We all know what the American Civil War was fought about, right. The more liberal north were against slavery, and the ultra conservative south were for it, and so ..war. Thats what most peoples view of the American Civil War is. So whats wrong with that, well everything. The war was fought for many political reasons and althought slavery was on the agenda, it was hardly a main issue, like the War of Independance almost 100 years before it was a more complex issue than it first would appear.
Glory takes that one aspect, slavery, and gives an insight into the truths behind its place and relevance to the war. The film follows the story of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first black regiment of the northern army. Matthew Broderick and Cary Elwes play the white officers of the regiment, Elwes providing the moral conscience to Brodericks uncomfortable position of superiority. Denzil Washington and Morgan Freeman play the two sides of the black argument, the former fighting for his own reasons, the later because its the first time hes been part of anything that he considers worthy. He believes that he is fighting to change the world he will eventually inherit. It is these moral arguments polarized by the main characters that is the real point of the movie.
Their story is based on true events and follows their struggle against the prejudice of their own military leaders, to be able to prove themselves as equals to any of the white soldiers. Through determination they begin to break down the barriers and finally get to prove themselves in the thick of the fighting. The end of the film, which I will not ruin by describing, is one of those poiniant anti war pieces which film-makers have only been brave enough to give us in the last couple of decades.
From a cinematic point of view, it neatly captures the horror of the battlefield, this is a period in warfare when shots were fired from 30 yards or closer and most fighting took place with the bayonet and the fist. The action is fast and furious without being gory, it hits home the meaning of civil war and look of the film is stylish.
This is a film of pride and comradeship, a film of glory, but more than that it is a film of prejudice and struggle, of courage and ultimately, sacrifice. A combination of action movie, anti-racism and anti-war movie and if anymore justification were needed, winner of three Academy Awards.
If you just want to watch a good yarn, it will give you that, but if you want more, it will re-establish certain aspects of the racial issues endemic within the civil war period. A great history lesson and a great action movie to boot.
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Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
"The negroes fought gallantly and were headed by as brave a Colonel as ever lived", was ... more
one Confederate soldier's eyewitness verdict on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers immediately after 247 of their 600-man regiment had fallen in bloody swathes benea...
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"The negroes fought gallantly and were headed by as brave a Colonel as ever lived", was ... more
one Confederate soldier's eyewitness verdict on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers immediately after 247 of their 600-man regiment had fallen in bloody swathes benea...
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The heart-stopping story of the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil ... more
War. Glory stars Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. Broderick and Elwes are the idealistic young Bostonians who lead the regiment...
The heart-stopping story of the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil ... more
War Glory stars Matthew Broderick Denzel Washington Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman. Broderick and Elwes are the idealistic young Bostonians who lead the regimen...
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Advantages: Unmatched acting, excellent story, and important reminder of history Disadvantages: Clichéd to a degree, the focus of the tale may not be the best for everyone
jarowdowsky 29.10.2007 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Glory (DVD)
Advantages: Unmatched acting, excellent story, and important reminder of history Disadvantages: Clichéd to a degree, the focus of the tale may not be the best for everyone
jarowdowsky 29.10.2007 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Glory (DVD)
![Glory [DVD] [1990]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78527079.jpg "Glory [DVD] [1990]")
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