EDIT/CORRECTION: A few commenters have pointed out that choroform and ether were actually much more common in the ACW than I had ever anticipated! It turns out, then, that the scene of the man having an amputation is likely exaggerated from what it would have looked like, unless for some reason they weren't able to anesthetize him, which would be unlikely. One source I saw said ~95% of all surgeries used it. I would have thought campaign figures to be much lower! Maybe something I can do a video about as a follow-up. I'll need to look into my schedule to see what I can make work. This video wasn't sponsored, so, go check out my book instead! If you enjoyed this video there is a good chance you'll be interested in it, as it's all about privations and sufferings across military history. www.nativeoak.org/bookshop (Also you can buy it on Amazon, but it's cheaper for you AND it gets me more money to buy it on my website directly!)
Surprised you didn't mention the symbolism of the Amputation Scene. How it's representation is of the painful nature of Civil Wars, and in the United States example, how the once composite component of the Slave Economy, which helped underpin other aspects of the United States economy at the time, was being violently severed from the social body.
To be fair to the surgeon, he did ask where the chloroform was, so he expected it to be available, but it does not reveal why it wasn't. Maybe it was in use, maybe it was taken, maybe it was just lost in the chaos of the hospital, but he did call for it... ... but when you have hundreds of men needing treatment, how long do you wait before you just put your head down and get the job done?
@@FtanftangfnarrrIt's meant to be that way. These are people, in all their honor and dishonor, but there is a brotherhood in their shared struggle and, ultimately, their shared fate. These are the men that wrought the modern cornerstones of our nation; should we not look back on them with some sentimentality, and portray them so?
As I recall, the "Give 'em hell" "actor" was one of the writers and he wanted that part specifically to represent a soldier who didn't respect the USCTs and show the change in his perspective and attitude towards them.
Me: Great Scott! I’ve run out of video essays to play in the back while doing homework at 2 am! Brandon F: *descends from heaven to a dulcet chorus of angels*
I'm over here studying and taking notes for my AP World History class, and then this video pops up and now i'm stuck in an unbreakable cycle of procrastination. Please send help.
Personally I like the Morgan Freeman reveal. Our captain has just been kicked awake, when he probably thought he would be dead when he passed out, and the light reveals not an angel but the very reason he is fighting, almost flipping the white savior narrative. There is the dichotomy that for him this is one of the most profound moments of his life, while for Freeman its just another guy on the ground. There are just so many layers to unpack as you delve deeper into what each man was thinking in that moment and the ways they intersect its almost overwhelming. Or its just a Hollywood troupe moment to reveal a star like Morgan Freeman, you decide.
I think something Brandon missed was the orderly informing Shaw that the Union won that battle. So many battle movies the victorious side erupts in cheers and open excitement but here Shaw is being told they won while he’s in a state of overwhelmed PTSD watching a man lose his leg.
agree. It really drives it home. Like all the visual storytelling is signaling to us that this is an utter defeat for the union. Only to then hit you. This is what victory looks like
At that point, the orderly would not have known. As far as he and McClellan were concerned, the battle would resume the following day. But McClellan did not stir, and Lee did not advance, and eventually slipped away over the Potomac, leaving the battle a draw.
Just like Shaw, I didn't really register that this was a victory. This movie was the first civil war movie I watched, I saw all the union soldiers dying and just assumed the union lost lol. I just didn't really register what the orderly said.
Sorry, quick bugler reenactor nitpick!!! The bugle call sounded here as mentioned at roughly 15:00 is "To The Colors", not "Retreat". It was played to try and rally the breaking federal forces to the colors. Love the video, great work as always!
This comment should be pinned. The call to rally shows the attempt to reorganize the company as individuals scatter, but also that the wider battle is still going.
The opening also shows, not tells, Gould's driving motivation to train his regiment as rigorously as he did. It wasn't for idealism or a desire for promotion, but a first person knowledge of the horrors of combat.
My favorite "Glory" moment? It's after the 54th has been recruited, trained, and deployed to South Carolina and one of the soldiers moans to another "Lord! I forgot how HOT it gets down here!" Having served in North Carolina I felt his pain immediately!
Growing up in East Texas, I know exactly what he means. pain was I also know that while enough water enables a man to do very hard labor, under that sun, that a soldier in the field does’t always get that water. Always wondered why films seldom show troops p[ausng to drink. One recollection by a soldier in Jackson’s force talks about how even men used to Jackson’s fast marches kept dropping omn thaw side of the road as hey closed with the enemy not from Would but from sheer exhaustion. On a visit there is summer I tried or a half mile to keep up the pace of those men and then gave up. Even a marathoner would find it hard to keep keep up if they were carrying a heavy rife and pack.
as a huge Civil War fan seeing this notification pop up at a late hour of the night, from no other than one of my favorite Napoleonic youtubers, covering one of my favorite Civil War openings ever, was like seeing heaven's pearly white gates open up before my very eyes. Thank you Brandon, im not sleeping tonight.
Captain Shaw's PTSD moment where he seemingly tunes out the sounds of battle, reminds me of a similar scene in Saving Private Ryan,where Tom Hank's Captain Miller seems to tune out the sounds of battle on Omaha Beach after being disorientated by a near by blast. The battle is clearly raging around him as men continue to be killed horrificlly but he doesn't snap back to "normal"until he's directly addressed by a soldier asking him for orders.
I think It is more basic than simply tuning things out. I have never been in combat but I am an avid shooter. On a couple occasions when I foolishly shot a high power rifle without proper hearing protection I literally could not hear clearly for a few minutes. Even people talking close to me voices were indistinct. They almost sounded like they were talking to me for across a lake. It is a disorienting experience. Excellent review by the war.
Don't forget about the concussive force of an explosion rattling your brain pan. Concussions, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and similar can happen to someone close to an explosion. If you ever had a concussion, you can kind of start to comprehend what's happening to him during that scene.
The shot of the fighting continuing over the hill was straight shocking to me as a kid. You know 60,000 men fighting isn't just one charge, but for whatever reason, the scale of these battles never really got through to me.
Another comment here mentioned the "Waterloo" movie and its record-setting 15,000 extras. I think it's a great contrast, showing "both sides". "Waterloo" in its immensity makes you as the viewer realize that this was... well... ARMIES of men all standing a field ready to kill each other. The scale of it. And scenes like here in "Glory", with just the "50 men"... they pull it down to the individual level. Armies are made up of individuals, each fighting their own personal battle for victory and survival.
Excellent stuff, this is my favorite Civil War film, it brilliantly shows the importance and social and emotional scale of the war while also not shying away from how awful it was. When I was in high school I got the chance to transcribe some letters written by a Union soldier from my home town, an ardent abolitionist. But in one of his last letters written after he’d been fighting for more than two years, he told his cousin that he no longer cared about freeing the slaves and that he just wanted to go home, so traumatized was he. It was heartbreaking to read. Sadly he died in Andersonville prison a few months before his enlistment would have ended.
This is honestly one of my favorite movies for a variety of reasons. A quote from Shaw’s father after the Confederacy tried mocking the family over burying him in a mass grave with his men and some people started suggesting efforts to recover the body: "We would not have his body removed from where it lies surrounded by his brave and devoted soldiers....We can imagine no holier place than that in which he lies, among his brave and devoted followers, nor wish for him better company - what a body-guard he has!"
An absolute dream come true to see you putting out Civil War era content; including our work together! The title alone is absolutely correct, and the beginning of this video, complete with the classic Brandon F. commentary and film clip already have me so excited to hear your thoughts. I have no doubt that you’ve produced yet another classic commentary video, and one of my favorites on this platform. So thrilled that you viewed this wonderful film; I am positive that you appreciated it in the same regards of authenticity and combat depiction which I have! P.S - At school for now… excitedly viewing all tonight. Keep up the wonderful work. Godspeed!
One thing I like about the bit where Shaw wakes up on the battlefield is how it shows the viewer that all that carnage we'd just witnessed was almost... inconsequential. We (and perhaps Shaw as well) may expect a scene like that to signal the _end_ of a battle, and the fact that the battle keeps going after _all that_ almost makes all those men's sacrifices seem "meaningless," as if they'd died for nothing. Like, imagine going through all of that-blinded by gunsmoke, men fighting and dying all around you, deafening gunshots, blood, and getting grazed by a bullet that was a few centimeters away from blowing your head off... and the battle just keeps going. It's almost like a close loved one, someone you cared for very deeply, passing away, and being distraught that the world can simply go on without them. Perhaps they were attempting to foreshadow the end of the movie-when the 54th is massacred, only for the fort to go uncaptured and the war to be won without them.
@@BrandonFit's been a family standard for 30 years. There are must read books in my family and must see movies. At no point at all did I think Glory was being hokey. That's if you're comparing it to every other movie if it's the 10th or the 20th time you've heard of voiceover of a letter from home. To me, the movies tone is perfect. The major minor characters are deployed just when they're needed. Really faultless movie
Seeing someone on here capable of actual film analysis is rare, getting somehow who is both able and look at them through a historical framework is precious
Shoutout to my personal hero and a TOP-NOTCH historian Brian Pohanca at 0:47. He portrays a Captain here. If you have not read his work or viewed his many interviews on “Civil War Journal”, (1993) please do so!
Glory is one of those movies that deserves a sequel. The 54th Massachusetts gained another notable action at Olustee. Being the rearguard of retreating Union forces there.
@@cosmictraveler1146 yeah. Look at the US and British redcoat uniform. Same style. Its an allied forces to destroy the tartarian remnants in the USA. Remove tartaria from memory. Now invent the US vs British story.
@@cosmictraveler1146 much of history is a fanfic. Mongol empire? Fake. The ancient Gladiator Roman empire? Fake. They even added 1000 fake years into our calendar. Year 2024 should be 1024. This is a very deep rabbit hole. Much of historical figuers are also fake.
Best part about the letter is that it sets up the themes of the whole movie in a natural way, plus shows you the way people back then thought of the war.
I would love nothing in the world more than a follow up to this video, talking about the final 10 -12 minutes of Glory as well. It literally near brings me to tears every time i watch it. Its profoundly emotional, especially if you've read his letters as they've been compiled.
The battle of Sharpsburg was Shaw's first major battle. So his letter before the battle would have been a good deal more lighthearted and optimistic than a letter after. And if you look at the letters and diaries from earlier in the war, the soldiers talked about fighting to preserve the Union. It was only after the army pushed further South, and soldiers saw how slaves lived that emancipation became more of a reason.
This scene alludes to the one in War & Peace, where after the Battle of Austerlitz Napoleon comes across the body of Prince Bolkonsky, who lying wounded on the field of battle, was contemplating the sky as Napoleon arrives to block the sun from his view. Not making any comparisons between Morgan Freeman, God or Napoleon here. Just saying this might have been the director's inspiration.
I do wish this movie had been slightly longer to provide more info to the layman. The scene with the pay refusal was more significant than just “less pay” $10 a month is what the union army was paying specifically to hired laborers (typically refugees following the army, and contraband). It’s definitely my favorite civil war movie along with Gettysburg. It’s extremely well done.
What makes this scene all the more impactful is that Antietam was a strategic Union victory. At the end of the battle, Lee reconsidered further pressing into the north and turned his army around back across the Potomac leaving McClellan in command of the field. But does this scene really paint it as a “Union Victory”, even as Shaw gets up he discovers the battle is still raging on, just further down the field.
Realistically the bloodiest days were always Union victories. They could spare the men and the resources to lose. The longer the war drags on the more that will fall from disease - WW1 was the first war for the American army where more died from combat than disease.
Aaron Judge could be described as a "formulaic" ball player. It doesn't mean he's any less amazing. The same is true for Glory's opening. In my Lost Cause days (daze?), I thought Glory was sappy and heavy handed. These days I think it's my favorite Civil War movie. I think you outlined a lot of the reasons I came to love the movie in this video. Stellar job, sir!
I grew up as (and in many ways still am) a Lost Causer and my family always loved Glory. Back when I was uncritical about Gods and Generals (still don't hate it) I would often pair it with Glory as I loved how both were very small casts and rather contained stories considering the scale of the war IRL. I always loved the depth of characterization that both films make earnest attempts at achieving (to different degrees of success, ofc)
Shaw’s life has always brought me immense sadness. He was doomed to die at 25 because of tradition and honour. He never got to experience the kind of peace, freedom, family, love that he should have
This movie is so well done when it comes to the details: uniforms, piping colors, drill, etc. Even the ptsd moment with the shudders closing and shaw jumping was a nice, small touch. By far my favorite civil war movie
You should do a video about Zouave units in the American civil war. Yknow, about why they decided to adopt a french uniform and their high casualty rates, cool nicknames, and stuff like that. I think that might be interesting
I thought the most poignant part of the film was when all the black soldiers stayed in the regiment after Shaw reads a missive stating that no prisoners would be taken by the Confederates. As a true story, this hits home for everyone.
I think the point of the sun blocking MF for the reveal is because you're not supposed to know if its a member of the union or the confederacy Edit, rewatched that bit and you can clearly see union boys wandering about before the reveal, so idk
I see it as realism excusing a dramatic film tradition. Confusion/suspense can be easily created by obscuring the face. If you've been out cold for hours while face-down, the sun will blind you when you look up. It's annoying and takes awhile to clear in real life, but having the guy emote horror while wincing and squinting wouldn't be as dramatically affective.
Haven't watched Glory since long before I watched through Voyager, and that was maybe six years ago, but as soon as I saw your words I could hear the orderly's voice in my head and I thought, "Of course it's Neelix!"
So glad we have a video about this. I rewatched Glory just about a month ago and have since than been obsessed with this first 10 minutes of the film you discuss. How it goes from the score of the film in the beginning to right when the score cuts to pure warfare is I feel like the best depiction of civil war combat on film and how I'm sure it felt to someone like shaw. Everything feels so real, hopeful, and with a little stress right up until the second that score cuts out and you can't think of anything more or less than the gun fire and smoke blocking out the sun with drums all while marching straight into the enemy. Such a surreal film to watch.
The best civil war film I've seen, and one of the best of all war films. I'd love a more in-depth video (or series) about the historical facts, and what the film got right and wrong.
I was there at Jekyll Island for a couple weeks as an extra while they filmed the attack on Fort Fisher…. My unit of reenactors portrayed both sides and had great fun during the beach approach and assault on the fort scene. I’m the guy climbing the ladder during the fort assault wearing a bowler hat. Encountered MB in the prop trailer as I needed the heel on my shoe repaired. Fond memories… great film. The statue celebrating the 54th Mass in Boston is worth visiting. Unfortunately living history by history buffs of the ACW for the benefit of education is somewhat dying out…
Such a great movie. Glad that Brandon of all people was the one to cover it. I might use this for inspiration for some of my own writing and story telling work, so thanks for breaking it down Brandon!
I used to make a lot of 3d battle scenes and one of my favourite tactics to make a battle look bigger is have a few people on the edges and corners of the screen to make the battle look far bigger than it is, it’s cool that you brought it up
Since I first saw it in theater when it was released, I've thought of Glory as a near perfect film. Parts of it get me choked up even today, having seen it probably 20 times.
I was there for a week during the filming at Jekyll Island, GA as a member of Co. C, 7th IL Cavalry. My only appearance on the big screen was all of a single second as a defender of Fort Wagner. I consider GLORY the finest Hollywood CW film. I also participated earlier in filming of NORTH/SOUTH II, near Natchez, MS. I did get a single closeup in N/S II as Gen. Grant rode up near the end - "Hurray for General Grant." I've considered N/S II nothing more than a glorified soap-opera. Back to GLORY, when I arrived they were in the process of filming, at night, Colonel Shaw's death. I watched Matthew Broderick tumble down the side of the pretend Ft. Wagner. At this point I was just a spectator. When the seen was completed I walked up to Matthew, without knowing who he was, and asked if I could take his picture. Standing there covered in sand and fake blood he asked, "Who are you?" I replied that I was a Illinois cavalry re-enactor that just arrived, and I had promised my daughter to try and take some photos of the stars. "I don't know who you are," I added, "You must be somebody important because they just spent a lot of time and money killing you off." Broderick then said, "Go ahead." I did. Before I left for home I had realized that he must be one of the stars. Three weeks after, I saw for the first time, BUEHLER'S DAY OFF on TV. To this day, I've often wondered if Matthew can recall the man wearing the Elmer Fudd "Wambo" T shirt that did not know he was the star.
I love how they open with the battle of Antietam! I was just looking up information about it because were decommissioning the namesake of the battle this month. CG-54 USS ANTIETAM, after 37 years of service is being decommissioned in Pearl Harbor on 27SEP2024.
I found myself appreciating your earthy yet couture brown ensemble. Smart, neutral, and as always, focused on a well rounded communication/educational content.
Greetings from the UK, I studied history with the Civil War being one my favourite periods I studied it not just as one of my course requirement but because I wanted to. I've watched numerous films and documentaries and own Ken Burns " The Civil War ". But nothing has taught me more or enhanced my understanding of combat in the Civil War than Glory and in particular the Battle of Anteitam scene. I will always remember the collective gasp of horror of myself and many others in the cinema when the officer had his head blown off in front of Shaw. It stayed with me for years and I still fast forward that part .
Glory is one of my top 10 movies. Have watched multiple times, but the moment you began to describe the opening I realized I've seen that scene somewhere else, I believe the opening of Band of Brothers, when the men are waiting on the air strip, is almost a beat for beat homage to the opening of Glory. Could be wrong, but they're just so similar.
I like the way they frame the protagonist, he isn't some "dumb soldier that's just there to fight", as with any good movie about war, it takes an effort to show that he knows what he's fighting for, not for "america" or for "greatness" but to make the union whole, for all, beautiful as always brandon
Awesome video Brandon! I love this movie, and have ever since I randomly was recommended it on my Chromecast like a year ago. Such a great Civil War Film. I'd love to see more videos on this movie!
I have a video about the role of Colours in linear warfare, and another on officer ranks in the AWI which covers ensigns, so maybe those will fill that role! You can find them here: th-cam.com/video/rfRL1a14444/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BDmfbWT_lFmdaw0T th-cam.com/video/7PSrjMfZXLQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JtczK_N3a2IGOU8_
To me still the best American Civil War film. I've always like how the film gave Shaw a pinch of PTSD after the opening sequence. Where he is jumpy, gets flashbacks a few times in the film as well. Locks up during those flashbacks. etc
I read the sun blocking our view of Morgan Freeman as meant to sync up with Shaw's eyes coming back into focus as he woke up. When we can see him that's when Shaw is fully lucid again, and the first thing he hears is a nonchalant, "you alright there?"
I believe that Shaw’s reaction to seeing the carnage around him as he rises, and then sees and not hears the battle over the hill was that he is in shock!!
I think the reveal of Rollins (Morgan Freeman) was meant to almost be a sign from God of what Shaw's true destiny would be in the Civil War. Rollins of course would go on to be Sgt Major Rollins of the 54th Massachusetts, and its his leadership that both helps Colonel Shaw step up as a regimental commander, and helps individual soldiers such as Trip (Denzel Washington) bond with their fellow soldiers.
One thing that is to be commended are movies or entertainment as a whole that can make war not look cool or a place I would certainly not want to be in. I love to cite both the openings of Glory, and Saving Private Ryan as perfect examples of that. "They never tell you how they all shit themselves. They don't put that part in the songs." -Robert Baratheon I
Narratively, the first battle scene also acts as a counterpoint to the final one. Shaw's men break under fire and Shaw survives by feigning death. SPOILER: at the end of the film, the 54th Massachusetts infantry hold steady in the face of horrendous casualties and Shaw dies for real alongside his men. The difference between the two scenes highlights the phenomenal valour of the 54th, that they went above and beyond what was expected of men in combat because of their devotion to their cause, and through the military discipline they developed over the course of their training. It also shows the culmination of Shaw's journey. At the start he talks a good game, but his courage wavers when it is truly tested. At the end, he has become utterly committed to the battle for emancipation and the men he fights alongside, and is ready to die. Not only does this deliver a satisfying payoff to the film's narrative arcs, but it also manages to underline the extraordinary nature of the heroism of the events it portrays without undermining or downplaying the experience of those less celebrated. It's normal to panic and want to run away when people are getting killed and maimed all around you. Almost all of us would. That's what makes those who don't so exceptional.
Please do a video on the movies portrayal of the assault on Ft. Wagner. The action, the epic music and the emotions that they invoke are just pure cinematic bliss in my opinion.
P.S. I’m a big fan of “Gettysburg” Brendon. But I do agree with you about its “over the top” soundtrack. You’re not the only one who’s commented on this. 😂🎶 Aloha 😊🤙🏼
Gettysburg is BOrrrrrInGgGGGGg. The most bland action scenes ever, no blood, no artillery carnage. It tries to hard. Its too broad, you cant focus on every aspect of gettysburg, focus on a reginent or something. Watch Atun Shei's video series: "fixing gettysburg". its not a very great movie imo@WorldArchivist
@WorldArchivist Gettysburg is great, but only for the civil war historians and reenactors. The main problem with Gettysburg, imo, is that it feels exclusive for a specific demographic and general enough for a general audience. It really felt like a movie meant for historians only and barely enough room for the general audience to relate or enjoy. Also, it doesn't have every event that happened. No Sickles' blunder, no action of the Iron Brigade, 14th Brooklyn, and 1st Minnesota, no Culps Hill, Reynolds' actions were SO underwhelming, Meade only getting a cameo. For a 4 and a half hour movie, you'd think there would be enough screentime for these but no, Lee and Longstreet had to hog half of the screentime. Heck, I hate how the movie made Armistead looked like he had a man crush on Hancock.
Glory had one of the most wonderful, moving and epic scores ever made. The boys Choir of Harlem did the vocals. And the battle depicted is the sunken road section of Antietam, it’s only one nook in a huge battle.
I was proud to bring this movie to watch at school back when it was released.. My son unfortunately wasn't allowed to do so for his history class.. Shame on that school
Taking a formula and tweaking it, improving upon it, is just as important as inventing a new formula. When done right of course. I think Brodericks acting was fantastic here too. I can't wait until afford buying your book!
Great stuff Brandon. Historical movies can teach us a lot about the mindset of the people of the time. What I find interesting is that American historical movies spend little effort into researching the accents people had in the era. Would love to see you research into that. So many movies have exaggerated Cowboy or Hillbilly accents yet the people of the 19th century sounded quite different ....and dare I say, many sounded a wee bit like Brandon
Very interesting video on “Glory,” Brendon! If you haven’t already read this, I highly recommend Scott Hartwig’s “I Dread the Thought of the Place.” It’s one of the most comprehensive books ever written on Antietam, including Shaw and the 2nd Mass. Infantry. I think you’ll especially appreciate this book, Brendon, for its careful analysis of Napoleonic linear warfare and how that warfare was applied- and misapplied - on the Antietam Battlefield. Mahalo for sharing your thoughts! Aloha 😊🇺🇸🤙🏼
EDIT/CORRECTION: A few commenters have pointed out that choroform and ether were actually much more common in the ACW than I had ever anticipated! It turns out, then, that the scene of the man having an amputation is likely exaggerated from what it would have looked like, unless for some reason they weren't able to anesthetize him, which would be unlikely. One source I saw said ~95% of all surgeries used it. I would have thought campaign figures to be much lower! Maybe something I can do a video about as a follow-up. I'll need to look into my schedule to see what I can make work.
This video wasn't sponsored, so, go check out my book instead! If you enjoyed this video there is a good chance you'll be interested in it, as it's all about privations and sufferings across military history. www.nativeoak.org/bookshop
(Also you can buy it on Amazon, but it's cheaper for you AND it gets me more money to buy it on my website directly!)
To amplify your point, I bought two copies from your website and had them shipped to the UK. Perfectly simple, arrived safe and well packed.
Surprised you didn't mention the symbolism of the Amputation Scene. How it's representation is of the painful nature of Civil Wars, and in the United States example, how the once composite component of the Slave Economy, which helped underpin other aspects of the United States economy at the time, was being violently severed from the social body.
Can you do a video about king George the 3rd because I feel like he was too villainized
To be fair to the surgeon, he did ask where the chloroform was, so he expected it to be available, but it does not reveal why it wasn't. Maybe it was in use, maybe it was taken, maybe it was just lost in the chaos of the hospital, but he did call for it...
... but when you have hundreds of men needing treatment, how long do you wait before you just put your head down and get the job done?
@@jamesmccrea4871 maybe they ran out
The first 122 minutes of Glory are perfect.
“Give em hell 54th!” was one of the best parts of the movie
It's a bit twee / mawkish in places IMHO. Nothing like as bad as Gods and Generals though.
@@FtanftangfnarrrIt's meant to be that way. These are people, in all their honor and dishonor, but there is a brotherhood in their shared struggle and, ultimately, their shared fate. These are the men that wrought the modern cornerstones of our nation; should we not look back on them with some sentimentality, and portray them so?
As I recall, the "Give 'em hell" "actor" was one of the writers and he wanted that part specifically to represent a soldier who didn't respect the USCTs and show the change in his perspective and attitude towards them.
@@jamesmccrea4871 Kevin Jarre, the chief screenwriter of Glory actually.
Me: Great Scott! I’ve run out of video essays to play in the back while doing homework at 2 am!
Brandon F: *descends from heaven to a dulcet chorus of angels*
bruh i am doing the same thing xd
I'm over here studying and taking notes for my AP World History class, and then this video pops up and now i'm stuck in an unbreakable cycle of procrastination. Please send help.
Same I'm currently working on my social studies project.
Personally I like the Morgan Freeman reveal. Our captain has just been kicked awake, when he probably thought he would be dead when he passed out, and the light reveals not an angel but the very reason he is fighting, almost flipping the white savior narrative. There is the dichotomy that for him this is one of the most profound moments of his life, while for Freeman its just another guy on the ground. There are just so many layers to unpack as you delve deeper into what each man was thinking in that moment and the ways they intersect its almost overwhelming. Or its just a Hollywood troupe moment to reveal a star like Morgan Freeman, you decide.
i love this way of looking at it!
Well, it's Morgan Freeman, so, cinematically, he's having a vision of God Himself.
“White savior” lol, Jamal wants a sandwich, go make him one. Plowing is hard business especially when ur wife is involved.
@@StuartKoehlcertainly in the "Bruce Almighty" universe
It’s also introducing a character of significant importance later in the movie.
I think something Brandon missed was the orderly informing Shaw that the Union won that battle.
So many battle movies the victorious side erupts in cheers and open excitement but here Shaw is being told they won while he’s in a state of overwhelmed PTSD watching a man lose his leg.
agree. It really drives it home. Like all the visual storytelling is signaling to us that this is an utter defeat for the union. Only to then hit you. This is what victory looks like
At that point, the orderly would not have known. As far as he and McClellan were concerned, the battle would resume the following day. But McClellan did not stir, and Lee did not advance, and eventually slipped away over the Potomac, leaving the battle a draw.
Just like Shaw, I didn't really register that this was a victory. This movie was the first civil war movie I watched, I saw all the union soldiers dying and just assumed the union lost lol. I just didn't really register what the orderly said.
"We won but at what cost" ahh
No one "won" at Antietam.
Sorry, quick bugler reenactor nitpick!!! The bugle call sounded here as mentioned at roughly 15:00 is "To The Colors", not "Retreat". It was played to try and rally the breaking federal forces to the colors. Love the video, great work as always!
This comment should be pinned. The call to rally shows the attempt to reorganize the company as individuals scatter, but also that the wider battle is still going.
The opening also shows, not tells, Gould's driving motivation to train his regiment as rigorously as he did. It wasn't for idealism or a desire for promotion, but a first person knowledge of the horrors of combat.
It makes him being an asshole to Cabot understandable- he doesn’t want to see these men die needlessly bc they aren’t ready.
My favorite "Glory" moment? It's after the 54th has been recruited, trained, and deployed to South Carolina and one of the soldiers moans to another "Lord! I forgot how HOT it gets down here!" Having served in North Carolina I felt his pain immediately!
Try South Carolina. About the only thing North Carolina has on us is the size of the mosquitoes.
@@StuartKoehl No thanks! North Kackalacky was hot enough! I concur on the mosquitoes, wow!
"Welcome home Buck."
Growing up in East Texas, I know exactly what he means. pain was I also know that while enough water enables a man to do very hard labor, under that sun, that a soldier in the field does’t always get that water. Always wondered why films seldom show troops p[ausng to drink. One recollection by a soldier in Jackson’s force talks about how even men used to Jackson’s fast marches kept dropping omn thaw side of the road as hey closed with the enemy not from Would but from sheer exhaustion. On a visit there is summer I tried or a half mile to keep up the pace of those men and then gave up. Even a marathoner would find it hard to keep keep up if they were carrying a heavy rife and pack.
You guys don't know a thing about mosquitoes lol
as a huge Civil War fan seeing this notification pop up at a late hour of the night, from no other than one of my favorite Napoleonic youtubers, covering one of my favorite Civil War openings ever, was like seeing heaven's pearly white gates open up before my very eyes.
Thank you Brandon, im not sleeping tonight.
nothing id rather be watching at 1:30 am
Central timezone detected
@@BrandonFand its better than watching this during a lecture
2:50 can’t sleep but this video was to good not to pass up
@@BrandonFEastern Standard time zoners RISE UP
2:37 here
I can already feel Atun-Shei's response video coming.
Don’t summon that cretin here
Captain Shaw's PTSD moment where he seemingly tunes out the sounds of battle, reminds me of a similar scene in Saving Private Ryan,where Tom Hank's
Captain Miller seems to tune out the sounds of battle on Omaha Beach after being disorientated by a near by blast. The battle is clearly raging around him
as men continue to be killed horrificlly but he doesn't snap back to "normal"until he's directly addressed by a soldier asking him for orders.
I think It is more basic than simply tuning things out. I have never been in combat but I am an avid shooter. On a couple occasions when I foolishly shot a high power rifle without proper hearing protection I literally could not hear clearly for a few minutes. Even people talking close to me voices were indistinct. They almost sounded like they were talking to me for across a lake. It is a disorienting experience. Excellent review by the war.
Don't forget about the concussive force of an explosion rattling your brain pan. Concussions, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and similar can happen to someone close to an explosion. If you ever had a concussion, you can kind of start to comprehend what's happening to him during that scene.
Glory is probably Matthew Broderick's finest work. It's crazy that it came out three years after Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
I don’t know, Glory is one of my favorite movies, but Broderick’s performance in Election I think is his best!
Yes, it’s similar to Jeff Daniels as Colonel Chamberlain around the same time as he is in Dumb and Dumber.
He was perfect for each part.
The shot of the fighting continuing over the hill was straight shocking to me as a kid.
You know 60,000 men fighting isn't just one charge, but for whatever reason, the scale of these battles never really got through to me.
Another comment here mentioned the "Waterloo" movie and its record-setting 15,000 extras.
I think it's a great contrast, showing "both sides".
"Waterloo" in its immensity makes you as the viewer realize that this was... well... ARMIES of men all standing a field ready to kill each other. The scale of it.
And scenes like here in "Glory", with just the "50 men"... they pull it down to the individual level. Armies are made up of individuals, each fighting their own personal battle for victory and survival.
@@Groffili This it, I wish they showed more landscape scenes. But the way that movie seperated different actions of the battle made it feel massive.
Excellent stuff, this is my favorite Civil War film, it brilliantly shows the importance and social and emotional scale of the war while also not shying away from how awful it was.
When I was in high school I got the chance to transcribe some letters written by a Union soldier from my home town, an ardent abolitionist. But in one of his last letters written after he’d been fighting for more than two years, he told his cousin that he no longer cared about freeing the slaves and that he just wanted to go home, so traumatized was he. It was heartbreaking to read. Sadly he died in Andersonville prison a few months before his enlistment would have ended.
Andersonville. Damn, poor guy.
This is honestly one of my favorite movies for a variety of reasons.
A quote from Shaw’s father after the Confederacy tried mocking the family over burying him in a mass grave with his men and some people started suggesting efforts to recover the body:
"We would not have his body removed from where it lies surrounded by his brave and devoted soldiers....We can imagine no holier place than that in which he lies, among his brave and devoted followers, nor wish for him better company - what a body-guard he has!"
An absolute dream come true to see you putting out Civil War era content; including our work together! The title alone is absolutely correct, and the beginning of this video, complete with the classic Brandon F. commentary and film clip already have me so excited to hear your thoughts. I have no doubt that you’ve produced yet another classic commentary video, and one of my favorites on this platform. So thrilled that you viewed this wonderful film; I am positive that you appreciated it in the same regards of authenticity and combat depiction which I have!
P.S - At school for now… excitedly viewing all tonight. Keep up the wonderful work. Godspeed!
One thing I like about the bit where Shaw wakes up on the battlefield is how it shows the viewer that all that carnage we'd just witnessed was almost... inconsequential. We (and perhaps Shaw as well) may expect a scene like that to signal the _end_ of a battle, and the fact that the battle keeps going after _all that_ almost makes all those men's sacrifices seem "meaningless," as if they'd died for nothing. Like, imagine going through all of that-blinded by gunsmoke, men fighting and dying all around you, deafening gunshots, blood, and getting grazed by a bullet that was a few centimeters away from blowing your head off... and the battle just keeps going. It's almost like a close loved one, someone you cared for very deeply, passing away, and being distraught that the world can simply go on without them. Perhaps they were attempting to foreshadow the end of the movie-when the 54th is massacred, only for the fort to go uncaptured and the war to be won without them.
Nothing except a battle lost can be half so meloncholy as a battle won - Duke of Wellington.
....is the flag of Arstozka on top of a transbian flag? Mega mega based
(Im non binary transfem)
@@3bydacreekside
Yes indeed it is!!
Glory to Arstotzka!
Glory is my all-time favorite movie.
It's a pretty great one!
Not trying to one up, but you should definitely check out Zulu (not Zulu Dawn).
Every time I watch it there’s a part of me that thinks “this time they’ll take the fort”
I haven't thought much about it until now but I can see myself falling into something of a Glory hole as a result of this vid.
@@BrandonFit's been a family standard for 30 years. There are must read books in my family and must see movies. At no point at all did I think Glory was being hokey. That's if you're comparing it to every other movie if it's the 10th or the 20th time you've heard of voiceover of a letter from home. To me, the movies tone is perfect. The major minor characters are deployed just when they're needed. Really faultless movie
Didn't think he'd post this late. Been a while. Much deserved break from The Patriot.
Time for bed now, though!
Many years later this quality channel is still underrated, man.
Seeing someone on here capable of actual film analysis is rare, getting somehow who is both able and look at them through a historical framework is precious
The 1970 movie Waterloo set the record for most costumed extras in a film at an astonishing 15,000. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
Weren't most of the extras soldiers of the Soviet army?
@@sputniktechno3203 yes
@sputniktechno3203 the Soviets produced some amazing films during there time, and donated tremendous amounts of resources to help filmakers
@ДушманКакдела I've always been interested in soviet war movies. Are there any ones on yt with English subtitles?
@@ДушманКакдела im already aware of come and see..
Shoutout to my personal hero and a TOP-NOTCH historian Brian Pohanca at 0:47. He portrays a Captain here. If you have not read his work or viewed his many interviews on “Civil War Journal”, (1993) please do so!
He was great indeed.
Glory is one of those movies that deserves a sequel.
The 54th Massachusetts gained another notable action at Olustee. Being the rearguard of retreating Union forces there.
This war is never happened.
@@meinkek7896and the revolutionary war was a fanfic too?
@@cosmictraveler1146 yeah. Look at the US and British redcoat uniform. Same style. Its an allied forces to destroy the tartarian remnants in the USA. Remove tartaria from memory. Now invent the US vs British story.
@@cosmictraveler1146 much of history is a fanfic. Mongol empire? Fake. The ancient Gladiator Roman empire? Fake. They even added 1000 fake years into our calendar. Year 2024 should be 1024. This is a very deep rabbit hole. Much of historical figuers are also fake.
@@cosmictraveler1146 you dont know how deep the rabbit hole is.
Best part about the letter is that it sets up the themes of the whole movie in a natural way, plus shows you the way people back then thought of the war.
If only every historical film was like Glory, but alas reality is fickle.
I would love nothing in the world more than a follow up to this video, talking about the final 10 -12 minutes of Glory as well. It literally near brings me to tears every time i watch it. Its profoundly emotional, especially if you've read his letters as they've been compiled.
The battle of Sharpsburg was Shaw's first major battle. So his letter before the battle would have been a good deal more lighthearted and optimistic than a letter after.
And if you look at the letters and diaries from earlier in the war, the soldiers talked about fighting to preserve the Union. It was only after the army pushed further South, and soldiers saw how slaves lived that emancipation became more of a reason.
The grand reveal wasn't "whoa it's a black guy" it was "woah it's Morgan Freeman", who basically is God, so the light seems appropriate.
That’s true now, but at the time he was barely known.
@@fredbloggs5902 point for you.
@@gaius_iulius_megas He's a highly trained professional after all
Easy Reader's life took an unexpected turn.
This scene alludes to the one in War & Peace, where after the Battle of Austerlitz Napoleon comes across the body of Prince Bolkonsky, who lying wounded on the field of battle, was contemplating the sky as Napoleon arrives to block the sun from his view. Not making any comparisons between Morgan Freeman, God or Napoleon here. Just saying this might have been the director's inspiration.
The use of the Harlem Boys Choir was genius.
Literally one of my favorite movies ever. I'm so happy that you are covering it!
I do wish this movie had been slightly longer to provide more info to the layman. The scene with the pay refusal was more significant than just “less pay” $10 a month is what the union army was paying specifically to hired laborers (typically refugees following the army, and contraband). It’s definitely my favorite civil war movie along with Gettysburg. It’s extremely well done.
What makes this scene all the more impactful is that Antietam was a strategic Union victory. At the end of the battle, Lee reconsidered further pressing into the north and turned his army around back across the Potomac leaving McClellan in command of the field. But does this scene really paint it as a “Union Victory”, even as Shaw gets up he discovers the battle is still raging on, just further down the field.
Realistically the bloodiest days were always Union victories.
They could spare the men and the resources to lose. The longer the war drags on the more that will fall from disease - WW1 was the first war for the American army where more died from combat than disease.
I love the medic apologizing to him while he could be helping someone more injured.
Doctors need the occasional break as well.
Aaron Judge could be described as a "formulaic" ball player. It doesn't mean he's any less amazing. The same is true for Glory's opening.
In my Lost Cause days (daze?), I thought Glory was sappy and heavy handed. These days I think it's my favorite Civil War movie. I think you outlined a lot of the reasons I came to love the movie in this video. Stellar job, sir!
I grew up as (and in many ways still am) a Lost Causer and my family always loved Glory. Back when I was uncritical about Gods and Generals (still don't hate it) I would often pair it with Glory as I loved how both were very small casts and rather contained stories considering the scale of the war IRL. I always loved the depth of characterization that both films make earnest attempts at achieving (to different degrees of success, ofc)
Shaw’s life has always brought me immense sadness. He was doomed to die at 25 because of tradition and honour. He never got to experience the kind of peace, freedom, family, love that he should have
This movie is so well done when it comes to the details: uniforms, piping colors, drill, etc. Even the ptsd moment with the shudders closing and shaw jumping was a nice, small touch. By far my favorite civil war movie
Movie deserves more praise, glad to see this breakdown
You should do a video about Zouave units in the American civil war. Yknow, about why they decided to adopt a french uniform and their high casualty rates, cool nicknames, and stuff like that. I think that might be interesting
I thought the most poignant part of the film was when all the black soldiers stayed in the regiment after Shaw reads a missive stating that no prisoners would be taken by the Confederates. As a true story, this hits home for everyone.
Absolutely wonderful
Thanks!
I think the point of the sun blocking MF for the reveal is because you're not supposed to know if its a member of the union or the confederacy
Edit, rewatched that bit and you can clearly see union boys wandering about before the reveal, so idk
I see it as realism excusing a dramatic film tradition.
Confusion/suspense can be easily created by obscuring the face. If you've been out cold for hours while face-down, the sun will blind you when you look up. It's annoying and takes awhile to clear in real life, but having the guy emote horror while wincing and squinting wouldn't be as dramatically affective.
They made us watch it in school. We watched it my 9th grade film studies class. It affected my little self.
Your videos on the horror of war are definitely some of your best, in my opinion!
It’s fascinating how the art and craft of filmmaking has evolved within our lifetimes!
Star Trek fans may recognize the orderly that patched up Shaw as Ethan Phillips aka Neelix from Voyager
Haven't watched Glory since long before I watched through Voyager, and that was maybe six years ago, but as soon as I saw your words I could hear the orderly's voice in my head and I thought, "Of course it's Neelix!"
So glad we have a video about this. I rewatched Glory just about a month ago and have since than been obsessed with this first 10 minutes of the film you discuss. How it goes from the score of the film in the beginning to right when the score cuts to pure warfare is I feel like the best depiction of civil war combat on film and how I'm sure it felt to someone like shaw. Everything feels so real, hopeful, and with a little stress right up until the second that score cuts out and you can't think of anything more or less than the gun fire and smoke blocking out the sun with drums all while marching straight into the enemy. Such a surreal film to watch.
The best civil war film I've seen, and one of the best of all war films.
I'd love a more in-depth video (or series) about the historical facts, and what the film got right and wrong.
Brandon i love you
"And I love you, random citizen!"
I agree completely. I've used this opening in history classes, and it remains one of the greatest CW reenactments ever.
I was there at Jekyll Island for a couple weeks as an extra while they filmed the attack on Fort Fisher…. My unit of reenactors portrayed both sides and had great fun during the beach approach and assault on the fort scene. I’m the guy climbing the ladder during the fort assault wearing a bowler hat. Encountered MB in the prop trailer as I needed the heel on my shoe repaired. Fond memories… great film. The statue celebrating the 54th Mass in Boston is worth visiting. Unfortunately living history by history buffs of the ACW for the benefit of education is somewhat dying out…
Such a great movie. Glad that Brandon of all people was the one to cover it. I might use this for inspiration for some of my own writing and story telling work, so thanks for breaking it down Brandon!
been waiting for this
I used to make a lot of 3d battle scenes and one of my favourite tactics to make a battle look bigger is have a few people on the edges and corners of the screen to make the battle look far bigger than it is, it’s cool that you brought it up
Since I first saw it in theater when it was released, I've thought of Glory as a near perfect film. Parts of it get me choked up even today, having seen it probably 20 times.
I was there for a week during the filming at Jekyll Island, GA as a member of Co. C, 7th IL Cavalry. My only appearance on the big screen was all of a single second as a defender of Fort Wagner. I consider GLORY the finest Hollywood CW film. I also participated earlier in filming of NORTH/SOUTH II, near Natchez, MS. I did get a single closeup in N/S II as Gen. Grant rode up near the end - "Hurray for General Grant." I've considered N/S II nothing more than a glorified soap-opera. Back to GLORY, when I arrived they were in the process of filming, at night, Colonel Shaw's death. I watched Matthew Broderick tumble down the side of the pretend Ft. Wagner. At this point I was just a spectator. When the seen was completed I walked up to Matthew, without knowing who he was, and asked if I could take his picture. Standing there covered in sand and fake blood he asked, "Who are you?" I replied that I was a Illinois cavalry re-enactor that just arrived, and I had promised my daughter to try and take some photos of the stars. "I don't know who you are," I added, "You must be somebody important because they just spent a lot of time and money killing you off." Broderick then said, "Go ahead." I did. Before I left for home I had realized that he must be one of the stars. Three weeks after, I saw for the first time, BUEHLER'S DAY OFF on TV. To this day, I've often wondered if Matthew can recall the man wearing the Elmer Fudd "Wambo" T shirt that did not know he was the star.
I love how they open with the battle of Antietam! I was just looking up information about it because were decommissioning the namesake of the battle this month. CG-54 USS ANTIETAM, after 37 years of service is being decommissioned in Pearl Harbor on 27SEP2024.
Love listening/watching to your videos while I work
One of my favourite civil war movies
“Blue Eyed Child of Fortune” is a collection of Shaw’s civil war papers, edited by Russell Duncan. Well worth reading.
It's been awhile. Mebbe time to watch this film again through your lense. Thank you.
I found myself appreciating your earthy yet couture brown ensemble. Smart, neutral, and as always, focused on a well rounded communication/educational content.
I remember watching this movie in highschool for our civil war history class. I still love it to this day.
"We'll finish the Temple of Freedom
And make it capacious within
That all who seek shelter may find it
Whatever the hue of their skin".
Thanks for being you big B. Keep up the good stuff!
Greetings from the UK, I studied history with the Civil War being one my favourite periods I studied it not just as one of my course requirement but because I wanted to. I've watched numerous films and documentaries and own Ken Burns " The Civil War ". But nothing has taught me more or enhanced my understanding of combat in the Civil War than Glory and in particular the Battle of Anteitam scene. I will always remember the collective gasp of horror of myself and many others in the cinema when the officer had his head blown off in front of Shaw. It stayed with me for years and I still fast forward that part .
First 10 minutes!?! The entire movie is pretty much currently the best American Civil War movie as it stands. Nothing even comes remotely close.
Gettysburg isn’t bad.
Glory is one of my top 10 movies. Have watched multiple times, but the moment you began to describe the opening I realized I've seen that scene somewhere else, I believe the opening of Band of Brothers, when the men are waiting on the air strip, is almost a beat for beat homage to the opening of Glory. Could be wrong, but they're just so similar.
another great video. love these movie videos that shine a light on history and entertaining.
I like the way they frame the protagonist, he isn't some "dumb soldier that's just there to fight", as with any good movie about war, it takes an effort to show that he knows what he's fighting for, not for "america" or for "greatness" but to make the union whole, for all, beautiful as always brandon
Awesome video Brandon! I love this movie, and have ever since I randomly was recommended it on my Chromecast like a year ago. Such a great Civil War Film. I'd love to see more videos on this movie!
A short video on the historical role of the ensigns would be nice, or perhaps British army uniforms throughout the years
I have a video about the role of Colours in linear warfare, and another on officer ranks in the AWI which covers ensigns, so maybe those will fill that role! You can find them here:
th-cam.com/video/rfRL1a14444/w-d-xo.htmlsi=BDmfbWT_lFmdaw0T
th-cam.com/video/7PSrjMfZXLQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=JtczK_N3a2IGOU8_
@@BrandonF Nice! Thanks!
To me still the best American Civil War film. I've always like how the film gave Shaw a pinch of PTSD after the opening sequence. Where he is jumpy, gets flashbacks a few times in the film as well. Locks up during those flashbacks. etc
Love your videos
Thank you!
I read the sun blocking our view of Morgan Freeman as meant to sync up with Shaw's eyes coming back into focus as he woke up. When we can see him that's when Shaw is fully lucid again, and the first thing he hears is a nonchalant, "you alright there?"
I believe that Shaw’s reaction to seeing the carnage around him as he rises, and then sees and not hears the battle over the hill was that he is in shock!!
I think the reveal of Rollins (Morgan Freeman) was meant to almost be a sign from God of what Shaw's true destiny would be in the Civil War.
Rollins of course would go on to be Sgt Major Rollins of the 54th Massachusetts, and its his leadership that both helps Colonel Shaw step
up as a regimental commander, and helps individual soldiers such as Trip (Denzel Washington) bond with their fellow soldiers.
I love the first battle in glory the chaos the confusion the horror all mixed together are wonderful
One thing that is to be commended are movies or entertainment as a whole that can make war not look cool or a place I would certainly not want to be in.
I love to cite both the openings of Glory, and Saving Private Ryan as perfect examples of that.
"They never tell you how they all shit themselves. They don't put that part in the songs." -Robert Baratheon I
Narratively, the first battle scene also acts as a counterpoint to the final one. Shaw's men break under fire and Shaw survives by feigning death. SPOILER: at the end of the film, the 54th Massachusetts infantry hold steady in the face of horrendous casualties and Shaw dies for real alongside his men. The difference between the two scenes highlights the phenomenal valour of the 54th, that they went above and beyond what was expected of men in combat because of their devotion to their cause, and through the military discipline they developed over the course of their training. It also shows the culmination of Shaw's journey. At the start he talks a good game, but his courage wavers when it is truly tested. At the end, he has become utterly committed to the battle for emancipation and the men he fights alongside, and is ready to die. Not only does this deliver a satisfying payoff to the film's narrative arcs, but it also manages to underline the extraordinary nature of the heroism of the events it portrays without undermining or downplaying the experience of those less celebrated. It's normal to panic and want to run away when people are getting killed and maimed all around you. Almost all of us would. That's what makes those who don't so exceptional.
~John Brown's Body lies a'mouldering in the grave,
but his soul goes marching on~
The score is also 🔥🔥🔥. RIP James Horner
Please do a video on the movies portrayal of the assault on Ft. Wagner. The action, the epic music and the emotions that they invoke are just pure cinematic bliss in my opinion.
P.S. I’m a big fan of “Gettysburg” Brendon. But I do agree with you about its “over the top” soundtrack.
You’re not the only one who’s commented on this. 😂🎶
Aloha 😊🤙🏼
Best US Civil War movie by far
I wouldn't say that. After all, Gettysburg exists.
@@WorldArchivist Gettysburg is good, but follows mostly Generals and dosen't have the same character development as Glory has
That and Cold Mountain.
Gettysburg is BOrrrrrInGgGGGGg. The most bland action scenes ever, no blood, no artillery carnage. It tries to hard. Its too broad, you cant focus on every aspect of gettysburg, focus on a reginent or something. Watch Atun Shei's video series: "fixing gettysburg". its not a very great movie imo@WorldArchivist
@WorldArchivist Gettysburg is great, but only for the civil war historians and reenactors.
The main problem with Gettysburg, imo, is that it feels exclusive for a specific demographic and general enough for a general audience. It really felt like a movie meant for historians only and barely enough room for the general audience to relate or enjoy.
Also, it doesn't have every event that happened. No Sickles' blunder, no action of the Iron Brigade, 14th Brooklyn, and 1st Minnesota, no Culps Hill, Reynolds' actions were SO underwhelming, Meade only getting a cameo. For a 4 and a half hour movie, you'd think there would be enough screentime for these but no, Lee and Longstreet had to hog half of the screentime. Heck, I hate how the movie made Armistead looked like he had a man crush on Hancock.
Glory had one of the most wonderful, moving and epic scores ever made. The boys Choir of Harlem did the vocals. And the battle depicted is the sunken road section of Antietam, it’s only one nook in a huge battle.
I was proud to bring this movie to watch at school back when it was released.. My son unfortunately wasn't allowed to do so for his history class.. Shame on that school
Everyone looks so worthy. No one looks worthy on a battlefield. Only actors.
Taking a formula and tweaking it, improving upon it, is just as important as inventing a new formula. When done right of course. I think Brodericks acting was fantastic here too.
I can't wait until afford buying your book!
“Who’s poetry is not yet written”
>me trying not to laugh at the memory of that meme of disappointed Shaw
Great stuff Brandon. Historical movies can teach us a lot about the mindset of the people of the time. What I find interesting is that American historical movies spend little effort into researching the accents people had in the era. Would love to see you research into that. So many movies have exaggerated Cowboy or Hillbilly accents yet the people of the 19th century sounded quite different ....and dare I say, many sounded a wee bit like Brandon
Very interesting video on “Glory,” Brendon!
If you haven’t already read this, I highly recommend Scott Hartwig’s “I Dread the Thought of the Place.” It’s one of the most comprehensive books ever written on Antietam, including Shaw and the 2nd Mass. Infantry.
I think you’ll especially appreciate this book, Brendon, for its careful analysis of Napoleonic linear warfare and how that warfare was applied- and misapplied - on the Antietam Battlefield.
Mahalo for sharing your thoughts!
Aloha 😊🇺🇸🤙🏼
Finally ! A vid from Brandon
The music for this movie was perfect.
It's one of my top five films of all time. Absolutely glorious!
me and my friends at the Scuittlebutt review agree with you as well! we reviewed the movie not to long ago!
The entire film is great. My favorite part is the drill sergeant being mean to the recruits and it ultimately benefiting them.
Lends a different meaning to the phrase "No guts, no glory."
I remember seeing this film for the first time in middle school. Thinking I wouldn't like it but being very surprised how good it actually was.