GLORY | MOVIE REACTION! | FIRST TIME WATCHING!

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Alonso
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Daddy Dogg
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Sam
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The_Bagel_King
Tyler
Edited by: BetweenWorldsEditing
betweenworldse... and final touches by Laurens
#react #reaction #glory

[@QuayNemSorr]

Confederate General Johnson Hagood refused to return Shaw’s body to the Union army, and to show contempt for the officer who led black troops, Hagood had Shaw’s body buried in a common trench with his men. Rather than considering this a dishonor, Shaw’s father proclaimed “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!”

[@chriswilletts3621]

Oh my word. That is beautiful.

[@UrbanCohort]

If I believed in the afterlife, the thought of Robert Gould Shaw and his 54th, fighting in God's name at the End Times would terrify me.

[@YourXavier]

Thomas is played by Andre Braugher, the same guy who plays Captain Holt in Brooklyn 99. This was his first movie role. Rock-solid actor.

[@MiketheratguyMultimedia]

I first saw him in "Get On The Bus" and he was a standout even among a whole crew of talented actors.

[@christopherlundgren1700]

He was also a stand out in the show Homicide: Life on the Street, which was created by and based on the nonfiction book by David Simon, who would later create The Wire. Braugher has been one of my favorite actors for years.

[@0lyge0]

@@christopherlundgren1700 Loved that show when I was a teen. It was so good law and order did a crossover and took two of their characters when it went off the air.

[@kellymoses8566]

He is so funny as Captain Holt. "I seemed to have sent a Digital Phallus Portrait".

[@stephenniehaus8635]

Huh. I didn't realize that

[@roger3141]

Two things about the American Civil War, it was literally brother fighting brother and wounds generally got infected and led to a slow agonizing death. It was brutal. You should check out the movie Gettysburg which was the turning point of this war. It is a long movie but mostly accurate. Thank you for watching this with us.

[@prollins6443]

Also include "God's and Generals" with Gettysburg. They were made together, and are very close to historically accurate. There is a little changing of events, but they are mostly true to what happened.

[@WahooSerious]

@@prollins6443 they were made ten years apart but by the same people

[@Shawaeon]

Getting your head blown off by a cannon was probably a blessing compared to being shot with a rifle.

[@chrischampagne9469]

@@prollins6443 Yes. The movies are based on historical novels by Michael Shaara and Jeff Shaara (his son) respectively. Though Gods & Generals has its moments (and Stephen Lang is always excellent), Gettysburg is the superior movie, IMHO.

[@arwyss]

@@prollins6443 Gods and Generals is NOT on my “good civil war movie” list. It tends to ignore what the war was about, and portrays both sides as noble. It’s largely lost-cause trash.

[@an.american]

Being a color bearer (aka carrying the flag), was a prestigious and important role in the Army. Not only were you carrying the symbol of what you were fighting for, the flag was any easy mark for soldiers to organize around. When one color-bearer fell, another immediately took his place.

[@gabrielegenota1480]

You’d imagine that a smoky, noisy battlefield would get a regular soldier lost and confused - seeing a nice big sign that says “HELLO, FRIENDLIES GO HERE” by way of a flag would’ve been immensely helpful, I feel

[@greggross8856]

@@gabrielegenota1480It was; that was the whole point. Not only the national flag of the army, but also the flag of your specific regiment. It was how not only ordinary soldiers knew where they were, but helped battlefield commanders keep track of where their different units were amid the chaos.

[@kupariusa4202]

If you're really curious about the American Civil War, the 5 part PBS mini-series "Ken Burn's Civil War" is amazing. It's a documentary but probably one of the finest ever made.

[@martynhill3479]

A great documentary series

[@kupariusa4202]

@@martynhill3479 It was a "family event" when I was growing up. In 1990, I remember I was in Junior High and our family -along with all I knew- would gather in front of the TV to watch each episode. The next day, my classmates and I would discuss it. Seminal piece of Americana.

[@martynhill3479]

@@kupariusa4202 Ken Burns is a great documentary maker, apart from his history of the Civil War, I particularly enjoyed his series on the wild west and one on America's National Parks

[@kupariusa4202]

@@martynhill3479 Ken Burns is certainly iconic. No one in modern times has documented America better than him.

[@CoryGasaway]

It's 9 parts, actually. But yes. It's brilliant. I literally watch it once a year. Seen it at least 25 times and it never gets old. I practically have it memorized

[@bluebird3281]

Nathaniel Hawthorne (born-1804, died-1864) was a famous and highly regarded American author from the 19th century. "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House of Seven Gables" were two of his most well-known stories.

[@csmelen]

Thank you for the info bluebird.

[@richiecabral3602]

Highly regarded American author indeed, but I hated having to read "The Scarlet Letter" and the play "The Crucible" in school. It's been a while, but the writing was amazing, but I could only take so much Puritan bullshit!

[@jjhh320]

@@richiecabral3602 those works were pretty critical of that bs iirc

[@richiecabral3602]

@@jjhh320 I hear you, but just the same. It's not a critique of Hawthorne, Arthur Miller, or the works. I give them all their due credit, but it's still just based in a context that I don't particularly digest very well.

[@EgbertWilliams]

He's generally considered to be one of the giants of American literature, so "highly regarded"? Uh, yeah.

[@MikeWood]

Canadian here, and in High School we went to the US on a history class trip for a week. One of the places we visited was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The scene of one of the worst battlefields in the Civil War. It and the Gettysburg National Cemetery were eerie places to tour. Movies like this are important. As are podcasts too that talk about history that is soon forgotten but shouldn't be.

[@0lyge0]

If you haven't seen it, the film Gettysburg is an epic movie. It got rave reviews from History Buffs a channel that reviews the accuracy of historical films.

[@JeffreyCantelope]

Gettysburg is about 1 1/2 hrs from my home and I make a tri once a year to walk the ground

[@TheBTG88]

I graduated from Gettysburg College, so I was surrounded by the battlefield and the history that it holds. It is a unique place.

[@davidmichaelson1092]

Never was sure this was true, but the whole issue about shoes is important. I have heard that the two armies that clashed at Gettysburg were in the area because both heard a rumor they could get shoes in the town.

[@Smenkhaare]

My brother lives above Gettysburg in Dillsburg. We have visited Gettysburg once together.@@JeffreyCantelope

[@NEILL0608]

As an African American man I really appreciate you taking the time to react to this movie. I can't help but get extremely emotional anytime I watch it or watch others react to it. A couple of other really good African- American war movies I would recommend are.. A Soldiers Story, Miracle at St Anna and Red-Tails.

[@mikealvarez2322]

The riots of May 2020 led to the defacing of the 54 Massachusetts monument. Fortunately the front side of the monument was protected by plywood as it awaited restoration. The backside wasn't and the rioters called protesters by the left wing media, spray painted, "Black Lives Matter - No justice no peace - Kill the pigs," plus other obscene words on the monument. This is what happens when it's OK to erase history. Worse still when you erase a nation's history you will eventually change that nation forever. America certainly has its warts and dark periods in history but over the course of time we have corrected the wrongs and have become a better nation.

[@Smenkhaare]

My great uncle Eugene Jacques Bullard was the first Black fighter pilot in WWI. He fought for France... and Colonel Bullard in Red Tails (along with Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. the commandant of the Tuskegee Airmen in Red Tails) was based on him during WWII. Seminal movies and I glad you enjoyed them. Red Tails was more of a docudrama. Colonel Montgomery in real life was an abolitionist similar to John Brown. He was not the unlettered racist depicted in Glory and was a champion for Black troops and people.

[@meganyounger4842]

I remember watching this in the theater as a child and weeping. Now as an adult I've watched it a dozen times and still cry each time. Such a beautiful movie.

[@rodgerlang884]

Every stinking time. This is so well made

[@bothellkenmore]

Platoon and Full Metal Jacket are impactful war movies from this era but this one hits harder for some reason. It wasn't until Saving Private Ryan I cried as hard.

[@timlois]

Me too. And, this was one of my dubbed VRC tapes I recorded from HBO as a teenager. I know it's a good movie, because as I watch it over and over again throughout my life, and I take different meanings from it the more I learn about my countries' history and the older I get. Is it revisionist? Is the white man (which I am) portrayed as too much of a hero? Did we want to teach our children that we were the saviors of the enslaved instead of their captors? I'd really like to see a portrayal written and directed by a DAEUS. All of this said, great movie. Denzel's scene on the whipping post is probably my favorite moment in cinematic history. The dead stare to Colonel Shaw, the single tear drop, and facial expression. The man is a master.

[@Spikeelsucko]

Since you asked, in many cases the punishment for desertion was summary execution without trial- so a flogging is, weirdly, the nice option.

[@davidcorriveau8615]

Although execution for desertion was certainly on the books and did in cases happen, Pres. Abraham Lincoln commuted the death penalty in a number of such cases. Perhaps he remembered what being a soldier was like from his days as a militaman in the Black Hawk Indian war. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hawk_War

[@Spikeelsucko]

@@davidcorriveau8615 Lincoln was a rare voice of reason and a highly thoughtful and empathetic man, most of the problems he became aware of during the war he saw to fixing as personally as a President can, reasonably speaking. Theres not much a person can say against him in good faith, and his life, cut short though it was, is a long series of comically unbelievable events and that surely played a big part in who he was as a person! Anyway, I'd want to highlight or emphasize that I chose "many" rather than "most" intentionally in that it wasn't the majority of cases, but it was common enough to warrant relief if a soldier found themselves in a drumhead trial and are sentenced to flogging- I think that was the context Mary was missing at the time.

[@dogawful]

Others point out that flogging was not used in the US military after 1890. Also, the regiment never had a shoe shortage, so the incident likely didn't actually happen.

[@Spikeelsucko]

@@dogawful to be clear I'm not commenting on the historical accuracy of the events of the film, just the Civil War premise of "good order and discipline" in context of being a freedman now serving in the military.

[@MiketheratguyMultimedia]

This is really an underrated movie. So few people ever seem to talk about it, critics don't often reference it, etc. Yet it's really one of the most moving films ever made. Much, much, MUCH better than Driving Miss Daisy, which won the best picture Oscar that year. Glory wasn't even nominated.

[@frenchfan3368]

Yup, I agree. I personally find "Glory" to be one of the greatest war films of all time; perhaps also one of the greatest films of the 1980s of any movie genre.

[@MiketheratguyMultimedia]

@@frenchfan3368 I would definitely agree with that.

[@vanyadolly]

And much better than that fucking blight on history, the Patriot 🤮

[@prollins6443]

At the front of the Massachusetts State House, there stands a monument to Col. Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts. It stands right at the entrance to Boston Common. It is quite an experience to visit the monument and hear the story of the 54th told by the park rangers

[@ExUSSailor]

Great film! This was Denzel's first Academy Award.

[@ExUSSailor]

Even European wars were fought like this until the 20th century. Just about everything about the US Army at the time, from their uniforms, to their weapons, and, the tactics they used were just copied from European examples. As a matter of fact, the American Civil War featured the first large-scale use of trench warfare.

[@Braincleaner]

Shaw knew the attack on Wagner would be harsh, but he understood that an act of that scale was the only way these man would get respect. It's why the book of the events based on Shaws letters is called "One Gallant Rush"

[@jasonmkc7797]

The linear tactics that you saw in these battles were well established by Napoleon and were used extensively in Europe. By this time technological advancement had rendered them murderously obsolete but they continued even beyond this. Love this movie. Thanks for your reaction.

[@top_gallant]

False. muzzle loading weapons needed linear tactics to put enough lead in the air to matter. Kill rates were actually higher in Napoleonic fights because the spiral trajectory created a parabolic curve that was safe zone.Smooth bores have a flat to falling trajectory. Breech loaded weapons changes tactics. Fighting in skirmish style because a fewer men could put more lead in the air.

[@top_gallant]

​@@danieljohnson2005 Yes im confident. There was no standard rifled musket training until the CW and then it was sporadic. The parabolic curve starts at 75 yards with a 58. caliber Springfield or 57.7 caliber Enfield. it comes down about 115 yard later at 190 yards. Most fighting was done in ranges of 100 yards. Rifled muskets were a flash in the pan of rifled warfare. literally 10-15 years and they were replaced by breech loaders in almost every army. Its only in the last 20 years historians have started looking at what rifled muskets brough to warfare since there was only one major war fought with them.

[@dansiegel995]

All warfare at that point was won or lost based on maneuvering at the large unit level. The tacics were the best they had. Same tactics used for +1000 years, from greek times (with invention of archer artillery) until WWI - improved technology brough better accuracy to the rifle and longer range to artillery, but the same tactics were used. All with horse cavalry for flanking and exploitation of weak spots. THEN, a year into WWI the machine gun became standard and completely wiped out doctrine used forever........and it caused trench warfare - inspiring the invention of the tank and creating a mobile warfare doctrine. The rifle had little to do with the tactics of the 19th and early 20th century. Perhaps due to increased rifle accuracy, the defender became wiser and began firing more and more from fortified positions so they could get a better KDR. But offensive tactics of marching up in a line was done for a VERY long time.

[@top_gallant]

Soldiers marching in line does not equal linear tactics. Linear tactics are different than Pike and Shot tactics. Hoplite phalanx tactics are different than when city states fought each other between the tigris and euphrates. But from 5th BC to 2023. Soldiers still march in line and form battle lines even when not fighting linear tactics.

[@michaelgonos3165]

The other factor that revolutionized things in the years after the Civil War (beyond the breechloader as @top_gallant already pointed out) was smokeless powder. On a Civil War battlefield, you would not have been able to see beyond a few feet within minutes of the fight starting, so close order would have been essential both for controlling units and for morale. Check out Allen Guelzo's 'The Last Invasion' for further details on that. Engagement ranges were probably not much better than previous actions, despite the obvious improvements in the weapons.

[@evilsponge6911]

Imagine watching this in school and trying not to cry around your classmates

[@0lyge0]

I watched this the first time in class in either 4th or 5th grade. Still remember how quiet it was after Morgan Freeman's character confronted Denzel Washington's. It had a profound effect on the whole class, even on the kids you'd think wouldn't care. I went to school with mostly the same kids from 4th-6th grade and I would have expected certain ones to be goofing around during the film but after maybe 15-20 mins everyone in class was riveted by it. I watched it again several times on HBO at home after seeing it at school.

[@senshix]

I did n it was hard really hard that single tear from Denzels eye was too much

[@shainewhite2781]

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Winning 3: Best Supporting Actor Denzal Washington Best Cinematography, Freddie Francis Best Sound Effects, Donald Mitchell.

[@emaarredondo-librarian]

31:42. The flag was the rallying point, the way for the soldiers to know where they were going - and a prize for the enemy army. The soldiers who carried the flag had to be specially strong and brave, as they were the most visible of all, and a target. In English, standard-bearer or ancient (Iago was Othello's ancient), in Spanish, alférez or abanderado, in French, porte-drapeau. The growing use of fire weaponry instead of swords and spears made the flags thing impractical, but at the Secession War's time was still in use. Things one learns reading about Shakespeare's Othello, and Napoleonic wars.

[@anathardayaldar]

Movies don't show how easy it was to get lost and confused in a melee. So a flag was essential for soldiers to know where to go. With advancement of long range weapons flags became just targets and soldiers today should spread out, not clump up.

[@emaarredondo-librarian]

@@anathardayaldar Even more, the early fire weapons used black powder - and created clouds of dark smoke. The flags and the colourful uniforms, the orders given with drums and clairons, the messages sent with aides de camp - and charges - many things from traditional military that were already fading at the time and totally faded out at WWI.

[@davidcorriveau8615]

In fact one of the first Medal of Honor actions by an African-American (not awarded until post 1900) was by a sergeant in the 54th for replacing the color bearer in the battle portrayed at the end of this film. He was wounded (IIRC 5 times) but continued the advance and then managed to return to his own lines with the colors despite the chaos of the retreat. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Harvey_Carney

[@thomast8539]

You did a fine job with this reaction Mary, just like always. The Irish training sergeant had to be harsh because the idea is to get them ready for combat. Roughness in training was, and should still be, to help a soldier retain discipline while hell is swirling around them on the battlefield, the worst situation imaginable for anyone. They have to be able to take orders and remain in the fight even though they are scared. Hopefully by using such measures in training, soldiers will be less likely to break under the real pressure of combat.

[@ergoat]

"Hopefully by using such measures..." If you are going to hope for something, how about hoping for a world without war. I don't fully understand why you army types are so proud to extol the virtues of drill sergeants who go too far in breaking human beings down, in movies like this, or Full Metal Jacket. There are other ways of motivating people without that degree of sadism and cruelty.

[@gibbletronic5139]

​@@ergoat "I am hard, but I am fair. And the more you hate me, the more you will learn." These were boys who were drafted, and would soon be sent into the hellfire of war. So the things that they learn just might save their life. I don't understand why this is a difficult concept for some.

[@ergoat]

@@gibbletronic5139 Seen much combat have you?

[@crankfastle8138]

@ergoat "I don't fully understand why you army types...." let's hope you never do.

[@ergoat]

@@crankfastle8138 Seen much combat?

[@bobthompson2013]

One of the best movies ever made. And your reaction was so touching.

[@lulugonzalez5598]

In my opinion it is the best movie ever made.

[@davidgrover3860]

For the European point of view, they were using Napoleanic tactics, but with more advanced weapons, by the end of the war they started doing more trench warfare in the sieges of Southern cities.

[@robertwiegman1]

Awesome movie. Makes me smile to see new generation enjoying Glory. I saw it when it came out and it's been one of my favorite movies since. You're right, it's very surprisingly emotional.

[@csmelen]

Denzel Washington (Private Silas Trip) won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Glory. Phenomenal actor imho.

[@jimrobinson9979]

One of the things to remember about US history is that the civil war was just the beginning of the attempt to bring about equality, and one hundred years later the civil rights movement was starting to gain momentum to try and end segregation and civil injustice. Some other films that you might find interesting for black history month about that later period are Mississippi Burning (1988), Malcom X (1992) , Remember the Titans (2000), and Hidden Figures (2016).

[@senshix]

Btw that was Denzel Washington. Saw this movie in elementary school n when the lights came on everyone was sniffling. We saw ROOTS n an mlk movie also

[@MrSmithla]

From a military point of view the Civil War tactics hadn’t kept pace with improved technology. The units bunching up, shoulder to shoulder, was developed when the muskets were smooth on the inside of the barrel. You had to shoot 100 muskets at a target to get 5-10 hits at, say, 100 yards with those. By the Civil War both sides had rifled barrels and cone-shaped bullets that were accurate out to 250 yards or more. Civil War battles were known for staggering numbers of losses. More Americans died during the Civil War than WWII but that wasn’t just the tactics but the incidence of disease, as well. Both sides dipped their bullets in bacteria baths that virtually guaranteed infection on even minor wounds. The usual medical procedure for even minor wounds was amputation.

[@walterblackledge1137]

I saw this in the theater back when it came out. You might like the HBO series John Adams. It maybe a bit too much "American History" for you, but I really learned a lot from it.

[@bigmikem1578]

Excellent recommendation. Loved that series.

[@donotevenbegintocare]

As a fellow Belgian I can confirm that the atrocities of Leopold II are not taught very well in our schools. Behind the Bastards did a good podcast on it, as did others. And as a history buff, if only that was the only thing they didn't teach us. They also didn't teach us that our country had by a huge margin the most civilians collaborating with the government of Germany during world war 2, and that our government tried extremely hard to ignore that after the war (and prosecuted almost nobody for it)

[@Smenkhaare]

Thank you for this information. Leopold II was an awful bastard who set back the Congo's progress and gleefully profited from the murder of millions. The Congo has not recovered to this day from his depredations.

[@AbA_DBAA23]

You should react to "Lincoln" with Daniel Day Lewis. Directed by Spielberg.

[@periechontology]

Nathaniel Hawthorne is a classical American writer from the 1800's. Considered one of the giants of American literature.

[@danielchapman6032]

I was surprised a few years back when I learned Leopold II was regarded with favor in Belgium. Such a historical monster. But we in the USA try to forget out badness too. Denzel Washington, who played pvt Trip, also starred in other important African American dramas, such as: A solder's story(fiction I think), The Hurricane, Malcom X. Other then that there is Selma, HIdden Figures, 42, Loving (about the couple that sued to overturn the laws making marriage between races illegal), American Gangster (also Denzel), and my personal favorite -- Akeelah and the Bee! There are many more...

[@vanyadolly]

Somehow Leopold managed to slip under the radar of history despite being as bad as Hitler. It should be talked about more. Most Europeans have no idea what he, or our other countrymen, did in Africa.

[@Smenkhaare]

Thank you. The Germans first perfected concentration camps in Namibia (German South West Africa before WWI) and the British created their form of concentration camps during the Boer War in South Africa.@@vanyadolly

[@MrLivewire1970]

I recommend Mississippi Burning with Gene Hackman and William Dafoe. It's a pretty hard hitting movie.

[@Hrafnagar]

This movie hits so hard. It's one of my favorites and I'm so glad to see someone else enjoy it as much as I do.

[@dansiegel995]

Great war movies like this aren't about war, they are about the triumph of the human spirit.

[@JamesJoyce12]

the individual at 4:00 is Frederick Douglass - a remarkable Black writer and philosopher - if you have some time it bears looking at some of his writings - my fav is 1855's My Bondage and My Freedom.

[@laurakali6522]

Such a great movie. If you like Matthew Broderick, check out Wargames.

[@ariochiv]

Wargames is a classic.

[@laurakali6522]

@@ariochiv one of my favorites. I’m reading Jennifer Grey’s book and I forgot they were a couple in the mid 80’s. They were quite the couple.

[@luvlgs1]

flogging for serious offenses was common practice for different militaries back in the "olden days". those were brutal times.

[@POLITICUS-DANICUS]

The final message where Trip and Shaw is burried together is, "in death we are all equal"

[@gregall2178]

Prior to WW1, rank and file warfare was typical in Europe as well.

[@JoeCensored]

This actually was a European style of fighting for the time period. Muskets were very inaccurate, which is why they stand in the open and fire a volley. Only after accurate rifles replaced muskets did fighting from cover become common.

[@paulwagner688]

Did you see the sergeant saluting? RESPECT. That's a proud teacher right there. He trained them right.

[@mfournier8033]

Mississippi Burning is an amazing film with amazing performances , a must see!

[@tastyneck]

This is my second fave film of all time, after Amadeus. I still obsessively listen to the soundtrack. This film showcased the worst of us Americans but also displayed the best that we could and should be. And they were conscientious and respectful in using The Boys Choir of Harlem, which is saying something for that time.

[@jaynahoffacker2557]

If you haven’t seen it, I recommend watching Sometimes in April about the Rwandan genocide. It explicitly cites the impact of Belgian colonization in Rwanda and how it fed into the attitudes that resulted in the genocide.

[@andrewmize823]

From the outside looking in, a lot of what happens in military training looks really harsh, but you've got to remember that they're learning, among other things, how to kill effectively and how to stay alive when enemies are actively trying to kill them. Neither of those things makes for an especially pleasant training experience, but they're preparing soldiers for real life-or-death situations.

[@bpora01]

It was so weird seeing ferris bueller in a serious role when this first came out

[@gradybridges]

Hawthorn-they are referring to Nathaniel Hawthorne. He was/is a famous American writer in the 1800's.

[@Fenixx117]

You watched Das Boot and Glory almost back to back and they are two of my favourite films! If you combine both those movies you get Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, which is likely my top movie every and I think you would love it too!

[@gymratt17]

Master and Commander needs to be added to the list. Wonderful movie!

[@maggieshevelew7579]

Absolutely! Master and Commander is a brilliant film!

[@vanyadolly]

Master and Commander might just be the most wonderful movie in the world. Everyone should see it.

[@ariochiv]

The Europeans fought this way too... it wasn't just an American thing. The muskets of the period had very short range and poor accuracy; to be effective they had to be used in massed fire at close range. That changed with the widespread adoption of rifles, which ironically happened in the middle of this war... which was part of why the casualties were so horrendous, because they were still using the old tactics.

[@rafaelalandrade]

Every time Broderick narrates a letter, those are the actual words from Shaw's letters to his family. I've had the opportunity to look at copies of the letters when I visited Boston, and they are a sight to behold.

[@danielhoehne801]

Am adoring watching you open your eyes! From the earliest reactions I've watched of you, I got who you were. This reaction confirms it.

[@AstroXeno]

There were a few Civil War movies made from the mid 80s to early 90s, and I think Glory is the best of them. A friend of mine was an extra; He had a professor who was a Civil War reenactor, and he offered extra credit to anyone who would come out to this big reenactment dressed in blue to fill out the Union army. From what he told me, most of the footage that was shot of them was used in Gettysburg, but that some was also used in Glory and one other film he couldn't remember

[@donotevenbegintocare]

As for why this war is different from what you're used to....because it's 50 years earlier. Once the machine gun and barbed wire became common, fighting like this became suicidal and they had to start digging trenches. Don't feel bad for not getting that, the commanders of the nations that fought in that world war didn't get it either and they tried fighting like this in the first weeks of it. As a result more French (that's just one of the many nations involved) soldiers died in the first week of engagements with the Germans that war than the total number of soldiers who died in the entire 5 year American civil war. That's what happens you stand like this and walk into a machine gun nest. That's when the people in charge (on both sides) finally realized war had changed. They didn't even wear helmets or camouflage until then.

[@tavern.keeper]

I would recommend the movie Amistad (1997) directed by Steven Spielberg. It's about the legal battle surrounding the La Amistad slave ship after the captives revolted and gained control.

[@zeezee9670]

Thank you for this great reaction Mary.. I loved your final comments for their honesty & beauty.

[@dansiegel995]

The look by Cary Elwes when Matthew Brodderick was requesting the frontal assault on Ft. Wagner - "WTF ARE YOU DOING!?!??!?!" lol

[@subitman12]

One of the reasons the soldiers fired in groups and march in groups is because the rifles are smooth barrelled and not grooved. Grooved rifles spin the bullets making them more accurate as they fly straighter with long barrels designed to go for long distance.

[@michaelstach5744]

Right! Military drills are based on this way of fighting. We saw technological changes during the Civil War that made the war increasingly more deadly. Weapons could fire more rapidly with greater accuracy. The problem was the commanders did not understand the implications of these changes. This led to the slaughter in the First World War.

[@nathaniellollis3868]

I, oersonally, LOVE your reaction, Mary. I LOVED your tears and the heartbreak you FELT over the history rhis movie portrayed.

[@TwistedSisterHaratiofales]

If you pay attention at the end. The dead soldiers are not wearing boots when they are buried. That is because the Confederate Army takes them from the bodies to use as they were hard pressed to get supplies through the blockades and shoes/boots were a valuable commodity as was Coffee and other items. sometimes they even used the Union Soldiers pants as they were a real light blue and looked ok with a Grey jacket. Also the white button up shirts if they weren't covered in blood or full of bullet holes. It was also a common thing that quit a few of the Confederate soldiers would not wear anything that came from a black Union soldier if the knew it came from there because they believed it was diseased and or cursed, so the shoes/boots/clothing items from a battle like this would have been sent back to the rear quartermasters to send to other Confederate units that would not have the knowledge of where those items were procured.

[@TwistedSisterHaratiofales]

@Chris Davis My only big deal with the Confederacy was that they claimed that the whole situation was over state rights, and the rights of the citizens being controlled by the federal government, and that it had nothing to do with slavery. My Great Grandmother was from West Virginia and only came to Wyoming because of my Grandmother moving here. Her Grandfather fought in the Civil War and was 12 -16 years old through ought the war. He was lucky and was the Horse Steward for General Sheridan. Anyway, If the south could and would have won the war to the point of splitting the country. they would have set the US back at least 30 years in progress. It would probably make the race issues of the 1960's take place in around the 1990\s. WW3 would have been a war where Japan would have owned most of China, and Germany would have owned most of Europe. The 2 USA and the CSA would be like Brazil only that there would be 2 of them on one continent.

[@ctidd]

Excellent reaction Mari, my favorite reactor watching one of my favorite movies. I like how you followed Shaw’s development through the movie. It makes sense as a storyline. He was 26 when he was killed at Fort Wagner. That’s incredibly young for a colonel. I’d say that while yes, the white corporal who wouldn’t follow Morgan Freeman’s character’s order got away with it. The sergeant retained and exercised his authority by being magnanimous and asking his officer to stay out of it. This is such a deep and subtle movie!

[@chaddnewman2699]

Also, by handling it as “soldiers’ business” and not involving officers to resolve the dispute, Sergeant Major Rawlins demonstrated that the men of the 54th were the moral equals of the white soldiers and didn’t need an authority figure to take care of them.

[@ashleywetherall]

I have done some study on the American civil war and I would recommend you watching Ken Burns excellent series on it as it will really bring home the poetic language of the time. Also. This is an amazing film and an important film. Although many of the African American characters are mostly fictionalised. The deeds of the regiment were not.

[@alexhale2696]

Great docu. The Vietnam as well; matter of fact, all of his are.👍

[@dansiegel995]

Small unit tactics (100 men or fewer) really didnt get much thought until WW2, because the WW1 machine gun completely nullified the battle tactics of the day, which has been done for centuries. 19th Century warfare was won and lost on maneuvering, but at the divisional (10k) and corps (30k) manpower level. So, when a few battalions faced off in battle, they simply marched at each other, or the defender (who has fewer troops usually) dug in and shot from fortified positions (as in the intro of the film). You'll see the same in the upcoming Joaquin Phoenix film based on Napolean.

[@austinasbury9976]

I was already a huge fan of yours, but I am so thankful that you decided to watch this. So many of these stories go untold.

[@stevenshewfelt888]

that little part where they finally get the blue uniforms...i always shed a tear of happiness

[@kh884488]

Very glad to be able to watch this reaction to such a wonderful and important film. I first saw this as a teenager and thought it was excellent other than Matthew Broderick looked way too young for the role. However, later I discovered that the real Robert Gould Shaw was 25 when he was in the attack on Fort Wagner.

[@alexhale2696]

Yes. A 25yr young Colonel! As a soldier in the Army for 20yrs now, that is just amazing! But like Shaw stated in the movie, most of the officers were dead, "combat promotion".

[@MichaelScheele]

@@alexhale2696, George Custer was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General at 23 just days before he fought in the Battle of Gettysburg, leading the Michigan Cavalry Brigade against J.E.B. Stuart.

[@Dec4AllTimeAlways]

I just finished watching Glory (1989) after seeing Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Schindler's List (1993). Three masterpiece films of cinema. I saw Glory many times in the early-90s. Still an amazing movie after 34 years. With Oppenheimer out, I'm in a binge watch for war films even if many of them are heavy to rewatch. Glory's music is soaring! Thank you to the late-James Horner and the Boys Choir of Harlem. Now that's a very moving war movie about sacrifice and about two races coming together as one. I still have tears in my eyes because how much emotion I felt watching it so many years later. Listen to Glory's "Charging Fort Wagner" and the closing credits. It's the same unbelievable feeling after you see the ending to The Shawshank Redemption and Top Gun: Maverick. The music absolutely soars!! Glory is the only film I ever liked Matthew Broderick in. I always found him too soft in other films. Glory has one of the best end credit songs next to the mediocre-rated Far and Away (1992) which has Enya's "Book of Days" at the end. Now that Enya song feels epic after you watch Far and Away. John Williams worked on that film and it's amazing like pretty much any of his work. Glory is a film to never forget. It's a film I first saw maybe when I was 11 or 12 on cable circa 1991-1992 and made me want to write a history report on the Civil War in the 6th grade (1992-1993). Still remains one of the greatest films I've ever seen. I'm not African-American but I want those who are to always be proud of these heroes and events chronicled by this great film.

[@karlmoles6530]

I'm a Historian, this movie changed my life, I've spent 40 years since learning everything I can about the Civil War. Shaw trained his soldiers hard, so they stood a better chance of surviving battle.

[@michaelgarlow6112]

I loved your reaction Mary! Your respect for history and desire for knowledge is absolutely beautiful!

[@joshthomas-moore2656]

The reason for the flag was for the officers to rally (Assemble) their regiments and company's before radio's, this is also why drummers and bulguers were also very important as these two were used to convay orders for regiments and companys over the sound of battle, so for example a commanders order to attack might be drowned out if given vocally, meaning some of his units might not hear it and might stay in place but with a bugle you could give that order, so army's would have a bugle call for advance and retreat etc. Also for future war movies army units are typically these sizes (their are higher level units like divisions but films don't tend to mention them) also these are only for infantry units, not tank and artillary units: Regiment = around 800 to 1,000 troops and is made up of two battalion's or it is made up of company's depending on organization. Battalion = typically +300 and is typically made up of two or more company's. Company = 80 to 250 men usually made up of three to five platoons. Platoon = 10 to 100 men usually made up of 3 to 5 squads. Squad = 8 to 15 men in size. Now a small note Regiments and Battalions, some armies you can have stand alone regiments that are only made of company's and miss out the Battalion, others have the Company's organized into Battalions and then the Battalions organized into Battalions. And just to be more confusing some armies call their units Regiments but they are the size of Battalions (For instance a British Tank Regiment is actually a Battalion size unit) and others call Regiments Battalions even though they are Regiment sized. This all depends on the army and time period but those the are the general sizes.

[@theredarmy4884]

Movie fun fact! During the beach charge scene, Matthew Broderick (Colonel Shaw), would run so far ahead of the rest of the cast that the scene couldn't be used; they had to re-shoot that scene multiple times because of how fast he ran during it! I was surprised but excited to see this one Mary! As someone who loves history, this is naturally a favorite movie of mine. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend the musical *Hamilton* for more Black History Month. It is a play by Lin-Manual Miranda and is a story about Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States, with a primarily black cast. Thank you for your time and effort in sharing this Mary! I wish you well ❤

[@MikeWood]

Not surprising he is fast given that one time he ran home and hopped a lot of backyard fences. :)

[@0lyge0]

The confederates thought burying Shaw with his men would be a great insult but his friends and family said he would have considered it an honor. His father even said he was proud he was buried with his men and that he couldn't have better company. Highly recommend the book King Leopold's Ghost as well as the documentary that goes along with it. There is also a BBC documentary called Congo: White King, Red Rubber, Black Death that is excellent. I am not easily shocked but what happened in the Congo Free State is one of the most shocking and disturbing things I've ever read. I'm not surprised to hear you never learned about it in school. It's not something the authorities wanted people to know about and they undertook a lot of efforts to keep it out of classrooms. I'm glad you are learning about it.

[@jennthabombdiggity]

Mary: “I’m gonna be a puddle after this movie.” Me: Oh, yes, you are. I’m late to the party, but…One of the best movies about the civil war. It was barbaric what was done to the African slaves. This war was brutal, but absolutely necessary. And don’t let anyone tell you it wasn’t about slavery. It’s was fought over the states rights to be slave owning states. Period. Bless each and every soul that fought for their freedom. And those who died. Seeing this when I was a kid when this came out, I cried. Learning more over the years, I bawl like a baby. Glad you watched it. Watch Lincoln. Another great movie. And Amistad. THAT ONE is a MUST. Its horrific but amazing. Have a box of tissues. Seriously. Sending much love, Mary. ❤️🥰

[@TheSharpeful]

Denzels character actually got it better than most since often the punishment for wartime deserting was death by firing squad. It depended on who was commanding the regiment really.

[@dekulruno]

It would probably depend on whether they caught you running away from or coming back to camp, running away they’d think you a coward and execute you. If they caught you coming back they’d think you just need more discipline and go for something like this.

[@StreetFighter2010]

Andersonville is also a great film. It shows what happened to Union soldiers who got captured and sent to the Andersonville Prisoners of War camp. The captured 54th Massachusetts soldiers were sent there. In that film, Cliff DeYoung (James M. Montgomery in Glory - the Colonel who burned the town) plays a good guy and a key role.

[@dizzeeb33]

Two other movies your should ABSOLUTELY watch this month if you haven't-- The Color Purple; and Hidden Figures.

[@dre3k78]

One of my favorite movies of all time. Denzel won his first Oscar for his role in this film. The soundtrack is also incredible.

[@johnashley327]

What sound track beat this out for the Oscar

[@gmunden1]

Yes, Cary Elwes was in "Princess Bride". He is actually British.

[@kurtwilloughby475]

R.I.P. Andre. I'll see you in the fort Thomas.

[@virginiaveritas7666]

Another great movie and reaction! I love your intelligent and appreciative POV to movies. Thank you for posting this. I have a few Black History Month recommendations: The Tuskegee Airmen (1995), Amistad, The Butler (2013), Amazing Grace (2006) and 12 Years A Slave. Best.

[@reconsoldier135]

Excellent choice! I can’t help but cry when the the 54th is marching towards the beach

[@Hayseo]

They used Napoleonic tactics at the beginning of the American Civil War. But because of the invention of the rifled musket accuracy was much better at longer ranges. So, the end of the war they had invented trench warfare. There were miles and miles of trenches around Petersburg, Virginia, and a siege that lasted almost a year.

[@michaeleberly7351]

If you go to Boston one day, go to the Boston Commons to see the monument shown at the end of the movie. The bronze relief was created by Augustus Saint-Gauden and was dedicated in 1897, so that means it is now 129 years old.

[@ammaleslie509]

The most wonderful thing about the Massachusetts 54th monument in Boston is that each man in it is depicted as an individual and the emotion on their faces is very powerfully done.

[@boomieboo]

Thanks for reacting to this Mari. It's one of my favorite war films. Malcolm X and Mississippi Burning are also musts for Black History month or just in general. Matthew Broderick's casting in Glory was against typecast because he was largely known for his comedic roles before it. The film's score was done by James Horner who is one of the greatest film composers in cinematic history. He also composed the music for Titanic, Field of Dreams, Braveheart, and many other classic films if you want to hear more of his work. Tragically he died in a plane crash in 2015. His early passing makes his work even more moving, special, and iconic than it already was.

[@thejamppa]

Malcom X and Missippi Burning are excellent movies. I would like to also cast: Amistad,12 years a slave and Blackkklansman with these.

[@boomieboo]

@@thejamppa Amistad was great too. Have to check the others out. Thanks for the suggestions.

[@dereknolin5986]

I didn't realize he had died! A classmate of mine in the 90s raved about how he was his favorite film composer. Star Trek 2 &3, Aliens, and Willow are a few others that he did. But Glory was his favorite! RIP Mr Horner.

[@alonzopharell7397]

He's dead omg had know idea 😢that's so messed up another talented person gone to soon

[@sqtq09]

He was always a good leader. Leadership means preventing mistakes of others as well as possible. Which he did before he tore up the checks

[@jflaugher]

"Hawthorne" refers to Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American novelist and short story writer.

[@LaserDragonSons]

I think that you, as a lawyer, could find the American civil war very interesting. Coming from someone who is not from the US (Costa Rica)

[@ctidd]

Agreed, there were many intricate legal issues involved in the first civil war of the industrial age. It would be good to read up on Lincoln and the legal and political considerations of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, secession, the blockade, habeus corpus… It goes on and on. It was the formative event for the United States of the 19th century.

[@dnewbury52]

What they don't tell about the "brave and gallant" 54th is how later in the war they used Confederate prisioners of war as human shields in an attempt to prevent themselves from being bombarded by artillery.

[@C.R.W]

Fun fact, prior to 1914, the European wars were fought the same way.

[@RealDiehl99]

The Napoleonic wars were fought very similarly to the fighting in the American Civil War. As the weapons became more destructive over time-and especially after the machine gun was introduced- that style of fighting could not endure. As a result, the first World War saw army's turn to trench warfare in an attempt to protect themselves from machine gun and ever-more-deadly and accurate artillery.

[@in8hope617]

I could only think of one word about your words and thoughts during and after this movie. Beautiful. I believe this will help people see things that they never thought about, or had to think about. Life is about learning and understanding things. Doing the right thing and standing up for one another, are just some of those things. Thank you for watching and bringing this to so many people who will see this reaction.

[@timothyhedrick5295]

@7:36 for Mary: A big part of the American Civil War (although certainly not all of it because there were other issues that arose first) was the issue of the legality of slavery in America. All (or most) of the Northern States (referred to as the Union) had made slavery illegal. Most of the southern states (known as the Confederacy or the Confederate States of America) wanted slavery to remain legal. The southern states were heavily agricultural compared to the North and their economies were heavily dependant on exploiting slave labor. In this scene, the Colonel is informing the Union African American troops that the Confederacy has announced it's policy that any African-American soldiers captured fighting for the Union (the North) would be returned to a status of being a slave in the South, and that any white officers caught leading African American soldiers in combat for the North (Union) would be executed rather than being held as prisoners. Pretty horrific particularly since a lot of slaves in the south were forced to fight for the Confederacy (fighting to maintain their own status as slaves). A lot of other states (particularly out to the West) remained neutral in the Civil war and did not contribute their troops to either side. I live in Virginia about five miles south from the border of Washington DC. This area is simply saturated with Civil War Battlegrounds and Cemeteries as this area was heavily involved in the war.

[@philmullineaux5405]

U don't ever wanna know that feeling, look in another soldiers' eyes, and he's ur brother, and u don't know what happens next.

[@medwards98020]

For Europe, they had plenty of battles like the Civil War. See the Napoleonic wars, for example. But yes, very different fighting than more modern wars.

[@dekulruno]

Indeed the civil war was right at the turning point from napoleonic war style line of battle and trench warfare which occurred in some areas. The weapons were starting to become too powerful to stand out in the open even given the cohesion and command advantages for why the tactic was used for so long. Accurate rifles as well as Repeating cartridge based firearms such as the Henry and Spencer rifles were starting to become available by the end of the war and made it much too deadly.

[@spacemanspiff3052]

Hi Mary! Great reaction to a powerful and well done move set during the American Civil War. If you want to see a movie also set in this time period that is excellent and historically informative on a more “big picture” political level, might I suggest you watch “Lincoln” starring Daniel Day Lewis. As for good films to watch for black history month, there are a few I’d suggest. While not so much looking at the Black American experience, I love the film “To Kill a Mockingbird” because it so poignantly and creatively demonstrates the cruel senselessness of racism. “Malcolm X”, “Selma”, “Lee Daniel’s The Butler” and, especially, “42” are also really great movies movies to watch during Black History Month. As is “Mississippi Burning.” From a British Perspective, I’d recommend Steve McQueen’s “Small Ax” film series. Stay Awesome!

[@jcastromex]

GREAT recommendations!

[@ArthurX-eg8bc]

Charleston, South Carolina is about one thousand miles from Boston. (That is like traveling halfway to the south of France from Belgium.). The Union used heavy woolen suits for the northern temps, and the men used them in the Hot and humid conditions of the American South. ("I forgot how hot it was down here....") Thank you for your input, and for your edification, the rest of the world STILL speaks of King Leopold, the First ).

[@christopherbaldwin2005]

I was sent to Sau Luis, Brazil once. Sau Luis is right on the northern coast. We had an interpreter who took us on a little tour. All the street's are made of very large stones. When I asked about why that was, the interpreter said they were stones used as ballast in all the slave ship's. There were thousand's of them, all worn down after a few hundred year's. Keep in mind that slavery was not just isolated to America. All of Europe and South America endorsed and used slavery. When the Civil War ended, Lincoln composed a speech and read it on the balcony to the crowd assembled the following day. John Wilkes Booth was in that audience, in fact. What scares me is the old saying-"Those who do not learn from history, are doomed to repeat it".

[@Rob_F8F]

This film is in my Top 5, maybe even Top 2, Movie List. Glad you saw it.

[@thomaseggle8886]

The Flag is everything....it represents everything that is worth fighting for..and it always flies forward...always moving forward..which is why the flag was always picked up immediately after a soldier fell.

[@SG-js2qn]

If you want a history month film that's maybe less serious and more lively, you might try "Ray," a biopic of beloved American musician Ray Charles.

[@gonsumir]

Omg, "12 years a slave." Soul crushing.