Genre:
Historical Film
Theatrical Release: 12/14/1989(USA)
Release Date: 01/01/2001
Sound: DD5.1/DD2
Run Time:
Flags: Violence, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Watch With Your Teen, War Violence
Distributor/Studio: Columbia TriStar
Glory is a celebration of a little-known act of mass courage during the Civil War. Simply put, the heroes involved have been ignored by history due to racism. Those heroes were the all-black members of the 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, headed by
Col. Robert Gould Shaw (
Matthew Broderick), the son of an influential abolitionist (played by an uncredited
Jane Alexander). Despite the fact that the Civil War is ostensibly being fought on their behalf, the black soldiers are denied virtually every privilege and amenity that is matter of course for their white counterparts; as in armies past and future, they are given the most menial and demeaning of tasks. Still, none of the soldiers quit the regiment when given the chance. The unofficial leaders of the group are gravedigger
John Rawlins (
Morgan Freeman) and fugitive slave
Trip (
Denzel Washington), respectively representing the brains and heart of the organization. The 54th acquit themselves valiantly at Fort Wagner, SC, charging a fortification manned by some 1,000 Confederates.
Glory was based on
Lincoln Kirstein's
Lay This Laurel and
Peter Burchard's
One Gallant Rush; the latter book was founded on the letters of
Col. Robert Gould Shaw, the real-life character played by
Matthew Broderick. The film won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for co-star
Denzel Washington, and additional statuettes for Best Cinematography (
Freddie Francis) and Sound Recording. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
;)
