The opening of this film is genius. The first part embodies the hopelessly naive entry into the war, the optimistic letters home, the heroically inspiring music. Finally, the beautiful march into battle, some officers coolly smoking cigars, swords extended forward. Then all music stops, with first confusion as the first volleys come in, then total carnage that doesn't seem to end. I don't know if any movie so accurately describes the beginning of the war in only 8 minutes.
Very well said. Glory has lived with me every day since I first saw it in theaters. It’s cadence is embedded in my head, for all time. Beautiful and so sad.
@Gilbert Lopez Jr. - Sir, war doesn't make a man great nor is your duty to GOD and country something to be made so trivial by words that seem IMO filled with contempt rather than understanding as to the nature of war and your fellow countrymen. I ask you sir whom under did you serve? Myself having served from 1997 to 2017 in the U.S. ARMY, in which having served in Kuwait and Iraq during the 9-11 attacks having been there since Aug of 2001 serving in the Big Red One, then again in 2007 in Iraq serving in the 18th AIRBORNE think in my humble opinion serving with poise, dignity, professionalism, and the ARMY values means understanding that not just in uniform but out of uniform the phrase "Some gave all, all gave some", is an important thought to hold close your heart. The enemy is out there, not here.
@Gilbert Lopezjr I agree I wasn't offended in the slightest brother, was merely saying those whom might not understand where you are coming from are the same ones whom we swore an oath to defend those so called armchair commander types so that they wouldn't have to do those kinds of things and could focus on other important issues on the home front. Do people come into these comment sections sounding a little left field sometimes of course, and as irritating as it may be sometimes when certain comments are made we sometimes can be a part of the problem instead of the solution by playing into a role where we are looked at as little more than angry warmongers with no sense of military bearing.
@Tyler B. so do swastikas just because it's "offensive" dosen't mean pretend it didn't happen the only way to learn from history and do better is to acknowledge the uncomfortable and not make it a billowy fantasy where nothing is bad. Or else people are doomed to repeat it
opening scene shaw is trying to march forward through the carnage. He gets blasted back, he ducks for cover. Final battle of the film, he's once again in the same situation, leading a charge, only this time, he rushes forward and his men follow. Shows the growth of the character.
I've never seen this movie. My great-grandfather fought for the Union at Antietam. He deserted right after, was eventually caught, and sent back to his outfit in time to make it to Gettysburg and accounted himself well. He lived a long life and had several children including my grandfather. He was 70 when my grandfather was born, and here I am now. His name was Christian. His farm is still in the family.
Yes, Jeff; Amanda Gorman Presidential poetry address, and my remembrance of Robert Gould Shaw’s love of poetry brought me here. Jeff, I would love to witness Amanda Gorman write a poem in tribute to Robert and his love for poetry, as well as his love for justice. Lastly, if it was not for the love of truth and justice in the hearts of so many white Americans...where would I and so many other Americans be, even today.
It's a beautiful opening scene with a crescendo in the music and lofty ideals-cut to no music and savagery of combat to drive home the cost of those ideals. It was extremely high for both sides.
The Battle of Antietam was an extremely powerful undertaking and a heavy-toll on both sides. I don’t know if a film will ever capture it as good as they did in Glory.
I think it's about the closest on film there is to the brutality of Civil War combat. Antietam was the culmination of a year's hard campaigning with both sides largely consisting of hardened veterans which was why the toll was so high. The firing and carnage was so beyond anything it was said that after a few hours even solid veterans simply couldn't take anymore and would walk away from the fighting in a catatonic state. Talk about PTSD before it even existed.
7:41 is one of my favorite scenes. He lost consciousness after getting shot, just to awaken near sunset, with the battle just ending, luckily being behind your line instead of in the enemy
I cant imagine the look on Robert Gould Shaw's face after surviving the battle of Antietam, The bloodiest day of combat in the Civil war. He probably never imagined that he was destined to lead the first African American regiment in the union army- the 54th Massachusetts, which he lead with great courage and honor. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
True. And made Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman (along with his role in Driving Miss Daisy the same year) Household names as Black dramatic actors.
It’s always been one of my dreams since I was a kid to go to the Houghton Library at Harvard to read his letters especially after I watched this movie when I was 7. Colonel Shaw was true blue! He didn’t want to make history and turned down the position, Regimental command of the 54th MA I believe, 3 times, but history made sure he was included! Crazy!
when this movie came out, this was the most brutal battle scenes ever put on film (at least Civil War) - Sure, Spielburg upped the ante with Saving Private Ryan, but he stole the premise from Glory ---- most movies wait until the END to have the big battle. Glory was the first to open the movie with a bloody battle.
@@denierdev9723 Yup, I saw it just before Christmas '89 with my late uncle. The opening scene was very graphic of the Battle of Antietam. I almost puked when the major got his blown apart
Hardly the first to open with a big battle. And Saving Private Ryan began on D-Day. What was Spielberg going to do, do the entire scene in the war room?
Masterpiece film, thanks to which I began to study the Civil War in depth. Every year I show Glory into my classrooms and, after comparing that american historical period with our Italian Risorgimento, I simulate a debate between abolitionists and anti-abolitionists with my students. 🇺🇲✌🏻🇮🇹
The poetry of gangster rap and multi-generational dependency on welfare. Beautiful.....Burning city's and relishing in the warmth of the state-sponsored victimhood mentality instilled in them by the real racists....
Seeing this movie makes me want to take a trip up to Boston and see where Col Robert Shaw grew up. I want to see the 54th Massachusetts memorial and pay my respects. They said that there are letters that Shaw written during his service that are preserved. I like to see that. ❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@TheMedicineMan_29 the total number killed during the battle was 3950 the 22000 figure is killed and wounded combined which the total wounded was 17,300 which many of the wounded would of died after the actual battle due to their wounds being very severe or infections caused by them.
How I wish me.. others..the Facebook social media generation..US would watch this today on Thanksgiving day As I am currently...alone .all alone but THANKFUL THANKFUL !!!
I watched this movie along with Gettysburg. What it must have taken to march into a hail of ballshot and cannon fire is beyond words. The Civil War was a meat grinder and a butchershop on earth. No wonder Lincoln tried to keep the union together. He knew what would happen if brothers took arms against each other.
Those letters home from the civil war hits different vice .......sending an email/ phone call to your spouse during the Afghan/Iraq war "biish don't be spending my money, and who was with you on that video tape, I swear to god, give me the strength"
A good friend was an electrician on this film. He didn't know who Morgan Freeman was and thought he was a stuntman because of his skill at the hand-to-hand fighting.
One depiction of linear warfare that makes actual sense... I especially like how the advancing Union line gets ragged quickly, and loses cohesion --> spirals into a rout.
Makes you cherish life.And to see the hell of war makes you feel very humble.Makes you take a step back,look around to see what you have going,To live a good life.
James Horner is, in My Considered Opinion of the Top 3 Film Composers of our Time. It saddens Me Deeply that He Passed. I am certain that He would have Written More Great Film Compositions. He is My Favorite as I grew up with many of his Scores such as The Wrath of Khan and this one Makes My Heart Ascend whilst Weeping at it's Sheer Inspiring Beauty which I have never Heard it's Equal to this Day. Thank You Mr. Horner for This Film's Music. May You Be Forever Immortalized through Your Music as The Classical Greats have been.
God damn! This scene gets me every time. So beautifully shot. Then followed by pure carnage. Just like Antietam really was. Breathtaking. Really drove the battle home.
What an awesome battle. Around 70,000 men against 50,000 men, and 22,000 total casualties. But the good guys won, and Lee's offensive was stopped cold!
Lee retreated but McClellan, in his usual cowardice, refused to commit his whole army to the battle like Lee did, and after the rebels retreated back into Virginia he refused to pursue and crush them. Lee could’ve been captured or killed in 1862, had a more competent general been at command.
@@calvin5541 The Special order 191 aboutLee's Army was wrapped in three cigars too, found by passing Union infantry in a farm field. The messenger maybe had too much drink or been careless, the day before, who knows? To think he didn't realize he lost it, makes me think he was incompetent and probably a "dandy-boy," from wealthy middle-class family and had some stings pulled for a easy job, kind of like millenials and "activitsts" who go to college for "liberal arts"and social work, because "they want to help." The most useless profession ever They woupd probably lose a message too. The Union wasn't all "good guys," Look up "Sherman's bummers."
@@Johnsmith99663 McClellan was no coward, out of his depth in command of an army that size and importance sure, but not a coward. He perhaps loved the Army he built so much he was afraid to destroy it, a coward generally doesn't worry about those under them, only themselves.
@@calvin5541 Yes and no, McClellan acted more quickly than Lee predicted, but it was unlikely Lee would have won a battle vs McClellan at that time. Lee's Army was worn down to the bone, McClellan could outnumber him 3-2 (he had 90,000 men there though he only deployed about 60,000 of them, he had another 30,000 at Washington, Lee had barely 40,000), McClellan if reluctant to fight, was at least rarely beaten on a tactical sense, and Lee could not maintain himself in the North for long. I doubt Lee wins there either way, a Draw seems about the best he could hope for, and with the end result him withdrawing (Because Maryland wasn't as pro CS where they were able to get to, that they couldn't maintain themselves there long), it wouldn't look like a victory to the Europeans.
3 of my 3rd great grandpas fought for the Union. One in the Bucktail Brigade another in the Iron Brigade and another in the 1st New York Light Artillery.
I’ve only seen clips of the movie. This scene explains Shaw in later scenes perfectly. It’s the admiral Kane philosophy, except without the rape, torture, murder, betrayal, raiding, impressment, theft, and slavery.
@trenton1789 It's just from the Glory soundtrack, it was made for the movie. The soundtrack is well worth purchasing, by the way, along with the Gettysburg soundtrack. Also, IIRC, it was performed by the Harlem boys choir.
@HenryvKeiper True story, believe it or not. I used to work the IBM Tech support center, in the laptop division. I answered a call from a "James Horner" and I thought immediately that this is the composer.... he had a broken laptop that had to be sent in, and after the business i asked 'is this james horner, the composer?' he seemed surprised, said 'why, yes it is'... best call i had ever!
The scene that was hard to watch is when they show Matthew Broderick getting treated for a minor injury but the look on his face as they show Surgeons trying to hold down a union soldier while trying to amputate his leg then hearing him crying please don't cut anymore 😭😭😭😭 was absolutely heartbreaking. can't even imagine how many amputations were done in the civil war or how traumatized the soldiers must have been. I hope Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Denzel Washington and others got Emmys for their incredible performances
Captain Patrick Clooney, born in Waterford, Ireland, a member of the papal army of 1848 who fought for an independent Pope and later an officer in the New York 69th regiment, died for a United States of America leading his company at the Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862
@Batou3 German soldiers have served alongside American troops since then, and German society has before and after the World Wars contributed to mankind. Same with Japan and any other nation with darker moments of their past. The fact is, when I meet a German, I don't see Hitler, I see a human being. Same when I encounter a woman wearing a hijab. As such, I treat them with the respect a human being deserves.
Seeing this movie every time makes me want to be a re-enactor. I want to do it to honor all African Americans that served in the civil war as well as the revolutionary war and all wars our country has been in. We salute you.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I did it all throughout my high school years. Many nights of laying around the fire sharing stories feeling uneasy about marching into battle the next day. Sometimes breaking rank to retreat and being chased into the woods when the other side goes into a bayonet charge.
Not saying it was a bad experience. It is very expensive hobby but it is well worth it. If it wasn’t for my best friend and his uncle, I would have never got into it. My regiment was very authentic and we prided ourselves on being super authentic from our uniforms and weapons to our marching to our attitudes during each phase of the war
@dmcII Most of the Confederate soldiers fought because they believed they had to. I recall reading about one conversation between a Union officer and Confederate POW's. The Union officer asked them, "Why are you fighting?" and the POW's replied, "Well...you're down here, aren't you?"
Yeah, Imagine if Texas invaded NY... Do you think people would just shrug their shoulders as armies swept over their land and cities? No, people would join the fight simply because they would perceive that an "other" was coming to take away their way of living. It's not hard to imagine that most of the Confederates fought for no other reason than this.
@HenryvKeiper Agree. As a Yankee I've never viewed Confederate soldiers as villains and they don't come across that way here IMHO. They were tough, battle-hardened, and very well led. People forget the Confederates won most of the battles in the early years of the war. It wasn't until Grant & Sherman came along that things changed.
I believe this is one of many Union assaults on the infamous sunken road, which changed hands several times. I think Matthew Broderick’s unit is fighting against the brigade of Robert Rodes, which belonged to Stonewall Jackson’s corps.
Saw this comment below: This opening battle is on the same level as that in "Saving Private Ryan". Though not identified as such, this no doubt represents the futile efforts of Mansfield's XII Corps to take and hold the Cornfield - the 12th Massachusetts, to which Shaw's 2nd was attached, suffered 70 percent casualties including death of the 2nd's commander Lt Col Wilder Dwight. The countryside is a farm in MA, not MD, but the terrain is very similar to that at Antietam. ctta
@@morammofilmsph1540 The horrible thing is that this part of the battle is not the worst in terms of carnage. Miller's Cornfield has very few rivals even by Civil war standards Hood's Texans lost 83%...the Iron Brigade did not fare much better....I've often wondered if the generation that fought the war north and south would have still chosen war if they knew how unspeakably bloody it would turn out to be. There is now debate regarding the offical death tole...it is looking like we estimated low. 750K to 1 million deaths may be more accurate. to put that into perspective. The US armed forces had 12 million people by the end of the war, 400k died. 2.7 million fought in the US Civil war if we combine both sides.....750k casualties. Its almost unbelievable.
4:37 before the guy screams “for gods sake come on”, you can hear “forwards men, forward!”, which they used again in the Fort Wagner attack, before Robert gets shot
Civil War army tactics on both sides, were just insane ! Watching the slaughter of so many, when differing tactics could have saved so many, is just so hard to watch. Both sides were guilty of using outdated ideas & tactics. What a shame. -------------MJL< 76 y/o
Dear Mother, I hope you are keeping well and not worrying too much about me, you mustn't think that any of us are going to be killed for they are collecting such a force here that an attack would be insane
if you think about it the civil war was not that long ago. the last veteran of the war Albert Woolson died in 1956 the last person alive born into legal slavery was peter mills (October 26, 1861 - September 22, 1972) think about it there are still people alive that have interacted with someone who fought in the war or was born as a slave.
To this day in 2022, the Battle of Antietam resulted in the largest number of American military casualties in one day (that number, I will let u find it in a book or on the Internet, includes Americans on both sides). To be a casualty means to be either killed or wounded. To be wounded in that war was to most probably see the end of life within 14 days from an infected wound. Penicillin and antibiotics had not been invented yet.
This opening battle is on the same level as that in "Saving Private Ryan". Though not identified as such, this no doubt represents the futile efforts of Mansfield's XII Corps to take and hold the Cornfield - the 12th Massachusetts, to which Shaw's 2nd was attached, suffered 70 percent casualties including death of the 2nd's commander Lt Col Wilder Dwight. The countryside is a farm in MA, not MD, but the terrain is very similar to that at Antietam.
Meh i respectfully disagree. For some reason we tend to sanitize civil war combat in movies much more than other conflicts north and south. Its a vry strange phenomenon. The opening scene of Free state of Jones is probably the closest I've seen but even it is nothing like the first-hand accounts we have from the soldiers. Picketts Charge in Gettysburg movie for example...cannon goes off men fly in the air...when in reality there were men literally being cut in half by cannon fire....at spotsylvania there are accounts of men being hit so many times simultaniously that their bodies literally fell apart.
@@Ao-pj1mc Gettysburg started as a made for TV miniseries and didn't have the budget to create effects like that. Besides movies like Zulu, Zulu Dawn, Waterloo, and many others were amazing and didn't have tons of gore in them.
It's kinda hard to believe that the same guy who played the steadfast colonel Robert Gould Shaw in this movie is the same guy that played the slacker, titular character in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
@Quy4life Because I'm sure many people in the south during the time could be classified as "gentlemen." Ever read the Red Badge of Courage? It's like reading Nordic English. It's called vernacular. Give me a break
@chapdog82 You know, I was just thinking on this a while ago, and they kinda do that in the scene where the 54th are forced to burn down a southern town. Well, at the very least, they show you that there were bad guys on the North as well as the South.
Capt Carey F Grimes, Portsmouth Light Artillery CSA. Defender of Gosport veteran of the seven days campaign and Malvern Hill..unlimbered his battalion of three companies, four guns each above Pipers Farm on the Hagerstown Turnpike posted to drive the enemy back. While directing his batteries fire he was shot from his horse; to die on the field of honor 17 Sep 1862 Sharpsburg, MD. Deo Vindice. Such is my family's heritage in the War of Nothern Aggression : The War Between the States.
From what I have read on the Battle of Antietam this looks to be the Federal attack on the Confederate center at the Sunken Road, later to be called Bloody Lane. The carnage that awful day must have been unbelievable.
Not that it matters too much, seeing the point was to show the brutality of industrialized warfare, but Shaw's regiment, 2nd Massachusetts, saw action as part of Mansfield's attack supporting General Hooker during the morning phase. For reference, Mansfield was given command the day before (might've been a few days) and most of the corps were fresh recruits. Moreover, Mansfield was killed.
The rifle was harder to make and there was a large stockpile of muskets ready to use. These muskets was not like the ones in the rev war, they had rifling in them so they where more accurate then older muskets. Plus all plans for war is based of the experience from previous wars.
To put a fine point on it, these are not muskets. The 1861 Springfield was one of the first "long arms" that featured a rifled barrel, unlike the smooth bore barrel of the round ball firing musket. These are, in fact rifles.
Was this actually filmed at Antietam? I visited the actual site a long time ago, and I don't remember it being that hilly (though there were some steep hills, like across Burnside's Bridge). Maybe I'm misremembering, but I remember it being flatter than this.
@HenryvKeiper the actor who loses his head is Donovan Leitch who shortly thereafter in the film can be seen standing on the podium wearing a large brimmed hat in the Recruiting Scene; and later in the film as Lieutenant and later Captain Charles Fessenden Morse; only to die while assaulting Battery Wagner at the end of the film.
I'd take my chances at Gettysburg's final battle before ever fighting at Antietam. Fucking bloodbath and massacre on both sides. Gettysburg was horrendous, don't get me wrong. But after visiting Antietam..... nothing compares to the horrific silence that lives there now. And no I wouldn't really take my chances, one over the other. Both were horrible, just took place at a different time during the war. Antietam is just the scariest Civil War battlefield I've ever been to, no question.
@keithzeger12 That's kind of broad brushing it. Not everyone in the south had that heritage, and I doubt too many kept with that kind of pride. Likewise, there were Scots and Irish who lived in the north and fought for the north - were they also refusing to be conquered by a perceived invader?
@aspie101 you're right history is written by the victors thats why I like military history its all about how the battles played out and how they were won
agreed. As a Southerner myself, I still don't have any delusions that slavery wasn't the issue until the Emancipation Proclamation... Yes, yes, it WAS about STATES RIGHTS, I know, I get it. But when it boils down to it it's fighting over the State's Rights to have slaves.
“A deep man believes that the evil eye can wither, the heart’s blessing can heal, and love can overcome all odds.” Powerful quote!!
The opening of this film is genius. The first part embodies the hopelessly naive entry into the war, the optimistic letters home, the heroically inspiring music. Finally, the beautiful march into battle, some officers coolly smoking cigars, swords extended forward. Then all music stops, with first confusion as the first volleys come in, then total carnage that doesn't seem to end. I don't know if any movie so accurately describes the beginning of the war in only 8 minutes.
3 likes including mine in a whole decade :(
It pulls you into the movie very effectively too
Very well said. Glory has lived with me every day since I first saw it in theaters. It’s cadence is embedded in my head, for all time.
Beautiful and so sad.
@Gilbert Lopez Jr. - Sir, war doesn't make a man great nor is your duty to GOD and country something to be made so trivial by words that seem IMO filled with contempt rather than understanding as to the nature of war and your fellow countrymen. I ask you sir whom under did you serve?
Myself having served from 1997 to 2017 in the U.S. ARMY, in which having served in Kuwait and Iraq during the 9-11 attacks having been there since Aug of 2001 serving in the Big Red One, then again in 2007 in Iraq serving in the 18th AIRBORNE think in my humble opinion serving with poise, dignity, professionalism, and the ARMY values means understanding that not just in uniform but out of uniform the phrase "Some gave all, all gave some", is an important thought to hold close your heart. The enemy is out there, not here.
@Gilbert Lopezjr I agree I wasn't offended in the slightest brother, was merely saying those whom might not understand where you are coming from are the same ones whom we swore an oath to defend those so called armchair commander types so that they wouldn't have to do those kinds of things and could focus on other important issues on the home front. Do people come into these comment sections sounding a little left field sometimes of course, and as irritating as it may be sometimes when certain comments are made we sometimes can be a part of the problem instead of the solution by playing into a role where we are looked at as little more than angry warmongers with no sense of military bearing.
Best Civil War movie ever made. I’m surprised no one has made anything recent. Such fantastic stories from that time.
TBF "Gettysburg" is really good!!
Ride with the Devil 1999 ( I think). Limited release.
So many
It'd be so hard to make one without being politically incorrect.
The word negro really upsets people even when used in a non offensive manner.
@Tyler B. so do swastikas just because it's "offensive" dosen't mean pretend it didn't happen the only way to learn from history and do better is to acknowledge the uncomfortable and not make it a billowy fantasy where nothing is bad. Or else people are doomed to repeat it
Proud to say on this 4th of July that my Grandfather's Grandfather was a Union Drummer Boy at Antietam Creek....
opening scene shaw is trying to march forward through the carnage. He gets blasted back, he ducks for cover. Final battle of the film, he's once again in the same situation, leading a charge, only this time, he rushes forward and his men follow. Shows the growth of the character.
One of my favourite movies and soundtracks respect from Ireland 🇮🇪
I've never seen this movie. My great-grandfather fought for the Union at Antietam. He deserted right after, was eventually caught, and sent back to his outfit in time to make it to Gettysburg and accounted himself well. He lived a long life and had several children including my grandfather. He was 70 when my grandfather was born, and here I am now. His name was Christian. His farm is still in the family.
One of the best openings of any movie.
one of the best movies ever made
Yes, Jeff; Amanda Gorman Presidential poetry address, and my remembrance of Robert Gould Shaw’s love of poetry brought me here. Jeff, I would love to witness Amanda Gorman write a poem in tribute to Robert and his love for poetry, as well as his love for justice. Lastly, if it was not for the love of truth and justice in the hearts of so many white Americans...where would I and so many other Americans be, even today.
Yeah
The music is just beyond epic
Visiting Antietam and Gettysburg battlefields are on my bucket list
Same
I have seen Gettysburg. It was a gray and cold day which gave a ghostly vibe.
It's a beautiful opening scene with a crescendo in the music and lofty ideals-cut to no music and savagery of combat to drive home the cost of those ideals. It was extremely high for both sides.
ikr?
The Battle of Antietam was an extremely powerful undertaking and a heavy-toll on both sides. I don’t know if a film will ever capture it as good as they did in Glory.
I think it's about the closest on film there is to the brutality of Civil War combat. Antietam was the culmination of a year's hard campaigning with both sides largely consisting of hardened veterans which was why the toll was so high. The firing and carnage was so beyond anything it was said that after a few hours even solid veterans simply couldn't take anymore and would walk away from the fighting in a catatonic state. Talk about PTSD before it even existed.
@@tomservo5347 Absolutely right! I haven’t seen anything as close as this scene’s depiction.
@@tomservo5347 just to do it again 3 months later at Fredricksburg
@@tomservo5347 PTSD have always been a thing. We just started acknowledging that it exist
Antietam still bears the scars of a war fought so long ago.
I have this movie on VHS.
One of the best war movies ever.
Time to upgrade brother.
7:41 is one of my favorite scenes. He lost consciousness after getting shot, just to awaken near sunset, with the battle just ending, luckily being behind your line instead of in the enemy
I cant imagine the look on Robert Gould Shaw's face after surviving the battle of Antietam, The bloodiest day of combat in the Civil war. He probably never imagined that he was destined to lead the first African American regiment in the union army- the 54th Massachusetts, which he lead with great courage and honor. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
3:07 That shot is just gorgeous.
👌
Indeed
Yes Mr. President.
Brilliant movie, and it cemented Mathew Broderick's status as a very good actor.
True. And made Denzel Washington
and Morgan Freeman (along with
his role in Driving Miss Daisy the same year) Household names as
Black dramatic actors.
It’s always been one of my dreams since I was a kid to go to the Houghton Library at Harvard to read his letters especially after I watched this movie when I was 7. Colonel Shaw was true blue! He didn’t want to make history and turned down the position, Regimental command of the 54th MA I believe, 3 times, but history made sure he was included! Crazy!
When the commanders head explodes and his cap goes flying straight up into the air! People in the movie theater gasped for air.
There is just nothing better than a great movie coupled with an amazing soundtrack. One of my all time favorites. Thanks for posting :)
If After a battle where I fell unconscious, I woke up hearing Morgan Freeman’s voice, I’d think I was dead, because of that movie where he played god.
Given that as a gravedigger he is able to distinguish rank badges, "you alright there Cap,n ?" I'd say he was pretty omnipotent
I would think I had been reincarnated as a penguin
This scene alone make this movie Oscar worthy! Not to mention the rest of the movie which makes it worthy of five Oscars at least!
Too bad the only actor that won an oscar for this movie was Denzel Washington (Best supporting actor-1989)
when this movie came out, this was the most brutal battle scenes ever put on film (at least Civil War) - Sure, Spielburg upped the ante with Saving Private Ryan, but he stole the premise from Glory ---- most movies wait until the END to have the big battle. Glory was the first to open the movie with a bloody battle.
This was 1989/90, far more brutal stuff prior.
@@denierdev9723 Yup, I saw it just before Christmas '89 with my late uncle. The opening scene was very graphic of the Battle of Antietam. I almost puked when the major got his blown apart
@@denierdev9723 Sorry....his head
Hardly the first to open with a big battle.
And Saving Private Ryan began on D-Day. What was Spielberg going to do, do the entire scene in the war room?
Hamburger Hill did so as well
One of the best openings to any movie ever made. Thanks for uploading this masterpiece!
Carry Elwes smoking a cigar prior to battle is so badass.
Are you Elwes?
Masterpiece film, thanks to which I began to study the Civil War in depth. Every year I show Glory into my classrooms and, after comparing that american historical period with our Italian Risorgimento, I simulate a debate between abolitionists and anti-abolitionists with my students.
🇺🇲✌🏻🇮🇹
This is a fantastic movie. The part where Shaw gets the boots for his men is pretty funny.
"We fight for men and women whose poetry is not yet writen..."
Absolutely beautifully said.
That hits hard.
Sometimes we reply for all that cannot speak...
The poetry of gangster rap and multi-generational dependency on welfare. Beautiful.....Burning city's and relishing in the warmth of the state-sponsored victimhood mentality instilled in them by the real racists....
@@whatsitmatter7046 rap is alright, I like the old stuff rather than the crappy stuff today -that includes Eminem.
This film is extraordinary.
Seeing this movie makes me want to take a trip up to Boston and see where Col Robert Shaw grew up. I want to see the 54th Massachusetts memorial and pay my respects. They said that there are letters that Shaw written during his service that are preserved. I like to see that. ❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I almost screamed out loud when I first saw that guy's head explode at 4:42. This battle is afterall the bloodiest battle in American history.
Yeah
Hell yeah it was.
Over 22000 dead, wounded, and missing in one day of battle.. ONE DAY
It’s literally in the top 10 bloodiest battles in human history.
@@TheMedicineMan_29 the total number killed during the battle was 3950 the 22000 figure is killed and wounded combined which the total wounded was 17,300 which many of the wounded would of died after the actual battle due to their wounds being very severe or infections caused by them.
The confederate army was kicking our asses for the first three years and then thank god the tide turned
"We fight for men and women whose poetry is not yet written..."
How I wish me.. others..the Facebook social media generation..US would watch this today on Thanksgiving day As I am currently...alone .all alone but THANKFUL THANKFUL !!!
We fought and killed each other, must be very difficult to portray that one day where we lost more in one day than any other day in war history.
I watched this movie along with Gettysburg. What it must have taken to march into a hail of ballshot and cannon fire is beyond words. The Civil War was a meat grinder and a butchershop on earth.
No wonder Lincoln tried to keep the union together. He knew what would happen if brothers took arms against each other.
Those letters home from the civil war hits different vice .......sending an email/ phone call to your spouse during the Afghan/Iraq war "biish don't be spending my money, and who was with you on that video tape, I swear to god, give me the strength"
Robert Gould Shaw - a colonel at the age of only 24! Amazing!!
thats what money got you. but with money came responsibility.
Yea well 24 was mid life back then soooo.
@@TylerB-my1kr
Not really. The average lifespan during the mid-1800s was around 60-70
@@bigpappa4041 actually the life expectancy (from birth) in the United States has risen from 39.4 years in 1860 to 47 years in 1900.
A good friend was an electrician on this film. He didn't know who Morgan Freeman was and thought he was a stuntman because of his skill at the hand-to-hand fighting.
One depiction of linear warfare that makes actual sense...
I especially like how the advancing Union line gets ragged quickly, and loses cohesion --> spirals into a rout.
Makes you cherish life.And to see the hell of war makes you feel very humble.Makes you take a step back,look around to see what you have going,To live a good life.
Love this movie❤ saw it in high school year 11 studies . Hope we stop these wars we keep having or that will be the end of us
Someday
"What tactics are we going to use in this coming battle sir ".
"What is tactics ?, can you eat it?".
Pretty much sums up all these battles.
James Horner is, in My Considered Opinion of the Top 3 Film Composers of our Time. It saddens Me Deeply that He Passed. I am certain that He would have Written More Great Film Compositions. He is My Favorite as I grew up with many of his Scores such as The Wrath of Khan and this one Makes My Heart Ascend whilst Weeping at it's Sheer Inspiring Beauty which I have never Heard it's Equal to this Day. Thank You Mr. Horner for This Film's Music. May You Be Forever Immortalized through Your Music as The Classical Greats have been.
I watched this once when I was a kid.
God damn! This scene gets me every time. So beautifully shot. Then followed by pure carnage. Just like Antietam really was. Breathtaking. Really drove the battle home.
AS WELL IT SHOULD!!!! Your reaction is my reaction from watching it in the theaters back in late '89
What an awesome battle. Around 70,000 men against 50,000 men, and 22,000 total casualties. But the good guys won, and Lee's offensive was stopped cold!
Because of a piece of paper that fell out of a messengers pocket...strange how something so small can change the course of history
Lee retreated but McClellan, in his usual cowardice, refused to commit his whole army to the battle like Lee did, and after the rebels retreated back into Virginia he refused to pursue and crush them. Lee could’ve been captured or killed in 1862, had a more competent general been at command.
@@calvin5541 The Special order 191 aboutLee's Army was wrapped in three cigars too, found by passing Union infantry in a farm field. The messenger maybe had too much drink or been careless, the day before, who knows? To think he didn't realize he lost it, makes me think he was incompetent and probably a "dandy-boy," from wealthy middle-class family and had some stings pulled for a easy job, kind of like millenials and "activitsts" who go to college for "liberal arts"and social work, because "they want to help." The most useless profession ever
They woupd probably lose a message too. The Union wasn't all "good guys," Look up "Sherman's bummers."
@@Johnsmith99663 McClellan was no coward, out of his depth in command of an army that size and importance sure, but not a coward. He perhaps loved the Army he built so much he was afraid to destroy it, a coward generally doesn't worry about those under them, only themselves.
@@calvin5541 Yes and no, McClellan acted more quickly than Lee predicted, but it was unlikely Lee would have won a battle vs McClellan at that time. Lee's Army was worn down to the bone, McClellan could outnumber him 3-2 (he had 90,000 men there though he only deployed about 60,000 of them, he had another 30,000 at Washington, Lee had barely 40,000), McClellan if reluctant to fight, was at least rarely beaten on a tactical sense, and Lee could not maintain himself in the North for long. I doubt Lee wins there either way, a Draw seems about the best he could hope for, and with the end result him withdrawing (Because Maryland wasn't as pro CS where they were able to get to, that they couldn't maintain themselves there long), it wouldn't look like a victory to the Europeans.
This opening scene is almost on the level of saving private ryan.
My Great grandfather was with the Union 8th Illinois Calvary under Col. John Farnsworth and was blown away by artillery fire.
3 of my 3rd great grandpas fought for the Union. One in the Bucktail Brigade another in the Iron Brigade and another in the 1st New York Light Artillery.
I saw this in history class 1990 7th grade, one of the best Civil War depictions of graphic violence
We also had it screened then too in our class.
Glory is mandatory in order to pass history class.
I’ve only seen clips of the movie. This scene explains Shaw in later scenes perfectly. It’s the admiral Kane philosophy, except without the rape, torture, murder, betrayal, raiding, impressment, theft, and slavery.
@trenton1789 It's just from the Glory soundtrack, it was made for the movie. The soundtrack is well worth purchasing, by the way, along with the Gettysburg soundtrack.
Also, IIRC, it was performed by the Harlem boys choir.
@HenryvKeiper True story, believe it or not. I used to work the IBM Tech support center, in the laptop division. I answered a call from a "James Horner" and I thought immediately that this is the composer.... he had a broken laptop that had to be sent in, and after the business i asked 'is this james horner, the composer?' he seemed surprised, said 'why, yes it is'... best call i had ever!
How awesome
Rip Jim Horner
The scene that was hard to watch is when they show Matthew Broderick getting treated for a minor injury but the look on his face as they show Surgeons trying to hold down a union soldier while trying to amputate his leg then hearing him crying please don't cut anymore 😭😭😭😭 was absolutely heartbreaking. can't even imagine how many amputations were done in the civil war or how traumatized the soldiers must have been. I hope Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Denzel Washington and others got Emmys for their incredible performances
If it helps it was fairly rare to have amputations done without any anesthesia like that guy
The most underrated movie of all time. Only Saving Private Ryan can rival it in war movies.
Battle of Antietam was the most brutal and deadliest battle in American history
Captain Patrick Clooney, born in Waterford, Ireland, a member of the papal army of 1848 who fought for an independent Pope and later an officer in the New York 69th regiment, died for a United States of America leading his company at the Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862
@Batou3 German soldiers have served alongside American troops since then, and German society has before and after the World Wars contributed to mankind. Same with Japan and any other nation with darker moments of their past.
The fact is, when I meet a German, I don't see Hitler, I see a human being. Same when I encounter a woman wearing a hijab. As such, I treat them with the respect a human being deserves.
One of the best parts of the movie
Seeing this movie every time makes me want to be a re-enactor. I want to do it to honor all African Americans that served in the civil war as well as the revolutionary war and all wars our country has been in. We salute you.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I did it all throughout my high school years. Many nights of laying around the fire sharing stories feeling uneasy about marching into battle the next day. Sometimes breaking rank to retreat and being chased into the woods when the other side goes into a bayonet charge.
@@TheMedicineMan_29 I still want to be a re-enactor. It will be a great experience for me
Not saying it was a bad experience. It is very expensive hobby but it is well worth it. If it wasn’t for my best friend and his uncle, I would have never got into it. My regiment was very authentic and we prided ourselves on being super authentic from our uniforms and weapons to our marching to our attitudes during each phase of the war
@@TheMedicineMan_29 That's great that you were committed towards doing this. Its expensive buying uniforms and equipment but it is worth it.
Its a shame that the US re-enslaved most of the black soldiers that fought for them during the Revolution.
@dmcII Most of the Confederate soldiers fought because they believed they had to. I recall reading about one conversation between a Union officer and Confederate POW's. The Union officer asked them, "Why are you fighting?" and the POW's replied, "Well...you're down here, aren't you?"
Yeah, Imagine if Texas invaded NY... Do you think people would just shrug their shoulders as armies swept over their land and cities? No, people would join the fight simply because they would perceive that an "other" was coming to take away their way of living. It's not hard to imagine that most of the Confederates fought for no other reason than this.
really great movie
Antietam was the highest casualties in a single day of the civil war. September 17, 22,000 casualties.
All those men laying dead or dying on that field were someone's son, father, or husband. So sad seeing carnage and death all around you.
They shot so many bullets, you can still find some today
@HenryvKeiper Agree. As a Yankee I've never viewed Confederate soldiers as villains and they don't come across that way here IMHO. They were tough, battle-hardened, and very well led. People forget the Confederates won most of the battles in the early years of the war. It wasn't until Grant & Sherman came along that things changed.
That's very true.
I believe this is one of many Union assaults on the infamous sunken road, which changed hands several times. I think Matthew Broderick’s unit is fighting against the brigade of Robert Rodes, which belonged to Stonewall Jackson’s corps.
Saw this comment below:
This opening battle is on the same level as that in
"Saving Private Ryan". Though not identified as such, this no doubt represents the futile efforts of Mansfield's XII Corps to take and hold the Cornfield - the 12th Massachusetts, to which Shaw's 2nd was attached, suffered 70 percent casualties including death of the 2nd's commander Lt Col Wilder Dwight. The countryside is a farm in MA, not MD, but the terrain is very similar to that at Antietam.
ctta
@@morammofilmsph1540 The horrible thing is that this part of the battle is not the worst in terms of carnage. Miller's Cornfield has very few rivals even by Civil war standards Hood's Texans lost 83%...the Iron Brigade did not fare much better....I've often wondered if the generation that fought the war north and south would have still chosen war if they knew how unspeakably bloody it would turn out to be. There is now debate regarding the offical death tole...it is looking like we estimated low. 750K to 1 million deaths may be more accurate. to put that into perspective. The US armed forces had 12 million people by the end of the war, 400k died. 2.7 million fought in the US Civil war if we combine both sides.....750k casualties. Its almost unbelievable.
GENERAL SHERMAN SAID..WAR IS HELL ..YOU CANNOT REFINE IT. .
4:37 before the guy screams “for gods sake come on”, you can hear “forwards men, forward!”, which they used again in the Fort Wagner attack, before Robert gets shot
4:38 when we're about to go out to eat but my mom takes forever to get ready
my mom rushes me to get ready but doesn't even rush herself lol. Thinking about it literally makes my head explode like the dude in the timestamp.
@@AbrahamLincoln4 It's you. On every civil war vid ever
Civil War army tactics on both sides, were just insane ! Watching the slaughter of so many, when differing tactics could have saved so many, is just so hard to watch. Both sides were guilty of using outdated ideas & tactics. What a shame. -------------MJL< 76 y/o
three cheers for the Grand Army of the Republic!
Dear Mother, I hope you are keeping well and not worrying too much about me, you mustn't think that any of us are going to be killed for they are collecting such a force here that an attack would be insane
The battle of the Wilderness, Gen. Sedgwick rallied his men, saying "They can't hit an elephant at that dis----" and was hit in the head.
if you think about it the civil war was not that long ago. the last veteran of the war Albert Woolson died in 1956 the last person alive born into legal slavery was peter mills (October 26, 1861 - September 22, 1972) think about it there are still people alive that have interacted with someone who fought in the war or was born as a slave.
Pretty insane
To this day in 2022, the Battle of Antietam resulted in the largest number of American military casualties in one day (that number, I will let u find it in a book or on the Internet, includes Americans on both sides).
To be a casualty means to be either killed or wounded. To be wounded in that war was to most probably see the end of life within 14 days from an infected wound. Penicillin and antibiotics had not been invented yet.
This opening battle is on the same level as that in
"Saving Private Ryan". Though not identified as such, this no doubt represents the futile efforts of Mansfield's XII Corps to take and hold the Cornfield - the 12th Massachusetts, to which Shaw's 2nd was attached, suffered 70 percent casualties including death of the 2nd's commander Lt Col Wilder Dwight. The countryside is a farm in MA, not MD, but the terrain is very similar to that at Antietam.
The enemy artillery on the hill in an overwatch position certainly lends credence to the idea...
Right up there with Saving Private Ryan for opening scenes
Meh i respectfully disagree. For some reason we tend to sanitize civil war combat in movies much more than other conflicts north and south. Its a vry strange phenomenon. The opening scene of Free state of Jones is probably the closest I've seen but even it is nothing like the first-hand accounts we have from the soldiers. Picketts Charge in Gettysburg movie for example...cannon goes off men fly in the air...when in reality there were men literally being cut in half by cannon fire....at spotsylvania there are accounts of men being hit so many times simultaniously that their bodies literally fell apart.
@@Ao-pj1mc Gettysburg started as a made for TV miniseries and didn't have the budget to create effects like that. Besides movies like Zulu, Zulu Dawn, Waterloo, and many others were amazing and didn't have tons of gore in them.
Interesting question. I just checked IMDB, and it seems the only acting credit Ken Burns has is as "Hancock's Aide" in the movie "Gettysburg."
It's kinda hard to believe that the same guy who played the steadfast colonel Robert Gould Shaw in this movie is the same guy that played the slacker, titular character in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
And the equally bold and brave Simba
@Quy4life Because I'm sure many people in the south during the time could be classified as "gentlemen." Ever read the Red Badge of Courage? It's like reading Nordic English. It's called vernacular. Give me a break
I got goosebumps when I first saw the film last year. It starts at 0:34
@chapdog82 You know, I was just thinking on this a while ago, and they kinda do that in the scene where the 54th are forced to burn down a southern town. Well, at the very least, they show you that there were bad guys on the North as well as the South.
@trenton1789 It's the first track on the soundtrack, called "A Call to Arms." James Horner composed it.
Capt Carey F Grimes, Portsmouth Light Artillery CSA. Defender of Gosport veteran of the seven days campaign and Malvern Hill..unlimbered his battalion of three companies, four guns each above Pipers Farm on the Hagerstown Turnpike posted to drive the enemy back. While directing his batteries fire he was shot from his horse; to die on the field of honor 17 Sep 1862 Sharpsburg, MD.
Deo Vindice.
Such is my family's heritage in the War of Nothern Aggression : The War Between the States.
From what I have read on the Battle of Antietam this looks to be the Federal attack on the Confederate center at the Sunken Road, later to be called Bloody Lane. The carnage that awful day must have been unbelievable.
It’s still the bloodiest day in american history
Not that it matters too much, seeing the point was to show the brutality of industrialized warfare, but Shaw's regiment, 2nd Massachusetts, saw action as part of Mansfield's attack supporting General Hooker during the morning phase. For reference, Mansfield was given command the day before (might've been a few days) and most of the corps were fresh recruits. Moreover, Mansfield was killed.
My great grandfather was csa here survived and watch lee sign the surrender papers at approx saul Mercer of the 50th Georgia infantry regiment
The rifle was harder to make and there was a large stockpile of muskets ready to use. These muskets was not like the ones in the rev war, they had rifling in them so they where more accurate then older muskets. Plus all plans for war is based of the experience from previous wars.
There's a saying Generals are always fighting the previous war.
To put a fine point on it, these are not muskets. The 1861 Springfield was one of the first "long arms" that featured a rifled barrel, unlike the smooth bore barrel of the round ball firing musket. These are, in fact rifles.
Was this actually filmed at Antietam? I visited the actual site a long time ago, and I don't remember it being that hilly (though there were some steep hills, like across Burnside's Bridge). Maybe I'm misremembering, but I remember it being flatter than this.
@HenryvKeiper the actor who loses his head is Donovan Leitch who shortly thereafter in the film can be seen standing on the podium wearing a large brimmed hat in the Recruiting Scene; and later in the film as Lieutenant and later Captain Charles Fessenden Morse; only to die while assaulting Battery Wagner at the end of the film.
5:16 "Mother help meeee!"
Didn't hear the before..
I'd take my chances at Gettysburg's final battle before ever fighting at Antietam. Fucking bloodbath and massacre on both sides. Gettysburg was horrendous, don't get me wrong. But after visiting Antietam..... nothing compares to the horrific silence that lives there now.
And no I wouldn't really take my chances, one over the other. Both were horrible, just took place at a different time during the war. Antietam is just the scariest Civil War battlefield I've ever been to, no question.
Literally worse than any day on D-Day in France. Folks in the early 1900’s probably revered vets like we did with WW2 vets, and Vietnam vets
@@jtgd well said.
@keithzeger12 That's kind of broad brushing it. Not everyone in the south had that heritage, and I doubt too many kept with that kind of pride. Likewise, there were Scots and Irish who lived in the north and fought for the north - were they also refusing to be conquered by a perceived invader?
@aspie101 you're right history is written by the victors thats why I like military history its all about how the battles played out and how they were won
I am still Cavalry!!!! God bless the 54th Massachusetts.
This opening was pretty intense like Ryan but not as intense. Still pretty brutal though.
agreed. As a Southerner myself, I still don't have any delusions that slavery wasn't the issue until the Emancipation Proclamation... Yes, yes, it WAS about STATES RIGHTS, I know, I get it. But when it boils down to it it's fighting over the State's Rights to have slaves.
@ZenZaBill this is the Part I saw back then on set...There are houses and a Kroger there now. 7:39
WAKE UP AMERICA
Outstanding Movie! GO UNION!!!