Their innocence. Their heritage. Their lives. Nothing would be spared in the fight for their freedom. Glory is a full-out celebration of a little-known act of mass courage during the Civil War. Simply put, the heroes involved have been ignored by history due to racism. Those heroes were the all-black members of the 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, headed by Matthew Broderick, the son of an influential abolitionist (played by an uncredited Jane Alexander). Despite the fact that the Civil War is ostensibly being fought on their behalf, the black soldiers are denied virtually every privilege and amenity
that is matter of course for their white counterparts; as in armies past and future, they are given the most menial and demeaning of tasks. Still, none of the soldiers quit the regiment when given the chance. The unofficial leaders of the group are gravedigger Morgan Freeman and fugitive slave Denzel Washington, respectively representing the brains and heart of the organization. The 54th acquit themselves valiantly at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, charging a fortification manned by some 1000 Confederates. It is a lost cause, resulting in death for half the regiment; still, one leaves the film feeling as though the 54th has "won", if only spiritually. Glory was based on Lincoln Kirstein's Lay This Laurel and Peter Bruchard's One Gallant Rush; the latter book was founded on the letters of Col. Robert Gould Shaw, the real-life character played by Matthew Broderick. The film won an Oscar for co-star Denzel Washington, and additional statuettes for best cinematography (Freddie Francis) and sound recording.
Release:
December 15, 1989
Studio:
Columbia / Tri-Star
Genre:
Drama / War / History
Rating:
R
Running Time:
122 minutes
Writer:
Kevin Jarre and Marshall Herskovitz
Producer:
Pieter Jan Brugge and Freddie Fields
Director:
Edward Zwick
Cast:
Matthew Broderick..... Colonel Robert Gould Shaw Cary Elwes..... Cabot Forbes Morgan Freeman..... John Rawlins Denzel Washington..... Trip Andre Braugher..... Searles Cliff De Young..... Col. Montgomery Jihmi Kennedy..... Sharts Jane Alexander..... Mrs. Shaw Bob Gunton..... General Hunter Alan North..... Gov. Andrew John Finn..... Sgt. Mulcahy Christian Baskous..... Pierce RonReaco Lee..... Mute Drummer Boy Jay O. Sanders..... Gen. Strong
Award:
1990 Academy Awards..... Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Washington), Best Cinematography, and Best Sound 1990 Golden Globes..... Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Washington) 1990 American Cinema Editors..... Best Edited Feature Film 1990 British Society of Cinematographers..... Best Cinematography 1990 Kansas City Film Critics Circle..... Best Film 1991 Grammy Awards..... Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television 1992 Image Awards..... Outstanding Motion Picture, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Washington)
Nomination:
1990 Academy Awards..... Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, and Best Film Editing 1990 Golden Globes..... Best Director - Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Original Score - Motion Picture, and Best Screenplay - Motion Picture 1990 Casting Society of America..... Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama 1990 Writers Guild of America..... Best Adapted Screenplay 1991 BAFTA Awards..... Best Cinematography 1991 Political Film Society..... Human Rights
