Glory on DVD (1989)

McClennan from St Helens , 18/10/2004

A film that follows the story about the the first ever black regiment in the US Army as it battles in the American Civil War.

If you have any interest in American history then you have to see this film. At times the film verges on cheesiness but there's too much substance to the film to really allow that to happen and I can wholeheartedly recomment this for anyone with an interest in war films that have more than just big explosions.

  5 out of 7 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Noel Clay from Colchester, England , 29/11/2004

This story of the first black regiment in the civil war makes a decent war movie helped along by a fantastic cast and great historical reconstruction. It's great to see Matthew Broderick in one of his best roles, but the most memorable performance comes from Denzel Washington. This movie may have led to his typical typecasting as an angry young man, while Morgan Freeman became typecast as the wise old man. The battle scenes are very well done -- and at the time they must have been even more spectacular. These days, they're not up to, say, 'Saving Private Ryan' standard but they're still pretty damn good.

'Glory' could easily be a classic but it's not without it's share of flaws ... first of all, it's a little to obsessed with it's own 'glory' in places. With it's intrusive score, it attaches ultimate significance to events when it might have been more poignant not to do so.

Mostly, I really enjoyed this movie. But all those schmaltzy moments when the music rises ... they just aren't necessary. People KNOW how meaningful these events were, they can see that right on the screen. Other than that, this was a pretty fantastic and important civil war movie.

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

DavidC21 from Tayport , 28/02/2005

Better than expected by a long way largely because the film avoids the over-sentimental pitfalls which could easily have spoiled it. Principals Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington are as reliable as ever.

Matthew Broderick I'd always regarded as fairly lightweight but he took the central role with acting honours....this is a very worthwhile and ultimately rewarding film.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Read all reviews

Jessica Lohse from Leicester, England , 08/11/2005

Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick. Need I say more? Denzel will have you in tears, and not from laughter. Matthew Broderick's Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who lead the first black regiment into action during the American Civil War. Shaw is a compassionate example of a good military leader. He faces disgrace and treachery from other white officers who would do terrible things to their black regiments and have them do terrible things to settlements. Shaw's men died to a man, but he kept a journal and he knew a journalist. Just before his last stand, he gave those journals and letters to his family to the lad and asked that his story be remembered. And here it is. Elwes is an excellent junior officer and Shaw's (Broderick) best friend. Morgan Freeman is the first black sargeant who looks after his men, a wise old dog of a sargeant who always provides excellent guidance to the young Shaw when he asks it. They deal with requisitions officers who would rather sell the regiments shoes and supplies rather than clothe them. They defy the President in allowing the black soldiers to wear the uniform. The soldiers take half pay, and then no pay at all, in being discouraged from entering the war. Through many hardships and punishments, they march long and hard rising and falling together as a unit. It is beautiful and humanist. How anyone could watch this and not be taken is beyond me. The soundtrack is performed by the Boys' Choir of Harlem. The cinematography is BEYOND COMPARISON, the viewer will feel they are looking in on a period Civil War painting at all times. The troubles and tribulations are real, as they did happen and these men did exist and I personally have been to the filming location outside Savannah, Georgia on a little island called Tybee Island at a small beach fort. It was expertly performed and took a great deal of talent to deliver this emotional masterpiece. I bought the soundtrack in 1990 and still have it. I'll be getting the DVD next.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Read all reviews

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *

Colesy from Middlesbrough , 11/08/2008

I really enjoyed this movie, I'm not bothered about American history per se (they're a child nation with anger and prejudice issues, look at this year election), it hit home about the inhumanity suffered by the slave genearation , and the poignency of the freedoms fought for during the civil war. All star cast turns out excellent perfomances, but when you see the bloodshed and futility (especually the final set piece) you wonder if the titles not ironic.

Read all highest rated reviews