A history listen for all

Rating: 10/10 (25 August 2012)

Glory is a film showcasing the talents of Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. It is based upon a true story of the first black soldiers organized to fight for the Union during the American Civil War.
Matthew Broderick portrays Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who has volunteered to lead the regiment. The movie shows the struggles he goes through to take raw recruits and train them to be a fighting unit prepared to kill and be killed. He hires a tough Sgt Major to do the training and he is unmerciful. No one who is white believes the black men can be anything more than parade soldiers.
Morgan Freeman is the oldest recruit and his calm is the voice of reason for he has buried many white soldiers during the first 2 years of the war. Col Shaw sees him as the go between the officers and the enlisted and he is terrific as the father figure.
Denzel Washington is the young former slave who has so much hatred inside him that he will fight anyone just for the sake of fighting.
The unit faces many challenges during training, not the least of which is the Army supply unit not wanting to issue them new shoes and socks as they are reserved for "fighting regiments".
Slowly we watch as a disorganized group of 600 men are turned into a real disciplined cohesive regiment. As the men are nearing the end of their training two things happen that could tear the group apart. First Congress has ordered the men not to be paid the regular army wage of $13 per month, but only $10 because they are black. Then a letter is read from the Confederate States that say any black man caught taking up arms against the South will be returned to slavery. Also any white officers leading blacks into battle captured will be immediately executed. After reading this letter Col Shaw expected mass requests to leave, but is shocked to find not one member wants to leave.
After training and being issued their blues and weapons they go south to fight. But discover they are only to be used as laborers. But Col Shaw finally gets his wish for combat duty after blackmailing his commanding General. When they do go into battle for the first time they prove their worth.
Then we see as an attack is planned on Fort Wagner near Charleston. The regiment commanders present are informed that due to the terrain only one regiment at a time can advance on the fort. Col Shaw volunteers his regiment to lead the attack despite knowing the losses in men will be horrific.
The night before the attack we see how the soldiers prepare for death. They show no fear and know their duty. On the morning of the attack Col Shaw prepares for his own death in letter writing to his mother and asks a newspaper reporter to make sure his personal effects get to her. There is a scene where he is on his horse by the waters edge and the expression on his face brought me to tears.
Bravely Col Shaw and his officers lead the attack and it is a brutal realistic scene of humans being wasted for a small plot of land. When the attack is over I know I was not the only one to cry.
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn about our nation's history.