The Glory of “Glory”

***SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN “GLORY”***

There are some films that make such an impact, they can never be duplicated. “Glory” is one of those films.  For those of you who may not be familiar, “Glory” is the story of the first black company in U.S. military history.  The 54^th Infantry was formed during the Civil War and was a volunteer company; but enough with the history lesson.  Edward Zwick directed “Glory” and it, in my opinion, is one of the most important films of all time.

“Glory” is such an important and amazing film for many reasons.  One that resonates with me is the fact that it pulls no punches.  Although the film does take some historical liberties, it does not portray the North as “the good guys” in the Civil War.  The film shows the honest truth; there were just as many racists in the North as in the South. This was a brave step for Zwick to take.  It would have been very easy to portray the North as “the good guys” - the people fighting for justice, a righteous cause.  The simple fact is not everyone in the North was good and righteous and for the film to point that out, gave it great credibility. 

“Glory” is a very emotional film.  We see a small glimpse of what some of these men went through up until this point, (joining the 54^th).  Denzel Washington gives, in my opinion, the best supporting performance from an actor ever.  His character is a man filled with rage and anger and why wouldn’t he be angry after what life has put him through?  The beauty of his character is we see his anger, but we also see his heart.  It is never one sided and it is never forced.  The places these men went and the hardships they went through just to get a pair of shoes are heartbreaking.  One scene always stands out to me. It is a scene with one tear; when that one tear drops, so do our hearts.

Although there is clearly anger in the men of the 54^th, there is even more heart.  Morgan Freeman’s character gives a perspective that adds so much to the film.  He is the man who says what is what and who is who, but never in an obnoxious way.  The character is always honest and always brave and possibly the core of the infantry men of the 54^th in the film.  Freeman has a scene with Washington that makes your hair stand up.  That scene changes Washington’s character for the rest of the film.  That scene also shows the morals and code that Freeman’s character has lived by and continues to live by throughout the film.

When you think of historical films, you don’t think of the lead actor as the guy from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” but it is.  Matthew Broderick stars as “Colonel Robert Shaw” (a real man).  Let me end any doubt in anyone’s mind, Matthew Broderick was amazing in the film.  Colonel Shaw started the 54^th and brought these men together and that changed history. 

In a film that lives in a grey area, Shaw is flat out a good man.  The men of the 54^th were good men.  It was the rest of the world that needed to get on board. 

In the climax of the film a formerly bigoted character says “Give ‘em hell 54^th” as the regiment marches to a certain death.  When those words are spoken, I always get the feeling that some of the world has gotten on board.  Maybe not everyone… but that line from that character says, there is hope.

The definition of the word glory is praise, honor or distinction by common consent.  That is also the definition of the film “Glory”.  This film is a true story of truly glorious men who died trying to do something honorable and dignified.  The men of the 54^th deserve that dignity and “Glory” is truly a glorious film.

To the soldiers of the 54^th Maine, thank you.

-  George McCann