Glory – A Hero in the Shadows (Download, Review)

Glory (1989) is an epic Civil War drama, which tells the story of the first black fighting regiment in U.S history. The 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry was lead by Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) who was forced to combat not only his Confederate enemies in typical warfare, but also the struggles against prejudice and racism in many forms, from many people. Although the idea of a black regiment was widely scoffed at, the troops proved their discipline and courage on July 18th, 1863, when the 54th fought in the deadly assault against a Confederate fort in Charleston, South Carolina.

Several characters in this film could potentially be identified as heroic. Robert Gould Shaw is an obvious choice in his portrayal of a shy, stubborn hero who struggles to mold his men into a competent fighting unit while overcoming racial prejudice. Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Trip is indeed award worthy and the character becomes an unlikely hero in the end. And Andrew Braugher is extremely convincing as Thomas Searles, an educated and affluent black man who is shocked at the harsh reality of the seemingly endless pain and indignities of his once enthusiastic quest to become a soldier.

A hero may be defined as someone who is moral, respectable, noble, and sacrifices himself for the greater good. While all of the aforementioned characters may fit into that mold, in my eyes, a hero is someone who is not perfect, but makes the most out of the cards he was dealt. A hero realizes his mistakes and misjudgments, and perhaps, even his shortcomings in character. However, a hero does his best to redeem himself and improve his life and the life of others. He is not boastful or arrogant, or acts supreme to others. On the contrary, a hero is someone who earns the respect and admiration of others by letting his true colors shine. The character in Glory that most exemplifies these traits is Rawlins, played by Morgan Freeman.

Rawlins was an unexpected hero. Who would have thought that a gravedigger at the beginning of the movie, who seemed to have been merely an extra, would become a key part in forming the cohesion of the 54th Regiment? Whereas Robert Gould Shaw and Thomas Searles were in the spotlight from the beginning, Rawlins seemed to have nothing more than a cameo appearance.

Rawlins morphs into a hero slowly, and finally earns his stripes when he is promoted to Sergeant. Even with rank as superior, he does not take advantage of the power bestowed upon him, but rather uses his influence to improve the men around him. His gentle manner and quiet intelligence is enough to demand the attention and respect of others. He is a hero because he has nothing to prove, little reason to step up to the plate, and yet he does it regardless, just because he believes in the greater good. He has several compelling scenes and speeches that set him above and beyond the rest of the cast. For example, after he is promoted to Sergeant, Trip (Denzel Washington) tells him that he “ain’t nothin’ but the white man’s dog,” prompting Freeman to slap him in the face. “And who are you? So full of hate that you have to fight everybody, because you’ve been whipped and chased by hounds. Well that might not be living, but it sure as hell ain’t dying. And dying’s been what these white boys have been doing for going on three years now, dying by the thousands — dying for you, fool.” Rawlins makes such a huge, heroic impact with just his words, understated actions and absence of bravado. A true hero does not repeatedly save the day and somehow conquer all evil. A true hero emerges from the background to become a leader, a brother, a father, and an inspiration to all lives he touches. Rawlins accomplished all of this through genuine compassion, strength, and the ultimate sacrifice of laying his own life on the line for the greater good.

This film is a moving examination of the 54th Regiment and its white officers as they struggle to triumph over the obstacles of fighting a war, while overcoming prejudice. At first glance, the film may appear to be a historical take on the Civil War, but mostly this film is about the formation of relationships among men who have everything to lose, as they embark on a journey that changes each and every one of them.

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