Matthew Broderick
Denzel Washington
Morgan Freeman
Carey Elwes
Andrew Braugher
Glory recounts the bravery of a group of Civil War soldiers often overlooked by history--the
54th Regiment of Massachusetts, a troop of free black men who fought to help win liberty for their
enslaved brothers. Based on the historical novels One Gallant Rush by Peter Burchand and
Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein and the letters of Robert Gould Shaw, the film follows
the youthful Colonel Shaw (Matthew Broderick) as he takes responsibility for readying these
soldiers for battle. Shaw, a privileged young Boston Brahman, finds the job harder than expected
because many of the men balk at taking orders from him. Private Trip (Denzel Washington) is
especially resistant to Shaw's leadership, but over time the two come to an understanding as they
endure the hardships of the war. On July 18, 1863, Shaw volunteers the 54th for the honor of
leading the charge against Ft. Wagner, a mission that means almost certain death, with Trip
carrying the regiment's colors into battle. This gritty and realistic vision of the horrors of war is a
moving and critical examination of a lost piece of history. Beautifully shot and triumphantly acted
(by a cast that also includes Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, and Andre Braugher), director Edward
Zwick's film serves as a tribute to the courage and selfless bravery of the black soldiers of the Civil
War.
