glorious!

Rating: 7/10 (9 July 1999)

This story of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first all-black unit to fight in the Civil War, will appeal to Civil War buffs and history fans in general, as well as devotees of war movies, and those drawn to the social aspects of the story.
The film deals with the difficulty the regiment had in dealing with the entrenched antipathy of the regular troops, the public, and the War Dept. in accepting an all-black unit. They were formed with reluctance, given supplies grudgingly, and were at first used only for manual labor in the war effort.
Due to Shaw's persistence, however, they were finally given combat duty, in which they demonstrated exceptional bravery, winning the respect of all concerned.
It's an excellent film all around; good performances (I expected Broderick, with his youth, to have trouble with the part of Shaw, but he turns in a very creditable performance), good script, good photography, and the battle sequences are truly blood-curdling.
Historical accuracy was obviously important to the makers of this film. A battlefield guide at Gettysburg informed our party that 'Glory' was the most accurate Civil War film he had seen, far exceeding the much-vaunted 'Gettysburg'.
The movie lags just a bit here & there, but overall it is gripping and inspiring. It's a must-see.
A note for metropolitan Boston residents: Shaw and the 54th are commemorated in a bronze bas-relief by the sculptor St. Gaudens on the Boston Common, facing the steps of the statehouse (the sculpture forms the backdrop for the final credits).