Glory (film)

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Glory is a 1989 film which follows the history of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the American Civil War. The 54th was the first formal unit of the U.S. Army to comprise African-Americans. The film depicts the unit's organization by Col. Robert Gould Shaw and other white abolitionists, and its struggle against racial prejudice in many forms. The climax depicts the Union's attack on Fort Wagner, which was spearheaded by the 54th, and in which it took heavy losses but was noted for its bravery.

The movie was adapted by Kevin Jarre from the books One Gallant Rush by Peter Burchard and Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein, and Colonel Shaw's own memoirs. It was directed by Edward Zwick, and starred Matthew Broderick (as Colonel Shaw), Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, Jihmi Kennedy and Andre Braugher.

The 54th was the first American regiment made up entirely of Blacks (apart from officers). The film suggests that most of these blacks were escaped slaves from southern secessionist states who wished to fight for the abolitionist north, but this is not historically accurate.

The film also depicts the struggle Colonel Shaw faced to get supplies for his troops, and also to get his regiment into battle to prove themselves as "true men, worthy of fighting among Whites".

Glory was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Norman Garwood and Garrett Lewis) and Best Film Editing (Steven Rosenblum). It won Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Denzel Washington), Best Cinematography (Freddie Francis) and Best Sound (Donald O. Mitchell, Gregg Rudloff, Elliot Tyson) and (Russell Williams).

Washington's Oscar was the first for an African-American actor since Sidney Poitier.

Comparisons with Real Life

  • The majority of the blacks who fought for the regiment were born free in the North and not in the South as slaves.
  • There were so many men who signed up to enlist that a sister regiment was formed, the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
  • Of the major characters of the regiment in the movie, only Robert Gould Shaw was a real person. The rest were composite characters.
  • The incident just before charging Fort Wagner when Colonel Shaw points to the flag bearer and asks "If this man should fall, who will lift the flag and carry on?" was in fact real. However, the person who asked the question was General Strong. The person who responded was Colonel Shaw.
  • Colonel Shaw was married, although this was not depicted in the film.
  • The manner in which Colonel Shaw died in the movie was in fact the way he died in real life. His last words were "Come on 54th!" before he was shot through the chest. He fell next to the color bearer.
  • According to official records, the 54th sustained 256 casualties during the assault on Fort Wagner. This is not quite "over half its number," as claimed by the movie, but rather about 40%.
  • The movie depicts that the ocean was on the left side of the regiment when they charged the fort. In reality, they charged from the other side with the ocean on their right.
  • The real second in command was Lt. Colonel Edwin Hallowell. The fictional Major Cabot Forbes, played by Cary Elwes, was based on him. Although he was seriously wounded, Hallowell did survive the attack on the fort and led the regiment until it disbanded in 1865. He retired with the rank of Brigadier General.
  • The act of refusing pay that was less than white soldiers was actually Col. Shaw's idea which he inspired his men to do.

References

Luis F. Emilio, A Brave Black Regiment: A History of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry: 1863-1865 (New York: Bantam Books, 1894).

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