Rarely do I make such statements but Glory is one of those films that every film student should have in their personal collection. If you have a Blu-ray player, Sony’s recent release is a must have. There’s no question that the Civil War hasn’t spawned the number of classic films as either World War II or the Vietnam War. This is likely due in part to the fact that the Civil War was fought before cameras, radio and television existed and the modern word tends not to be as interested in events that don’t have videos to back up stories. However, Edward Zwick’1989 film Glory, sets its story right in the middle of one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history during the Civil War.
As the film opens, Captain Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) is witnessing human slaughter up close and personal at the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single-day battle in American History. After recovering from a neck wound, Shaw returns to his home in Boston. While there, he is offered the chance to command the state’s first all-black regiment. Somewhat hesitantly, 23-year-old Shaw agrees to lead the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. With the new position elevating him to the rank of Colonel, Shaw oversees a band of eager yet unskilled men determined to fight. The group includes Shaw’s longtime friend and intellectual Thomas (Andre Braugher); a levelheaded grave digger named John Rawlins (Morgan Freeman); the escaped slave, Trip (Denzel Washington); and the sharpshooting Jupiter Sharts (Jihmi Kennedy).
Whatever doubts Gould may have had about the ability of a black regiment to fight a war, are soon dwarfed by the response of indifference by the Union Army. The nominal victory at the Battle of Antietam had given President Abraham Lincoln the leverage he needed to emancipate all slaves in the Confederate states. The initial effect was largely symbolic but it was decided that Blacks would be recruited to fight for the Union Army. However, it quickly becomes clear that the Gould’s regiment is ill prepared to face combat. With the help of Shaw’s childhood friend, Major Cabot Forbes (Cary Elwes) and a hard-nosed Irish drill instructor (John Finn), the regiment becomes skilled in the ways of modern warfare but is denied the tools needed to carry out their duty as soldiers thanks to both politics and bigotry. Among their obstacles are reduced pay and a shortage of adequate footwear. Nevertheless, Shaw’s determination, family’s stature, and leadership sees the men through, culminating in them facing the enemy head-on and proving their worth as both soldiers and individuals.
If there was one thing some may quibble about when it comes to Glory, it’s the fact that much of the story is told through the eyes of the main white character, Robert Gould Shaw. In watching the film, as good as it is, I could help but wonder how it would have been different if we had seen more of the story or for that matter, Robert Gould Shaw through the eyes of one of his black soldiers. Glory is primarily a story about the black experience, so it seems rather odd to have a white man narrate the proceedings. Perhaps one answer is that the significance of the 54th was the way in which it changed white perceptions of black soldiers (changed them slowly, to be sure, that the Vietnam War was the first in American history in which troops were not largely segregated). That being said, Glory is still a film well worth watching and one Blu-ray owners will want to add to their collections. After watching the film though, ask yourself how different the experience would have been if the story was told through the eyes of Morgan Freeman or Denzel Washington’s characters.
Glory debuts on Blu-ray with a high quality 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. Though the film often has a somewhat hazy, faded appearance, the transfer reflects the intended look and sparkles in context. Battlefield smoke and drab colors occasionally mask fine detail but the transfer nevertheless exhibits a wonderful film-like appearance. A generally heavy layer of film grain enhances the experience, and though the transfer sees some noise over bright backgrounds and the occasional speckle, it nevertheless recalls a nicely-rendered theatrical presentation. The transfer enjoys a fair amount of depth and detail in background objects. Likewise, close-up shots showcase an adequate level of detail in the uniforms, character faces, the brick façades and the wooden crates and barrels seen throughout the picture. The image is sharp, though several scenes exhibit a hint of softness that gives them a surreal feel. The film features varying color schemes, parts of the film appearing almost monochromatic while others see vibrant reds and blues on the flags or greens that make up the grasses lining the fields of Antietam. Flesh tones and black levels don’t disappoint.
Glory has a well-crafted Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Explosions pack a wallop, some a bit more clear than others, with some sounding more like a jumbled mess of sound. Nevertheless, the track generally impresses. Artillery fire screams from one side of the soundstage to another, and the power of musket volleys penetrates the listening area and creates a terrifying sensation that brings the War to vivid life. After the battle of Antietam, the moans and cries of wounded men populate the listening area, accompanied by a slew of subtle sound effects heard off in the distance that never sounded as clear as they do here. The chatter and clanking of silverware in a scene in chapter three or a thunderstorm in chapter four that completely envelops the soundstage adds realism to the mix. James Horner’s score has never sounded better, both the military beats and the lighter, more angelic notes pouring from the speakers with pinpoint precision throughout the entire dynamic range. Dialogue, while generally strong, occasionally plays as a bit muffled. On the whole, Glory sounds great; easily the best the film has ever played for home viewing.
Glory offers a nice selection of special features:
• Commentary Track with Director Edward Zwick. He recounts both the making of the film and historical accounts of the War. He speaks on the violence of the War and its translation to the film, the locations and lighting, varied filming techniques used throughout the film, the work of the actors, the score, and so much more.
• Virtual Civil War Battlefield (BD Exclusive) allows users to click through points-of-interest on a map and learn about various aspects of the Civil War through both text and video-based features.
• The Voices of Glory (480p, 11:18) a brief feature that recounts the history of the 54th, primarily through letters written by the men during their wartime experiences.
• The True Story Continues (480p, 45:18) is a piece, narrated by Morgan Freeman, that takes viewers into the history of the period and the 54th, intercut with actual and deleted scenes from the film.
• Original Theatrical Making-Of Featurette (480p, 7:36) is a vintage piece that recounts the story, features interview clips with cast and crew, and showcases behind-the-scenes footage.
• A pair of 480p Deleted Scenes (The Apple Picker, 3:03, and Crisis of Conscience, 2:35) with optional director’s commentary.
