Memorial Day Review: Glory (1989)

In celebration of Memorial Day, I offer a review of one of my favorite (and most historically accurate) war films: Glory.


African Americans, more than any other group of people, had the most at stake during the American Civil War. They fought for freedom from slavery, preservation of the Union, and potential citizenship after the war. Their willingness to go to battle has been portrayed a number of different ways by Hollywood over the years, with some depictions more realistic than others. Glory, a film about the 54th Massachusetts regiment, is not without historical flaws. And yet, it exemplifies the best of the war film genre because of its superb blend of action, suspense, and dedication to the experience of being a soldier (of any race).

The film chronicles the creation and progression of the Massachusetts 54th, one of the first commissioned all-black groups to see combat during the Civil War. Col. Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) helps train the men, turning down several military promotions to stay with his unit. Shaw faces a number of external forces throughout the film. He must prepare his men who are woefully unequipped for battle, both from a tactical standpoint and in terms of basic supplies like shoes. He fights with military and government leaders to give his men the opportunity to succeed in meaningful action. Above all, he must overcome the racism aimed at his men from other soldiers in the Union army. Broderick is in his element as the leader of the 54th; his character is not always right or just, but you truly believe he has the interest of his men at heart. Somehow, he is able to band his men together despite obvious differences in upbringing and social status.

Unlike lesser Civil War films like Shenandoah, Glory confronts racism head on. John Finn's character (Sgt. Maj. Mulcahy) is a brutal leader, punishing his men both verbally and physically at every turn. Though he is a secondary character, he dominates every scene he is in. Similarly, Denzel Washington's character (Pvt. Trip) is publicly whipped for perceived desertion in one of the most powerful scenes in any war picture. Washington is brilliant as a troubled man struggling with his past as an escaped slave as well as an internal conflict between honor and pure self-interest. In addition to the rigorous hardships of being a soldier, we see that black soldiers were incalculably burdened by their race.

The film reaches its climax when the 54th is finally called upon to siege Fort Wagner near Charleston. In a film with few epic battle scenes, the finale of Glory is cinematically intense. It exudes everything that a war film fight scene should: valor, camaraderie, and unflinching brutality. Few films have a more inspiring or dramatic conclusion.

Glory is a historically significant film for a number of reasons. Above all, it celebrates the bravery, sacrifice, and heroism of black soldiers at a time when little was expected of them. Blacks who volunteered for battle were not just fighting for the Union, but rather to prove their worth as future citizens of the United States. At the micro-level, Glory also gave a number of African American actors a chance to prove their worth among cinematic elites at a time when few black actors were chosen for major roles. The next time you go see a Denzel Washington or Morgan Freeman film, think back to this picture as one of their launching points.