The Movie Glory

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The film Glory is set during the Civil War, particularly in 1862-1865. The film's primary focus is the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first all-black regiment in the Union army. This film covers from their time of enrollment, to their attack on Fort Wagner, a major historical event that influenced African Americans all over the Union to enroll. The movie is depicted through the eyes of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the leader of the 54th. In addition, it introduces four side characters, each an African American man with a different history. A gravedigger, John Rawlins, A free man; Jupiter Sharts, an escaped slave, Silas Trip, and an educated African American identified only as Thomas. The film begins with the main character, …show more content…

The battle of James Island, South Carolina, on July 16th, 1863. They sustain casualties, but come out victorious. This achievement serves to boost the morale of the men and ultimately gets them placed on the front lines. They are chosen to lead the attack on the impenetrable Fort Wagner. As they charge the fort, they sustain major casualties and Colonel Shaw falls in the battle. While the heroic soldiers break the outside defenses, they are soon outnumbered and are forced fall back. Fort Wagner was never taken, and this is how the movie …show more content…

In essence, this film is an entertaining history lesson. It is my belief that it attempts to stay close to the actual story while making it entertaining. For example, when he rips apart the quartermaster’s office for his men, which was most likely added for dramatic effect. The story covers the major aspects throughout the war for the regiment, including the forming, training, battles, dates, and places. The language, scenery, and costumes in this movie are all accurate. For example, some of the racial words during that period are present as well as the correct military jargon. Another powerful illustration is the bruised and diseased feet from the lack of shoes. Also, when the Colonel of the other chaotic black regiment shoots one of his soldiers in the arm in order to stop him from harming a white woman seemed to increase the dramatic affect. Simply, it just is to show the treatment blacks received. The reason for this movie was first, to make money, as every Hollywood movie does. However, this movie is a tribute to the 54th and serves as a memorial of the regiment and the bravery each soldier showed to join and fight. Even though the regiment had no large significant battle in the war, it impacted the views of the Blacks and Whites. They influenced blacks to step up and become part of the war, and whites to understanding that blacks could do the same thing as whites. The effecting of that

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