GLORY

(director/writer: Edward Zwick; screenwriters: letters by Col. Robert Gould Shaw, Kevin Jarre, books by Peter Burchard “One Gallant Rush” and Lincoln Kirstein “Lay This Laurel”; cinematographer: Freddie Francis; editor: Steven Rosenblum; music: James Horner; cast: Matthew Broderick (Col. Robert Gould Shaw), Denzel Washington (Trip), Cary Elwes (Cabot Forbes), Morgan Freeman (Sgt. Major John Rawlins), Jihmi Kennedy (Pvt. Jupiter Sharts), Andre Braugher (Cpl. Thomas Searles), Pete Munro (Surgeon), Raymond St. Jacques (Frederick Douglass), Cliff DeYoung (Col. James M. Montgomery); Runtime: 122; MPAA Rating: PG; producer: Freddie Fields; Tri Star Pictures/Columbia Tri Star; 1989)

“A rousing Civil War drama based on the true story of the 54th Massachusetts infantry, a Union regiment of black soldiers.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A rousing Civil War drama based on the true story of the 54th Massachusetts infantry, a Union regiment of black soldiers. They were the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War.

It’s intimately directed by Edward Zwick (“Courage Under Fire”/”Pawn Sacrifice”), who co-writes it with Kevin Jarre. They base it on the book by Peter Burchard “One Gallant Rush” and Lincoln Kirstein’s “Lay This Laurel”. The Brit cinematographer Freddie Francis does a brilliant job with the visuals, especially in making the bloody battlefields come to life. The film recounts the formation of the black group, its training and its battles.

The Bostonian white officer, Col. Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick), leads the all-black regiment.  Serving as his junior officer is Cabot Forbes (Cary Elwes). Morgan Freeman as Sgt. Major John Rawlins actively unites the troops. Denzel Washington won a Best Supporting  Actor Oscar playing the belligerent runaway slave who joined the 54th Regiment. Andre Braugher plays a scholar turned soldier, and Jihmy Kennedy plays a stuttering country boy sharpshooter.

Adding some intimate touches to the drama is a voice-over reading of the real-life 25-year-old Shaw’s letters to his family.


The bloody assault on Fort Wagner, at the mouth of Charleston Bay, was initiated by the 54th on July 18, 1863.

The film works as an ensemble piece. It’s history lesson captures the chaos and brutality of the war, and as a reminder of how many lives were taken in battle.

REVIEWED ON 6/26/2024  GRADE: B+