Nothing is Perfect; But, Then Again...........................................

Rating: 10/10 (10 February 2011)

BEING BASED ON fact, GLORY ( , Tri-Star Pictures, 1989) has taken its place in very short order. It is another example of the old adage that "Truth is Stranger than Fiction."
FOR BENEFIT OF those in our audience who are not familiar with the film, let us present a short, basic and not too elaborate of a synopsis.
IN SHORT, WE find ourselves in the early days of the American Civil War. From the point of view of a young Officer, Captain Shaw of the Massachusetts contingency to the Army of the Potomac. We soon learn from conversations and from his letters sent back to his folks, that the young Captain is from a wealthy family, well educated and has connections, politically speaking.
AFTER RECEIVING A WOUND forged in battle, Shaw is furloughed home in order to convalesce. It is during this period that he becomes aware that the Commonwealth has plans to raise a regiment of Black Soldiers, most of which will be comprised of fugitive slaves, run away from the Southern States. There are also free born Blacks; one of which, as portrayed by Andre Braugher, is also well educated and a friend of the now Colonel Shaw.
FOLLOWING HIS FURLOUGH and recuperation period, the young Mr. Shaw is informed that the Regiment is his; although the rank and file troops will all be Blacks, the officers will be White.
THEN BEGINS THE task of turning these men into a a fighting force; a job complicated mainly because of the the deprivation suffered by the former slaves. Marching is more difficult because many of the recruits aren't aware of the difference between their right and left feet.
THE BASIC TRAINING is tough and the discipline is meted out in a not sparing the rod manner.The young infantrymen learn much of their combat techniques from guys like the hard-boiled, Mick Master Sergeant; whose demeanor was much the same as any Drill Instructor in subsequent wars in our history.
AS HARD AS things were, the men of the 55th display a rare desire to succeed and to become real fighting men. Their eagerness wins out in the end; but is dampened by a reluctance by those in command to use Black Troops in combat. The early assignments have them in little better than uniformed looters and arsonists.
THE AUTHOR AND the Director's use of the various characterizations of the men serves as a reminder that regardless of our inclusions in various races and ethnicities, we are all individuals. We are responsible for our actions and indeed, our lives as individuals.
VARIOIUS PERSONALITIES OR "TYPES" are represented by the many, variously disposed personalities found in the roster of the unit. Hence we have the Educated Free Man (Andre Braugher), the streetwise,hardened Militant (Denzyl Washington), the Older and Wiser Veteran type (Morgan Freeman), etc.
II IS THE words and actions of these and all the other players that the production team is able to speak to us and to the world about the need for just a little kindness and consideration for those around us. And the film never becomes neither preachy nor sophomoric; which would be a tendency that would be all too easy to descend to.
ADDED TO ALL of the above is possibly the most brutally realistic depiction of infantry combat of that period. Never done for the sake of the gratuitous display of "action" or to liven up any scenes; it was none the proper and necessary to have such violence displayed in the film.
IN THE FINAL analysis, one can only have one last statement about this Civil War Drama. That being, GLORY certainly does not glorify war.