him hearing about the Battle at Fort Wagner and being pleased with the regiment's efforts (despite them not winning). Also, I would've like to have seen one of the cast members (besides Col. Shaw, obviously) survive to tell the tale. Maybe Thomas or Jupiter, I don't know, I love the ending either way.
Conclusion
Glory is a great film with a fantastic cast, amzing score, remarkable sets and costumes and excellent cinematography. This is a movie I find myself rewatching every now and again not just because it's a great film, but because its story is a great piece of history. Without the valiant efforts of Col. Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the Civil War might not have ending in the Union's favor. So in closing, I'd like to thank these men for their service and for helping change history for the better. I salute you 🙋♂️
