Glory: historical film analysis and themes

Glory a wonderful film depicting the role of African-American soldiers in the Civil war, is based on two books, Lincoln Kirstein's Lay This Laurel and Peter Bruchard's One Gallant Rush. Bruchard's book provided the inspiration for the character played by Matthew Broderick, who was a real-life white solider. His letters formed the basis of this movie. Glory is not exactly a perfect war movie, there are some minor flaws such as the accent of Broderick and his not to so convincing performance, but the other characters do an incredibly brilliant job as newly appointed black soldiers. It is their Oscar-deserving performances, which obscure the slight flaws of the film that discusses an important issue in a unique manner. How did blacks feel when they were recruited in the Army and how were they treated by other soldiers are the kind of questions this film revolves around and provides highly convincing and absolutely true answers. The film traces the formation and performance of Fifty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was the first black army unit to participate in the civil war. The movie brilliantly captures the training period of soldiers and their final attack at Fort Wagner where Shaw lost his life.

Glory shot to fame not only because of its unique script and powerful performances alone but also because it deals with a subject that Hollywood abandoned a long time ago. In a place where Civil war is considered distant past, such a movie was seen as breath of fresh air. It took us all back to the 18th century when slavery was still a burning issue and when America was severely divided on the subject of civil rights of African-Americans.

In this setting, it is quite painful to see blacks suffering from serious and open discrimination at the hands of white counterparts. It gives rise to issues that had been forcefully buried a long time back to avoid debate and confrontation. From this viewpoint, this movie is extremely important because instead of dealing with easier commercial subjects, it deliberately focuses on a painful topic, which is like stepping on explosive landmines. All the problems, accusation and questions that had long been relegated to the far corner of our consciousness, were suddenly out in the open again. And we are forced to view and discuss the healing of racism and race relations in the country.

Lay this Laurel on the One

Too intrinsic for Renown

Laurel! veil your deathless tree

Him you chasten, that is He!

Emily Dickinson

The movie is heavily based on the two books mentioned above. Lay this laurel provides deeper and closer details of the events that shaped the civil war from the eyes of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who was courageous enough to rise above classism and train a group of disadvantaged people willing to fight for the country and for their freedom. Kirstein's book explains how the group received its training and how it attacked Fort Wagner. Since all details couldn't be captured on the screen, it is important to read the two books to get deeper insight into the issue of black enlistment. Kirstein believes that it was the moral courage of Shaw and the bravery of his soldiers that paved way for more recruitment opportunities for blacks. In fact Lincoln believed that it was their courage that shaped the Civil war and turned it in favor of blacks and the North.

Edward Zwick, director of this masterpiece, appears more interested in closer and deeper analysis of various issues than in capturing one gory page in history on the screen. The courage and valor of the black men burns the screen showing the intensity of their desire to be free. It is an extremely important point to remember because it helps in understanding the film better and makes its motive clearer.

Since blacks were the one to benefit the most from Civil War, the intensity of their desire for freedom cannot be doubted. Zwick shows just how keen they were to fight for their rights and just how they overcame every obstacle to prove that blacks could fight just as brilliantly as whites. "Liberty won by white men would lack half its lustre. Who would be free themselves must strike the blow. Better even to die free than to live slaves." (Fredrick Douglas in Lay this Laurel)

Based on Shaw's letters taken from Bruchard's book, the film opens with battle and then goes on to show how 54th regiment came into being. In the process, we meet some prominent figures of the regiment, including Shaw (Broderick) and second in command Cabot Forbes (Cary Elwes). Apart from these two, we are also introduced to Thomas Searles (Andre Braugher), a polite educated black friend of theirs.

Then comes Denzel Washington with his almost best role to date. A proud young man, who refuses to bow down, Washington, gives an amazing performance especially in the scene where he is captured for allegedly deserting the unit. When his shirt is taken off, we almost cry out in horror to see that his back is severely scorched by scars from slavery days.

Shaw is horrified to see this while the quiet rebellious Washington cannot hide his tears as one rolls down his cheek. This scene is so powerful that it could alone the save the movie had others failed to live up to the gravity of the subject, which they thankfully did not.

Shaw is presented as courageous young man of 25 with a strong desire to fight for equal rights for blacks. He faces problems even before 54th regiment has participated in any battle. But he staunchly adheres to his beliefs and principles and fights for their rights and even for their pay, which was lower than that of whites. While whites got $13, blacks would get only $10 for their services, which showed open discrimination, and Shaw wanted to take a stand against racial bigotry in the army.