Remember, Thomas wasn’t a slave. He was an educated freeman from the north and not accustomed to hard labor and strenuous activity. This shows in his lack of physical ability
Which is why the sergeant major told the officer his friend needed to grow up more. Instructors in the military are like this when they spot the weak link. They’ll either improve you or bring you to the point you want to go home. Because they know if you are the weak link that the whole unit is only as strong and as fast as you and you will need to be brought up to speed or sent home packing with a hearty pat on the back for trying.
@@whathell6t it’s valid in that aspect and Americas current military seems to be drifting from it to its own destruction. I’m no longer serving because I gained weight and became the weak link. I accept that as I did my best and it wasn’t good enough. To me it was an honor to have the chance to serve.
"No shame, son. Get up." He screams, rants, and berates them, but he also praises them when it is due: 'now you're learning, boyo". He is using a procedure as old as war: break them down, build them back up in the correct mold, and prepare them for war. The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war.
@@thomashawley5096 in basic training these di are doing there jobs. Its nothing personal, they want to make you stronger physically and mentally. They faced the same from their drill instructors. The military isnt for those that easily offeneded or "snow flakes" .
@vincentmalasawmkimajongte7489 yeah SGM's would never do this. It would generally be a platoon sergeant or sometimes at a company level a first sergeant. He is a senior NCO (non commissioned officer) so he wouldn't do these tasks. Maybe back then idk
@@vincentmalasawmkimajongte7489 SGM is a senior NCO that performs more administrative tasks , he’s basically the connection between officers and enlisted. If I don’t remember correctly, I think only 5% of sergeant’s make it to SGM. So to see one doing this means they wanted the best of the best. He’s brutal but fair
@@fredthemanish At the time the only NCO ranks where Corporal, Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Sergeant Major. You also had two specialist ranks of Ordinace Sergeant and Quatermaster Sergeant. First Sergeant and Sergeant where esstinally the same rank, the First Sergeant was in charge of the company record keeping and was usually appointed to the position (being able to read, write, and have good handwriting was required for the position). The Sergeant Major would be the most senior Sergeant in the reigment and assigned to the regimental headquarters.
And he was Irish in that period of time he understood - in fact Irish and black peoples came together in Savannah over similar treatment - honestly it’s great reading if you want to check on some rarely discussed history
'Let him grow up some more.' In one sentence, Mulcahy owned the young colonel. He wasn't there to make friends, he wasn't there to be liked. He was there to train soldiers, and that was exactly what he did.
+Evey Kano Nope, Fort Wagner might only be overwhelmed with 3-5 regiments attacking it continuously. It was well defended and well-supplied. They only outnumbered the defenders by 3 to 1. That kind of fort could only be successfully taken if the attackers had 5 to 1 advantage in numbers.
While the civil rights movement successfully promoted racial equality the funny thing is that the military was the first government entity to establish race relations and improve them. These leftists morons seem to forget that it's thanks to the military that we were able to overcome racial and cultural barriers by learning from one another all while fighting and serving under the same flag.
@@SwordsmanMercenary Best piece of acting in this segment is John Finn's (Mulcahey) subtle expression when the soldier answers no sir to his question "for God Sakes man do you not know your left from your right ???" Astonishment, pity, disbelief all in one quick expression.
In this short clip, Mulcahy includes Mexicans, the trans community, African princes, members of Congress, Hindus, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and body positive sex workers. Mulcahy doesn't discriminate.
Just like Basic Training in the US Army in 1987. Every single trainee was equally worthless. The drill sergeants couldn't give a shit what color you skin was.
I honestly wondered how much of an act my drill sergeant was using, because he hated EVERY. ONE. Even the other drill sergeants. I used to try and theorize how he could stay so consistently angry at the entire world. I imagined that he would prank himself at home like Jim messing with Dwight from the Office. Just constantly inconveniencing himself into a rage before he left for work. I never witnessed another human being as angry as he was ever since, and that was over 15 years ago.
For those who never caught it, Thomas used the exact attack combo on a rebel soldier that Sgt Major Mulcahy used on him during the end of this clip. It may have seemed a bit mean spirited at the time, but in the end, it was a move that he used to defend himself from the attacking rebel soldier.
The fact that Mulcahy was on him the hardest, just shows how good and devoted he was as an instructor. “Let him grow up some more.” It’s nothing personal, his job was to break these men down and then rebuild them into the soldiers they signed up to be and in the end he did the 54th a great service by making them both very professional and worthy to wear the blue.
For the people complaining of how "mean" or "racist" he is, please keep in mind this was roughly 150 years ago and things were a lot different. Please also keep in mind that Sgt. Major Mulcahy and the rest of the officers cared deeply for their men. Them being hard and tough on them was to prepare them for the brutal reality of war. Coddling and babying them like people want today would not have successfully prepared them for the horrors of the Civil War, or any war for that matter.
swalte6325 also lets not forget he's Irish. Back then Irish were practically as badly treated as the blacks, even to the point that they were denied work for simple heritage.
People who haven't been there don't appreciate what a huge responsibility it is to make sure soldiers are properly trained and looked out for. Otherwise they die.
Aimee Ward Not to mention if outright coddled they would only die. Subsequently, WE ALL DIE &/or would be under the jackboot of a seemingly endless myriad of past, present (or future) totalitarian regimes. Which would be the same thing in more ways than one. This must be understood.
It may have been customary to hold the hands in front instead of behind the waist at the time. If you look, you'll also see differences in the way they salute.
That actually was the position to take. The manual of arms was really stiff at the time. If he had a musket in his hands it’s be inplace rest (depending on the manual being used).
+Dustin Stevens There's actually a nice payoff in the end, when Thomas pulls a musket out of a rebel's hands in the exact fashion Mulcahy did the whole thing with him.
+Avenged Nightmare he wants to make the country great again, that's it. He's against big money in politics, and corporations owning them. Media has lied about Trump, big corporations are scared of him, he's for the people. All of the citizens of this country.
Too bad these series of clips didn't include the scene where Sgt. Mjr. Mulcahy looked on as the graduates marched down the street proudly. His was a look of begrudging pride and hope.
I had a company commander like that...rode me everyday breaking my shoes left and right. Well he came to my graduation and shook my hand . I have no idea what's going on with him nowadays in the US Coast Guard but I attribute him to keeping me motivated during my time through boot no matter how tough he was
My Chief in bootcamp gave me crap from day 0 because corrected him on how to say my name. He knew I wanted to be a Corpsman with the Marines and wouldn't allow me to look at the Marine boots. When I graduated he gave me a ride to the gate, said my name the right way and told me, he hopes to see me in the fleet and he knows those Marines will be lucky to have me as their Doc.
I like how they have an Irish drill sergeant, it centers on his hard training and racial slurs, but reflects that he too was no stranger to malice either, and rose above it to a position of success and authority.
Wrong. The Irish were renowned as warriors for centuries before America was discovered. By the way, the Irish "discovered" America centuries before Columbus.
@@LaurenceOConnor-fg4dkthe Irish were not welcomed by Americans when they can in mass fleeing starvation and poverty. That’s what he is talking about. You can literally google old documents and picture and see signs saying “no blacks, no Irish” and also the Irish being labeled “white n!gg3rs” This Irish drill instructor knows racism
The Sergeant Major was not a racist. He truly cared about his men and wanted them to succeed. He taught them discipline and how to fight and win in combat. People like him were the reason why the Union won the Civil War.
So true. For despite the North's massive advantages in manpower, industry, manufacturing, railroad miles, shipping & farmland it could not have beaten the South without solid, tough, strict, severe & zealously dedicated drill instructors like that Irish Sergeant Major above. For without proper & thorough instruction, drill, discipline, & more instruction and Army of 1 million soldiers would eventually be defeated by an Army half that size that was comprised of much better trained, drilled & disciplined troops carrying similar weapons. Training, discipline & drill is everything.
To ppl calling the sergeant major racist, apart from the fact that several times in the movie his training drills actually save basically every every character at least once, but also that he's Irish. It may not seem big but back then the Irish were almost as badly treated as the African Americans, so it's not like he's more privileged...
The Irish were instrumental are you daft they were almost as bad serfs to the Anglo Americans so educate yourself before you make such broad statements
James Barnett You're an uneducated moron. While the civil rights movement successfully promoted racial equality the funny thing is that the military was the first government entity to establish race relations and improve them. These leftists morons seem to forget that it's thanks to the military that we were able to overcome racial and cultural barriers by learning from one another all while fighting and serving under the same flag.
It's easy to dismiss this character as a racist. He's white, they are black. But what he's teaching them will save their lives. If you think he is overly harsh, imagine being in a /real/ battle.
GrayNeko Later on during the battle at Ft. Wagner, Thomas was faced with a Reb trying to stab him. This training was a foreshadow of what was to come. Mulcahy probably, as you said, saved his life.
***** Oh, hell yes! That was the whole point. You cannot prepare men for just how horrifying combat really is by being nice to them. Am thankful every day that there's people willing to volunteer for that kinda stuff, because I know I'd never get through it.
The Sergeant did his job well ..he saw Thomas wasn't stabbing fast or hard enough and told him to stab him after gettin Thomas angry to really try to stabbed him he grabs his rifle and uses it against him...he was showing Thomas what could happen to him on the battlefield if he doesn't stab fast and hard enough..but also inadvertently showed him how to use the same counter against the enemy and it happend with Thomas doin the counter move against the Confederate soldier in the fort
+fashizzle78 What's also interesting is that it wasn't any racist comment that got Thomas mad, but Mulcahy telling him he was the worst soldier in the unit.
As late as Vietnam, the punishment for being caught with a hand in your pocket was having that pocket filled with rocks and sewn shut. Enjoy that sensation on the morning runs.
I have a coworker who gets on me all the time about having my hands in my pockets. Everytime he see me with my hands in my pockets or arme crossed he gets on me always. By telling to stand straight and firm. It's a habit that he's slowly breaking me out of.
"Let him grow up some more" that's a life lesson we can all learn too. Hell Thomas learned a thing or two in the final battle from him. Strict pays off
I love that Mulcahy doesn't look at Shaw until he's told he can speak freely and says 'Let him grow up some more.' He faces front and stares straight ahead, just as real life sergeants do. I picked it up from reading the Sharpe novels and it's a brilliant way to unnerve people who are trying to give you a bollocking.
"I'm gonna tell you a wee secret, son. The only thing you have to learn to do is keep your mouth shut." In case you were wondering what the Sergeant Major said to Denzel's character at the end.
_slaps your head on backwards clockwise_ THIS IS YOUR LEFT CHEEK _slaps your head backways on backwards the other way_ THIS IS YOUR RIGHT CHEEK Now you're learning, boyo! :D
I think they would stand te feet apart, and hurl insults at each other, and after 20 minuts would be so impressed by each others vocabulary, that they would go to bar, get a beer, and beat up any group of boys that would try to insult them, or the ladies at the bar...
How many of you do not know right from left? (many raise their hands) Jesus, have pity... THIS is your FRONT!! THIS is your REAR!! THIS is your RIGHT!! And THIS... Now you're learnin', boy-o!
"What is difficult in training will become easy in a battle" Alexander Suvorov Generalissimo Imperial Russian Army Note "Suvorov is one of the few generals in history who never lost a battle, being undefeated in over 60 large battles while frequently having numerical disadvantage."
He still got out flanked by Massena and had to flee. No shame. But they never bring that part about Suvorovs ubdefeated record (Davout jad an impressive one as well)
Sgt. Major Mulcahy was definitely a memorable character in this film and the actor who played him was excellent. He got the audience laughing as soon as he showed up.
I watched this movie many years ago and I love the part where the Sgt. Major answered 'Let him grow up some more'. This is how you should train soldiers.
JCfailgamer I severely disagree. Hartman got what he needed. Pyle however had dangerous levels of childlike innocence. There was no inbetween, you either got the kid, or the psychotic man.
You see Mulcahy’s hard exterior crack for a brief moment when Jupiter admits he doesn’t know right from left. Even he backs off like, “Holy s**t, these guys have it real bad.” Kudos to John Finn, great acting.
This movie always brings tears to my eyes. They fought for freedom and they faced certain death at times. I can never repay my debt to them. Truly American heroes.
I can see how on the outside it looks racist and mean, but for anyone who has been through the military, you really see he has extreme patience and trying very hard to train them right....and you catch him with little bits, "Who here doesn't know their right and left," "Get up Man, No Shame at All" Sometimes it takes a good kick in the Ass to become stronger
your comment should get more likes... i think today, too many people think on emotion without judging the facts. I know it's just a movie but This guy was helping them and was genuinely concerned that they did well for the lifesakes.
While the civil rights movement successfully promoted racial equality the funny thing is that the military was the first government entity to establish race relations and improve them. These leftists morons seem to forget that it's thanks to the military that we were able to overcome racial and cultural barriers by learning from one another all while fighting and serving under the same flag.
In my experience, I have met few political parties in the military, just americans, who have a very diverse and individualistic way of thinking, sure we're a team and many people realise that different races, social up bring, or politics have zero value out on deployment. I don't give a damn who you voted for, can you do the job? Do I need to train you more, can I trust you in a dangerous difficult situation. You could of voted left, right, green, moose, who cares. The day we stop caring about who voted for who, is the day we get stuff done and things get better.
Sgt. Maj Mulcahy was an Irish man in the 1800's serving in the US army, The Irish were discriminated and alienated because of their race and religion, he knew what those boys went trough better than anyone he was just trying to prepare them the best he could for the bloodiest war ever seen in human history at the time.
I'm black and this drill instructor was baddass outstanding; racist verbiage and all. He was there to do a job and it ultimately saved many of their lives through countless battled. I feel if he didn't care, he would have not trained them appropriately. Kudos to John Finn. Excellent performance.
When he calls him over trying to tell him to calm down. He learns a valuable lesson from an enlisted man. Good officers know when they are amongst good counsel and take these mens words seriously.
1:28 that attack, aggression, and correction. You could change uniforms and fast-forward 150 years and see that everyday, every minute on Parris Island. Hollywood tends to screw up “Drill Instructor” roles more often than not, but this is pretty good. The tools may have changed, the tactics may have changed but the seriousness of training men to eventually fight and kill as an effective unit hasn’t changed in 100’s of years. Great character.
Sgt Mulcahy wouldn't have looked out of place training a Roman cohort, a squad of medieval men-at-arms or a company of Greek phalangists. It's the same thing in so many different languages over the years. Military discipline transcends time and technology
One of my favorite characters. At first he seems too much, until they all respect him for treating them like grown adults who need to be disciplined or else they will be killed because their too soft. I looooove characters like him, ones that you know everyone hates at first, until they realize he is their brother. This movie is what War movies should be inspired by...it was never about the violence, it was about honor. Infact, today's War should be inspired by the Civil War and Revolutionary War...Wars that were fought with pride and honor. Like a game of chess. When one side loses, it is accepted by defeat. Nowadays, it is just a constant cycle of bloodshed...relentless murder...major loss of civilians...never played by the rules. War may not exactly have "rules" but it sure as hell is SUPPOSED to have dignity. Something this society has forgotten about over time.
Ya, we love to romanticize the past, especially wars in the past. It's easy to do that, we aren't living in that time, knowing people that went through it, hearing about it, and suffering it. The bottom line is that it was no more or less noble or principled then than it is now. We fought guerilla style warfare in the revolution because we wouldn't accept defeat, we used sharpshooters to shoot out enemy officers despite the war "ethic" of the time not to, people suffered wounds and loss just they do today. Pay close attention to the first scene of the movie, the Battle of Antietam taught the Union that the war wasn't going to so painless and noble as they thought it would be and the horrors of war were reawakened as people fleeing the battle didn't stop running until they got to D.C. Not even the worst of battles in the Civil War in terms of horror. I could go on about the concept of Total War practiced on towns in the south, sabotage, etc. While the public education about the Civil and Revolutionary Wars elevate these wars for noble causes, the fighting wasn't any less brutal and savage then than it is today.
Carlos Ulivarri There's no question that war is a violent business, and the costs are great on both sides. There's very little that's positive about killing. However, in some instances, it's a necessary evil. Think of World War II; if the United States didn't send troops over to fight, all of Europe would have been living under the Nazi flag. If we didn't use the tactics used in the American Revolution, we'd still have to send tax money to Great Britain. If the American Civil War wasn't fought, a great portion of the United States would probably still be in slavery. I don't agree with all of the wars that the United States got involved in. The wars in Vietnam and Iraq were conflicts that we could have avoided and had no credible reasons to be part of. However, you need to consider the alternative outcomes that could have happened if the US wasn't involved in certain wars.
MrPjw5 I agree with you that war is necessary and all. I just disagreed with the idea of wars being fought with pride and honor and principles, etc. Espionage and guerilla tactics are the opposite of that and have always been dirty. The idea of "dignity" in warfare is a romantic ideal, not a reality.
+Mark Hazleton What about, not fighting at all? When people fight, you can hardly blame them to play "dirty" to win. Btw.: The American Civil War is famous for burning down whole cities (not only to destroy the industry, but also to punish the Southern "traitors"), mass executions of black POWs and one of the first concentration camps, where Union soldiers dieing of starvation were daily business.
Mark Hazleton that only happens when both sides play by the rules if one side breaks the rules and cheats what incentive does the other side have to play by the rules besides the rules of war protect soldiers in uniform and civilians they say nothing about terrorists so almost everything done so far has been one hundred percent legal according to the geneva convention
In all fairness, during the Civil War a lot of white farm kids didn't know left from right either, but they did know the difference between hay and straw, so they'd put some hay on one foot and straw on the other and call out hayfoot,strawfoot.
1:14 "You bloody Hindus...." Sgt. Maj. Mulcahy was probably a veteran of the British Army with experience in India. The British Army in the 19th century was heavily Irish. Ireland was very poor, and the British Army was a convenient employer. (Also, some Irish nationalists joined the British Army for the expressed purpose of gaining military experience to use against the British to free Ireland. Many Irish immigrants also joined the Union Army for the same purpose: as a training ground for a future fight against the British.)
Never judge a man who lived in a different time by the prism we see the world through today. If you do so, you will miss the lessons his life and experience can teach us.
He deserved a best supporting actor award for this role. Makes me think back to my drill sergeants at Fort Jackson in 1988, Bravo Co. We NEED men like to toughen some of these boys and girls up today. Just my opinion. PEACE from the STL.
I had the chance to talk to one of the cast members about this movie, maybe more times than he wanted, and he said everything was thrown behind Denzel because he was young and they were pretty sure Morgan Freeman was going to get it for Driving Miss Daisy. Denzel did get it but Morgan not so much. Love this movie.
The character is obviously a regular soldier of long experience and it's implied in the British as well as the American army. In the mid 19th Century both armies had a very high proportion of Irishmen and many of the Irish in the American Regular Army had previously been British Regulars. Mulcahy's references to Africans and Hindus imply such service in the British Army.
1:34 Aw, look at this: Bonnie Prince Charlie. Are you a gentleman? Are you a member of Congress or something? OR ARE YOU THE BLOODY PRINCE OF AFRICA?!?
It's so crazy how generations go by and you still get the same characters in any military outfit. I did my basic training and you would be surprised how many people didn't know right from left. The best one I remember was when the drill sergeant called for a left face. But there's always a pause in between the two words. So don't anticipate the command just because you hear the direction. I messed up. He called "LEEEEEEEEFT..." and I turned left. He then called "AS YOU WERE!" Then another DS came up to me and said "No guy!" And then he spun me back to the front so fast I thought my head was going to fall off.
Always remember watching this thinking Christ us Irish are portrayed as over the top racist types that hate black people, until you realise that the Sergeant Major is one of the only white characters who chose to do his job and take the men seriously from the very beginning, because he genuinely didn't want them dying in combat for receiving below par training. Of course he used a shocking amount of racial slurs which is a common technique to provoke an emotional response, so the men learn to maintain discipline while dealing with the urge to break ranks out of anger, fear and general sense of being broken down and feeling hopeless. A brilliant character, the part in the movie when he sees the men marching and he's almost overcome with a pride that transcends race and everything else really sums it up.
Even when he was about to flog Tripp, you could see the hesitation in his eyes when he ripped the shirt to reveal Tripp’s scarred back and look at Shaw for clarification to proceed. He was by all definition the perfect drill instructor for the 54th, because in the end they wore that blue in such discipline and professionalism. He made them exactly what they were meant to be and what they signed up for. You can’t ask for more from a drill instructor.
Also, it's good to remember that the Irish and many other European settlers in America were treated equally bad and in some cases worse than blacks. These were mostly non-British Europeans
I didn't see a racist Irish I saw a man preparing men of color for combat and the harsh reality of war death and dying.Its no joke.Lots of respect to our Armed forces today who keep America safe.
What? yelling obseneties and Slurs by Drill Instructors and Sargents is common practice even today, its designed to make you ignore all the noise and pain of battle. Thats why he said ignore what he is yelling and more what he is ordering, and that last scene was a full contact sparing match, your suppose to take the hit and get up.
I am pleased to report that the tradition of long, tedious marching and facing movements to the tune of verbal insults is alive and well in basic training.
Col Shaw trained the 54th Mass well. They learned quickly under harsh discipline and drill which turned them into a effective fighting regiment. May their sacrifice be remembered in the battles they fought in: James Island, Fort Wagner, Olustee.
It’s quite normal to be beasted like this in the Forces. When I passed out of HMS Raleigh at 16 and a half my Mam took me for a meal in a pub, and in there was my Petty Officer. He was quite charming, given that for one thing he had thrown my bunk and kit out of the window numerous times! At the end he apologised and said to me “I’m sorry I gave you a harder time than the others. As you were the youngest we thought if we picked on you the others would rally around and become a team quicker.” He had paid for our meals, insisted I be served a beer, and shook my hand as I left. He said to my Mam “Good tough young lad you’ve got there.”
Mexicans, Hindus, the Prince of Africa...he must have been just randomly picking a country each time. If we'd seen more of him maybe he would have got in references to Japanese, Eskimos, Arabs...
He was a Drill Sergeant, not a Drill Instructor. Drill Instructors were abut 50 years away. When I was a Drill Instructor, I hated privates. I still do. They have not yet earned the right to take their place among Marines. But as soon as they are dismissed at graduation, I love them. They are now Marines. The most rewarding thing was when one would come up to me and say, "Thank you, Sir!"
My Drill Instructor in ‘82, Sgt. Little always called us females or girls. It was not until we graduated that he called us men, his men! No better feeling in the world. Thanks Sgt Little for turning us boys into men.
This is one of the most Fair D.S I've ever seen... Next to D.I Hartman.. For those who never served, u need to understand this Drill Sergeant isn't Racist... He is actually one of the Fairest..
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Remember, Thomas wasn’t a slave. He was an educated freeman from the north and not accustomed to hard labor and strenuous activity. This shows in his lack of physical ability
Ok....
Which is why the sergeant major told the officer his friend needed to grow up more.
Instructors in the military are like this when they spot the weak link. They’ll either improve you or bring you to the point you want to go home.
Because they know if you are the weak link that the whole unit is only as strong and as fast as you and you will need to be brought up to speed or sent home packing with a hearty pat on the back for trying.
@@wakcedout
Ironically, that utilitarianism which is the ultimate pragmatic policy.
@@whathell6t it’s valid in that aspect and Americas current military seems to be drifting from it to its own destruction. I’m no longer serving because I gained weight and became the weak link. I accept that as I did my best and it wasn’t good enough. To me it was an honor to have the chance to serve.
Did he ever get around to eating Thomas' arse up?
"No shame, son. Get up." He screams, rants, and berates them, but he also praises them when it is due: 'now you're learning, boyo". He is using a procedure as old as war: break them down, build them back up in the correct mold, and prepare them for war. The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in war.
Jd Smith ...when he said that, I thought he was very kind. Especially for a 1860’s drill sergeant
Positive snd negative reinforcement psychology 201
101
a-FUCKIN'-men!!
Isn't that the Navy SEAL motto, the last sentence?
When someone says "no shame, now get up" Those are words that actually give strength.
I heard that exact phrase during my Boot experience. I still respect that DI to this day. Thank you, SSGT Borger, USMC. I learned a lot that day.
@@thomashawley5096 in basic training these di are doing there jobs. Its nothing personal, they want to make you stronger physically and mentally.
They faced the same from their drill instructors. The military isnt for those that easily offeneded or "snow flakes" .
The fact that they have a Sargent major as a drill instructor is such a privilege.
I'm guessing Sergeant Majors are much higher up the chain to be doing stuff like that?
@vincentmalasawmkimajongte7489 yeah SGM's would never do this. It would generally be a platoon sergeant or sometimes at a company level a first sergeant. He is a senior NCO (non commissioned officer) so he wouldn't do these tasks. Maybe back then idk
@@vincentmalasawmkimajongte7489 SGM is a senior NCO that performs more administrative tasks , he’s basically the connection between officers and enlisted. If I don’t remember correctly, I think only 5% of sergeant’s make it to SGM. So to see one doing this means they wanted the best of the best. He’s brutal but fair
@@fredthemanish At the time the only NCO ranks where Corporal, Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Sergeant Major. You also had two specialist ranks of Ordinace Sergeant and Quatermaster Sergeant.
First Sergeant and Sergeant where esstinally the same rank, the First Sergeant was in charge of the company record keeping and was usually appointed to the position (being able to read, write, and have good handwriting was required for the position). The Sergeant Major would be the most senior Sergeant in the reigment and assigned to the regimental headquarters.
@@erwin669 Yup. Roughly equivalent to the rank of First Sergeant today. Sergeant Majors back then were much more hands on than in the modern Army.
Love that line - “Let him grow up some more.” Sergeant Mulchahy cared about these men not getting killed. He was their friend.
And he was Irish in that period of time he understood - in fact Irish and black peoples came together in Savannah over similar treatment - honestly it’s great reading if you want to check on some rarely discussed history
It's a lesson too many young people today, in this age of relative peace in much of the world, could stand to learn.
'Let him grow up some more.'
In one sentence, Mulcahy owned the young colonel. He wasn't there to make friends, he wasn't there to be liked. He was there to train soldiers, and that was exactly what he did.
I was like damn he better than shaw right now hell they probably would've won fort wagner lmao
+Evey Kano Nope, Fort Wagner might only be overwhelmed with 3-5 regiments attacking it continuously. It was well defended and well-supplied. They only outnumbered the defenders by 3 to 1. That kind of fort could only be successfully taken if the attackers had 5 to 1 advantage in numbers.
nodinitiative I know I was just playing
And he did it the right way with the officer.
Ares99999 Well aren't YOU something
That's not racism, that's a drill instructor lol.
While the civil rights movement successfully promoted racial equality the funny thing is that the military was the first government entity to establish race relations and improve them. These leftists morons seem to forget that it's thanks to the military that we were able to overcome racial and cultural barriers by learning from one another all while fighting and serving under the same flag.
HawkeyeNation19 so was I. JUSSSSS SAYIN
As the Sgt Hartman once said “There is no racial bigotry here..... here you are all equally worthless”
And Hindi LOL
@@SwordsmanMercenary Best piece of acting in this segment is John Finn's (Mulcahey) subtle expression when the soldier answers no sir to his question "for God Sakes man do you not know your left from your right ???" Astonishment, pity, disbelief all in one quick expression.
Sgt: The boy's your friend.
Col: We grew up together.
Sgt: Let him grow up some more.
-Abrahman Lincolm
TheFleasOfA ThousandCamels
Sgt Mulcahy: Will that be all sir?
I see
Perfect example of seasoned enlisted man destroying a young officer lol
@@DialgaMarine3 I don’t know about destroying. Definitely teaching him something though.
In this short clip, Mulcahy includes Mexicans, the trans community, African princes, members of Congress, Hindus, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and body positive sex workers.
Mulcahy doesn't discriminate.
He hates everyone equally!
Just like Basic Training in the US Army in 1987. Every single trainee was equally worthless. The drill sergeants couldn't give a shit what color you skin was.
I honestly wondered how much of an act my drill sergeant was using, because he hated EVERY. ONE. Even the other drill sergeants.
I used to try and theorize how he could stay so consistently angry at the entire world. I imagined that he would prank himself at home like Jim messing with Dwight from the Office. Just constantly inconveniencing himself into a rage before he left for work.
I never witnessed another human being as angry as he was ever since, and that was over 15 years ago.
Errr.....there WAS no "trans community" back then.
You mean transvestites and prostitutes.
For those who never caught it, Thomas used the exact attack combo on a rebel soldier that Sgt Major Mulcahy used on him during the end of this clip. It may have seemed a bit mean spirited at the time, but in the end, it was a move that he used to defend himself from the attacking rebel soldier.
Thomas was a killin’ machine in that final battle.
Not mean spirited at all, he even says: "No shame, get up."
The fact that Mulcahy was on him the hardest, just shows how good and devoted he was as an instructor. “Let him grow up some more.” It’s nothing personal, his job was to break these men down and then rebuild them into the soldiers they signed up to be and in the end he did the 54th a great service by making them both very professional and worthy to wear the blue.
You might say that at that moment Thomas reached "glory."
That's how Thomas grew up to be Capt. Holt.
For the people complaining of how "mean" or "racist" he is, please keep in mind this was roughly 150 years ago and things were a lot different. Please also keep in mind that Sgt. Major Mulcahy and the rest of the officers cared deeply for their men. Them being hard and tough on them was to prepare them for the brutal reality of war. Coddling and babying them like people want today would not have successfully prepared them for the horrors of the Civil War, or any war for that matter.
Exactly, especially since this was the infantry. The harder his discipline the more effective his men would be as warfighters.
swalte6325 also lets not forget he's Irish. Back then Irish were practically as badly treated as the blacks, even to the point that they were denied work for simple heritage.
People who haven't been there don't appreciate what a huge responsibility it is to make sure soldiers are properly trained and looked out for. Otherwise they die.
Aimee Ward Not to mention if outright coddled they would only die. Subsequently, WE ALL DIE &/or would be under the jackboot of a seemingly endless myriad of past, present (or future) totalitarian regimes. Which would be the same thing in more ways than one.
This must be understood.
swalte6325 and they were racist
All the commenters saying this is racist need to, "grow up some more".
+Troy Baker Damn straight!
Get out.
You got that right.
Troy Baker Yeah, lets blame the people who want to live in a life without racism instead of the ones causing it. Makes sense.
Troy Baker
Damn, he called them everything under the sun, from Hindu, to Mexican.
+Tony Alabama Except for white terms lol Well you have to admit. He was fair.
even threw in 'African Whores' lol
+Tony Alabama Very first time we marched in the military, the drill sergeant said we looked like a bunch of whores walking down main street.
he is not racisit everyone is equally shit in his book
Oddly enough i think that is because he wasn't racist. All recruits are equally worthless
"At ease soldier"
*Sgt. Major assumes a slightly different, equally stiff pose*
It may have been customary to hold the hands in front instead of behind the waist at the time. If you look, you'll also see differences in the way they salute.
That actually was the position to take. The manual of arms was really stiff at the time. If he had a musket in his hands it’s be inplace rest (depending on the manual being used).
*ARE YOU THE BLOODY PRINCE OF AFRICA?!* XD
Are you a gentleman!?
Ken oh look there is Bonnie prince Charlie
Well Bonnie Prince Charlie!
Playing with your toy bayonet??
@@nocturnalrecluse1216 Wellllllllll Bonnie Prince Charlie and his toy bayonet !! LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!
I would be honored to be trained by such a soldier. There's a reason that Sgt. Major has gotten that far. He knows his shit. Listen to him and live.
+Dustin Stevens There's actually a nice payoff in the end, when Thomas pulls a musket out of a rebel's hands in the exact fashion Mulcahy did the whole thing with him.
+Dustin Stevens the fact that your voting for trump makes me wonder what kinda of mentality you have
+Avenged Nightmare he wants to make the country great again, that's it. He's against big money in politics, and corporations owning them.
Media has lied about Trump, big corporations are scared of him, he's for the people. All of the citizens of this country.
+Avenged Nightmare Yeah well what if I told you no one actually gives a fuck what you think? Go back to your safe space.
Speaking of listening, did anyone catch what he told Denzel at 4:09?
Too bad these series of clips didn't include the scene where Sgt. Mjr. Mulcahy looked on as the graduates marched down the street proudly. His was a look of begrudging pride and hope.
Yes,he loved his boys,he took pride in his work.
He saluted them. Job well done.
I had a company commander like that...rode me everyday breaking my shoes left and right. Well he came to my graduation and shook my hand . I have no idea what's going on with him nowadays in the US Coast Guard but I attribute him to keeping me motivated during my time through boot no matter how tough he was
Joseph Sosa indeed
My Chief in bootcamp gave me crap from day 0 because corrected him on how to say my name. He knew I wanted to be a Corpsman with the Marines and wouldn't allow me to look at the Marine boots. When I graduated he gave me a ride to the gate, said my name the right way and told me, he hopes to see me in the fleet and he knows those Marines will be lucky to have me as their Doc.
I like how they have an Irish drill sergeant, it centers on his hard training and racial slurs, but reflects that he too was no stranger to malice either, and rose above it to a position of success and authority.
They need to chill out for real
Wrong. The Irish were renowned as warriors for centuries before America was discovered.
By the way, the Irish "discovered" America centuries before Columbus.
@@LaurenceOConnor-fg4dk you mean Vikings lol, the Irish are not Vikings
@@LaurenceOConnor-fg4dkthe Irish were not welcomed by Americans when they can in mass fleeing starvation and poverty. That’s what he is talking about. You can literally google old documents and picture and see signs saying “no blacks, no Irish” and also the Irish being labeled “white n!gg3rs”
This Irish drill instructor knows racism
@@LaurenceOConnor-fg4dkthe Irish never discovered the Americas. But they discovered Iceland before the Vikings.
The Sergeant Major was not a racist. He truly cared about his men and wanted them to succeed. He taught them discipline and how to fight and win in combat. People like him were the reason why the Union won the Civil War.
So true. For despite the North's massive advantages in manpower, industry, manufacturing, railroad miles, shipping & farmland it could not have beaten the South without solid, tough, strict, severe & zealously dedicated drill instructors like that Irish Sergeant Major above.
For without proper & thorough instruction, drill, discipline, & more instruction and Army of 1 million soldiers would eventually be defeated by an Army half that size that was comprised of much better trained, drilled & disciplined troops carrying similar weapons.
Training, discipline & drill is everything.
@@TheRampagingGallowglass75Reminds me of Palestine, maybe they shouldn’t have started a war they can’t win.
To ppl calling the sergeant major racist, apart from the fact that several times in the movie his training drills actually save basically every every character at least once, but also that he's Irish. It may not seem big but back then the Irish were almost as badly treated as the African Americans, so it's not like he's more privileged...
All recruits got that in training, he's breaking them so he can rebuild them into soldiers
"Let him grow up so more."
Too too stfu
The Irish were instrumental are you daft they were almost as bad serfs to the Anglo Americans so educate yourself before you make such broad statements
James Barnett You're an uneducated moron. While the civil rights movement successfully promoted racial equality the funny thing is that the military was the first government entity to establish race relations and improve them. These leftists morons seem to forget that it's thanks to the military that we were able to overcome racial and cultural barriers by learning from one another all while fighting and serving under the same flag.
It's easy to dismiss this character as a racist. He's white, they are black. But what he's teaching them will save their lives. If you think he is overly harsh, imagine being in a /real/ battle.
GrayNeko Later on during the battle at Ft. Wagner, Thomas was faced with a Reb trying to stab him. This training was a foreshadow of what was to come. Mulcahy probably, as you said, saved his life.
Athrough Z Exactly! An army fights like it trains. Always.
GrayNeko Couldn't of said it any better myself. Fear is proven to be the best teacher. You always train how you fight.
*****
Oh, hell yes! That was the whole point. You cannot prepare men for just how horrifying combat really is by being nice to them. Am thankful every day that there's people willing to volunteer for that kinda stuff, because I know I'd never get through it.
GrayNeko agreed
The Sergeant did his job well ..he saw Thomas wasn't stabbing fast or hard enough and told him to stab him after gettin Thomas angry to really try to stabbed him he grabs his rifle and uses it against him...he was showing Thomas what could happen to him on the battlefield if he doesn't stab fast and hard enough..but also inadvertently showed him how to use the same counter against the enemy and it happend with Thomas doin the counter move against the Confederate soldier in the fort
+fashizzle78 What's also interesting is that it wasn't any racist comment that got Thomas mad, but Mulcahy telling him he was the worst soldier in the unit.
You are right. When you're on the battlefield, there ain't no time to stall. Either stab or be stabbed. Put up or get shanked up.
Then during the parade, he saluted them, confident that they would do well in battle because of the training he gave them.
And that is what we call foreshadowing :)
Dakota Starchild when he did the very same move his Sgt showed him at the final battle of the movie
There’s a difference between being cruel & being harsh. This man is simply training them for what’s to come
"The boy's your friend, is he? Let him grow up some more."
That's a quality Drill Instructor, and a quality NCO.
Even back then they had a thing against having your hands in your pocket. LOL
As late as Vietnam, the punishment for being caught with a hand in your pocket was having that pocket filled with rocks and sewn shut. Enjoy that sensation on the morning runs.
I have a coworker who gets on me all the time about having my hands in my pockets. Everytime he see me with my hands in my pockets or arme crossed he gets on me always. By telling to stand straight and firm. It's a habit that he's slowly breaking me out of.
Men don't stand with their hands in their pockets, they stand at attention.
Wonder what the punishment would have been for stepping on SGM's grass lol
Zach death 💀
"Let him grow up some more" that's a life lesson we can all learn too. Hell Thomas learned a thing or two in the final battle from him. Strict pays off
+Evey Kano That was such a burn that even the Sun seemed warmed that year.
I love that Mulcahy doesn't look at Shaw until he's told he can speak freely and says 'Let him grow up some more.' He faces front and stares straight ahead, just as real life sergeants do. I picked it up from reading the Sharpe novels and it's a brilliant way to unnerve people who are trying to give you a bollocking.
Reading the Sharpe novels now that's soldiering!
That's my style sir!
He's using military procedure!
Sgt Mulcahy was one of the best characters in the film. I enjoyed him, and the actor who portrayed him did a FANTASTIC job.
Yup, the highly underrated John Finn!
@@king2bmanok?
"I'm gonna tell you a wee secret, son. The only thing you have to learn to do is keep your mouth shut."
In case you were wondering what the Sergeant Major said to Denzel's character at the end.
thanks for this. essentially he was saying that Trip was the best soldier in the company, if only he would shut the fuck up.
The funny thing is his lips barely move.....ventriloquism haha
garbagio Exactly
AxemanTitan thanks!
@@rasalghul4501 They teach them that in drill instructor school lol.
Hard, but fair.
Ignacioofcl RIP R Lee Ermy
" The more you hate me the more you'll learn "
I am hard, but I am fair.
Hartman
That's it.
0:57 "Now you're learnin', boy-o", don't know why but I always laugh when he says that. Awesome accent.
+Lt Mojo Risin Irish
Lt Mojo Risin similar accent to mine lol
_slaps your head on backwards clockwise_
THIS IS YOUR LEFT CHEEK
_slaps your head backways on backwards the other way_
THIS IS YOUR RIGHT CHEEK
Now you're learning, boyo! :D
Irish! I had an Irish Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Ex-Boxer one of the hardest bastards I ever mate in the British Army from limerick!
I like that comment because it shows that he values quick-thinking recruits.
DEATH BATTLE: Sgt. Major Mulcahy vs. Gunnery Sgt. Hartman
I think Mulcahy would kick his ass at hand to hand.
I think they would stand te feet apart, and hurl insults at each other, and after 20 minuts would be so impressed by each others vocabulary, that they would go to bar, get a beer, and beat up any group of boys that would try to insult them, or the ladies at the bar...
Yeah I definitely have to agree with that. Good one dude !! Lmbo
That's pretty much how it was before everybody became so oversensitive and easily offended. So glad my husband and I got out when we did.
ok...you win the comment war for the day ;)
0:44 - love how for a split second the drill instructor was at a loss for words.
The BEST civil war movie ever made. BEAUTIFUL MASTER PIECE
Agreed
Gettysburg was more realistic, in Glory it shows them breaching the walls of Ft.Wagner which never happened.
How many of you do not know right from left? (many raise their hands) Jesus, have pity... THIS is your FRONT!! THIS is your REAR!! THIS is your RIGHT!! And THIS... Now you're learnin', boy-o!
Sad thing is, SGM Mulcahy expected that many hands raised, but he taught them well.
He was calling them all sorts of different names that he wasn't even racist, became an equal opportunist lol
Keny30 yeah lol
I love that he compliments him for dodging.
the art of being a good soldier is devoid pleasantries & polite words...
"What is difficult in training will become easy in a battle"
Alexander Suvorov Generalissimo Imperial Russian Army
Note "Suvorov is one of the few generals in history who never lost a battle, being undefeated in over 60 large battles while frequently having numerical disadvantage."
He still got out flanked by Massena and had to flee. No shame. But they never bring that part about Suvorovs ubdefeated record (Davout jad an impressive one as well)
"The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war." - my own drill instructor
@@stevewozniak223 He also had to rely on the Austrians to supply him. You know how well that went.
unexpected gem in the comments, great quote! i know it well.
@@stevewozniak223 Hmm, a retreat
Not really a loss, eh? More like a small victory in face of a defeat
Sgt. Major Mulcahy was definitely a memorable character in this film and the actor who played him was excellent. He got the audience laughing as soon as he showed up.
As tough as the drill sergeant was on them, the enemy would do a lot worse to them. This is just tough love!
"You're not at dancing school son, take his head off!!!"
Hardcore!
I watched this movie many years ago and I love the part where the Sgt. Major answered 'Let him grow up some more'.
This is how you should train soldiers.
Kicking soldiers should have no place in any US Army-except I can't imagine that wimp Broderick kicking the Mic's ass.
That's a Sergeant Major. Something the Army and the military as a whole needs today. Leadership!
all the JROTC kids talking about Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. This guy is completely underrated
Hes close!
Muchuly gets much better results and teaches way better.
JCfailgamer I severely disagree. Hartman got what he needed. Pyle however had dangerous levels of childlike innocence. There was no inbetween, you either got the kid, or the psychotic man.
R Lee Ermey himself said Hartman was a bad DI. Look what happened with Pyle.
Sergeant Foley An Officer And A Gentleman
Louis Gossett Jr
You see Mulcahy’s hard exterior crack for a brief moment when Jupiter admits he doesn’t know right from left. Even he backs off like, “Holy s**t, these guys have it real bad.” Kudos to John Finn, great acting.
3:10 - "Yer not at dancin' school, son; take his head off!!"
This movie always brings tears to my eyes. They fought for freedom and they faced certain death at times. I can never repay my debt to them. Truly American heroes.
Amen to that shit. They had big balls of steel.
Who's 'them'? You mean the Northern army? Yeah they fought.
American generation now is fucked. Barely 70% knows their history, only cringy tik tok bitches and braindeads
I can see how on the outside it looks racist and mean, but for anyone who has been through the military, you really see he has extreme patience and trying very hard to train them right....and you catch him with little bits, "Who here doesn't know their right and left," "Get up Man, No Shame at All" Sometimes it takes a good kick in the Ass to become stronger
your comment should get more likes... i think today, too many people think on emotion without judging the facts. I know it's just a movie but This guy was helping them and was genuinely concerned that they did well for the lifesakes.
Dude this movie happened during slavery. I'm sure racism was pretty prevalent then.
Curtis Coleman
It's pretty prevalent now, where were you at the north pole frozen in ice?
While the civil rights movement successfully promoted racial equality the funny thing is that the military was the first government entity to establish race relations and improve them. These leftists morons seem to forget that it's thanks to the military that we were able to overcome racial and cultural barriers by learning from one another all while fighting and serving under the same flag.
In my experience, I have met few political parties in the military, just americans, who have a very diverse and individualistic way of thinking, sure we're a team and many people realise that different races, social up bring, or politics have zero value out on deployment. I don't give a damn who you voted for, can you do the job? Do I need to train you more, can I trust you in a dangerous difficult situation. You could of voted left, right, green, moose, who cares. The day we stop caring about who voted for who, is the day we get stuff done and things get better.
Sgt. Maj Mulcahy was an Irish man in the 1800's serving in the US army, The Irish were discriminated and alienated because of their race and religion, he knew what those boys went trough better than anyone he was just trying to prepare them the best he could for the bloodiest war ever seen in human history at the time.
Legend has it, his descendant was the drill instructor in Full Metal Jacket
I'm black and this drill instructor was baddass outstanding; racist verbiage and all. He was there to do a job and it ultimately saved many of their lives through countless battled. I feel if he didn't care, he would have not trained them appropriately. Kudos to John Finn. Excellent performance.
When he calls him over trying to tell him to calm down. He learns a valuable lesson from an enlisted man. Good officers know when they are amongst good counsel and take these mens words seriously.
1:28 that attack, aggression, and correction. You could change uniforms and fast-forward 150 years and see that everyday, every minute on Parris Island. Hollywood tends to screw up “Drill Instructor” roles more often than not, but this is pretty good. The tools may have changed, the tactics may have changed but the seriousness of training men to eventually fight and kill as an effective unit hasn’t changed in 100’s of years. Great character.
Sgt Mulcahy wouldn't have looked out of place training a Roman cohort, a squad of medieval men-at-arms or a company of Greek phalangists. It's the same thing in so many different languages over the years. Military discipline transcends time and technology
One of my favorite characters. At first he seems too much, until they all respect him for treating them like grown adults who need to be disciplined or else they will be killed because their too soft. I looooove characters like him, ones that you know everyone hates at first, until they realize he is their brother. This movie is what War movies should be inspired by...it was never about the violence, it was about honor.
Infact, today's War should be inspired by the Civil War and Revolutionary War...Wars that were fought with pride and honor. Like a game of chess. When one side loses, it is accepted by defeat. Nowadays, it is just a constant cycle of bloodshed...relentless murder...major loss of civilians...never played by the rules. War may not exactly have "rules" but it sure as hell is SUPPOSED to have dignity. Something this society has forgotten about over time.
Ya, we love to romanticize the past, especially wars in the past. It's easy to do that, we aren't living in that time, knowing people that went through it, hearing about it, and suffering it. The bottom line is that it was no more or less noble or principled then than it is now. We fought guerilla style warfare in the revolution because we wouldn't accept defeat, we used sharpshooters to shoot out enemy officers despite the war "ethic" of the time not to, people suffered wounds and loss just they do today. Pay close attention to the first scene of the movie, the Battle of Antietam taught the Union that the war wasn't going to so painless and noble as they thought it would be and the horrors of war were reawakened as people fleeing the battle didn't stop running until they got to D.C. Not even the worst of battles in the Civil War in terms of horror. I could go on about the concept of Total War practiced on towns in the south, sabotage, etc. While the public education about the Civil and Revolutionary Wars elevate these wars for noble causes, the fighting wasn't any less brutal and savage then than it is today.
Carlos Ulivarri There's no question that war is a violent business, and the costs are great on both sides. There's very little that's positive about killing. However, in some instances, it's a necessary evil. Think of World War II; if the United States didn't send troops over to fight, all of Europe would have been living under the Nazi flag. If we didn't use the tactics used in the American Revolution, we'd still have to send tax money to Great Britain. If the American Civil War wasn't fought, a great portion of the United States would probably still be in slavery.
I don't agree with all of the wars that the United States got involved in. The wars in Vietnam and Iraq were conflicts that we could have avoided and had no credible reasons to be part of. However, you need to consider the alternative outcomes that could have happened if the US wasn't involved in certain wars.
MrPjw5 I agree with you that war is necessary and all. I just disagreed with the idea of wars being fought with pride and honor and principles, etc. Espionage and guerilla tactics are the opposite of that and have always been dirty. The idea of "dignity" in warfare is a romantic ideal, not a reality.
+Mark Hazleton What about, not fighting at all? When people fight, you can hardly blame them to play "dirty" to win.
Btw.: The American Civil War is famous for burning down whole cities (not only to destroy the industry, but also to punish the Southern "traitors"), mass executions of black POWs and one of the first concentration camps, where Union soldiers dieing of starvation were daily business.
Mark Hazleton that only happens when both sides play by the rules if one side breaks the rules and cheats what incentive does the other side have to play by the rules besides the rules of war protect soldiers in uniform and civilians they say nothing about terrorists so almost everything done so far has been one hundred percent legal according to the geneva convention
For some reason I really think it's great when the Sgt looks down at him and says "No shame son, get up"
He's not a racist not even a teeny weeny bit! He's a DRILL SERGEANT!
In all fairness, during the Civil War a lot of white farm kids didn't know left from right either, but they did know the difference between hay and straw, so they'd put some hay on one foot and straw on the other and call out hayfoot,strawfoot.
I think a lot of Trump and Hillary supporters don't know right from left.
Wedge Antilles The point of his exercise is to humliate them, and he will use what methods he has
Also done by the Frenchmen during the Naopoleonic wars.
They would have been given the EXACT same treatment.
He is a smart ass
"You bloody Hindu get it right!" lol
Boooooo....
Yes you're both correct.
@abyssinia4ever It was obviously a joke
How the hell is that an insult?
SoulKiller7Eternal I don’t know why but that always cracked me up
"ARE YOU A BLOODY MEMBER OF CONGRESS OR SOMETHING !?" gets me every time.
1:14 "You bloody Hindus...." Sgt. Maj. Mulcahy was probably a veteran of the British Army with experience in India. The British Army in the 19th century was heavily Irish. Ireland was very poor, and the British Army was a convenient employer. (Also, some Irish nationalists joined the British Army for the expressed purpose of gaining military experience to use against the British to free Ireland. Many Irish immigrants also joined the Union Army for the same purpose: as a training ground for a future fight against the British.)
And possibly the Mexican-American War because he also called them "Mexicans!"
Never judge a man who lived in a different time by the prism we see the world through today. If you do so, you will miss the lessons his life and experience can teach us.
He deserved a best supporting actor award for this role. Makes me think back to my drill sergeants at Fort Jackson in 1988, Bravo Co. We NEED men like to toughen some of these boys and girls up today. Just my opinion. PEACE from the STL.
Best Supporting Actor for that year went to Denzel Washington, for this very same movie.
I had the chance to talk to one of the cast members about this movie, maybe more times than he wanted, and he said everything was thrown behind Denzel because he was young and they were pretty sure Morgan Freeman was going to get it for Driving Miss Daisy. Denzel did get it but Morgan not so much. Love this movie.
This was definitely a film with a lot of excellent acting (as well as writing and direction)! 😊🤙🏼
“Segreant deal with that man,” one of the best lines in the training sequence lol
The character is obviously a regular soldier of long experience and it's implied in the British as well as the American army. In the mid 19th Century both armies had a very high proportion of Irishmen and many of the Irish in the American Regular Army had previously been British Regulars. Mulcahy's references to Africans and Hindus imply such service in the British Army.
dont let the Irish regulars become IRA!!
1:34 Aw, look at this: Bonnie Prince Charlie. Are you a gentleman? Are you a member of Congress or something? OR ARE YOU THE BLOODY PRINCE OF AFRICA?!?
Funniest moment in movie history
"Are you a member of congress or something?!"
Biggest insult ever. There's no recovery from that.
No shame son get up. I SAID GET UP
*Cries*
Nigga forgot to duck thats all
Sergeant deal with that man.
I like Sgt Major Mulcahy's Irish accent !!
Words could never explain how good this movie is.
Classic time piece movie with great writing and actors!
It's so crazy how generations go by and you still get the same characters in any military outfit. I did my basic training and you would be surprised how many people didn't know right from left. The best one I remember was when the drill sergeant called for a left face. But there's always a pause in between the two words. So don't anticipate the command just because you hear the direction. I messed up. He called "LEEEEEEEEFT..." and I turned left. He then called "AS YOU WERE!" Then another DS came up to me and said "No guy!" And then he spun me back to the front so fast I thought my head was going to fall off.
These men have given everything for us. I’m eternally grateful for their sacrifices and duty to our country’s freedom.
One of my all time favorite movies. So many amazing actors. That ending...wow.
As a Marine who is black, i love this. Its perfect. We train like that today in boot camp.
Be careful brother..."Semper Fi"
be careful and come back home in one piece.
I would be honored to have this man as my drill sergeant!
0:57 Best part. Drills is just teaching with tough love. He’s also treating them as he would any other soldier
"I'LL EAT YOUR ASS UP, BOYO."
Fucking love that.
General Suvorov, "If you train hard, you will have an easy fight. If you train easy, you will have a hard fight."
And Recruits of all Creeds, Nations and Races have always replied with "Yes Sir!"
Always remember watching this thinking Christ us Irish are portrayed as over the top racist types that hate black people, until you realise that the Sergeant Major is one of the only white characters who chose to do his job and take the men seriously from the very beginning, because he genuinely didn't want them dying in combat for receiving below par training. Of course he used a shocking amount of racial slurs which is a common technique to provoke an emotional response, so the men learn to maintain discipline while dealing with the urge to break ranks out of anger, fear and general sense of being broken down and feeling hopeless. A brilliant character, the part in the movie when he sees the men marching and he's almost overcome with a pride that transcends race and everything else really sums it up.
Even when he was about to flog Tripp, you could see the hesitation in his eyes when he ripped the shirt to reveal Tripp’s scarred back and look at Shaw for clarification to proceed.
He was by all definition the perfect drill instructor for the 54th, because in the end they wore that blue in such discipline and professionalism. He made them exactly what they were meant to be and what they signed up for. You can’t ask for more from a drill instructor.
Also, it's good to remember that the Irish and many other European settlers in America were treated equally bad and in some cases worse than blacks. These were mostly non-British Europeans
Compared to some of the other characters in the Army shown he indeed takes his job very seriously.
I've honestly never met an Irish person that's racist... I think it's a stereotype associated with Bostonians, many of whom are Irish descendants.
I didn't see a racist Irish I saw a man preparing men of color for combat and the harsh reality of war death and dying.Its no joke.Lots of respect to our Armed forces today who keep America safe.
This movie is in my Top 5 All Time.
Made in 89 and still by far one of the best movies ive ever seen.
That "let him grow up some more" line will always stay with me.
Train hard, fight easy .... a phrase true today as it was in the Roman times.
Freeman, Denzel, Andre Braugher, all looked so darn young. RIP Andre Braugher
I was blown away when I found out that's John Finn... 🤯
Great Acting.... 👏🏽🤗
Gotta love how nobody is calling this guy racist but everyone feels the need to defend him anyway
The military is not for the faint of heart. How are you gonna survive a bullet when you wanna cry bc someone called you a name.
What? yelling obseneties and Slurs by Drill Instructors and Sargents is common practice even today, its designed to make you ignore all the noise and pain of battle.
Thats why he said ignore what he is yelling and more what he is ordering, and that last scene was a full contact sparing match, your suppose to take the hit and get up.
I am pleased to report that the tradition of long, tedious marching and facing movements to the tune of verbal insults is alive and well in basic training.
Col Shaw trained the 54th Mass well. They learned quickly under harsh discipline and drill which turned them into a effective fighting regiment. May their sacrifice be remembered in the battles they fought in: James Island, Fort Wagner, Olustee.
General Francis Barlow ended up marrying Colonel Shaw's sister.
It’s quite normal to be beasted like this in the Forces. When I passed out of HMS Raleigh at 16 and a half my Mam took me for a meal in a pub, and in there was my Petty Officer. He was quite charming, given that for one thing he had thrown my bunk and kit out of the window numerous times! At the end he apologised and said to me “I’m sorry I gave you a harder time than the others. As you were the youngest we thought if we picked on you the others would rally around and become a team quicker.” He had paid for our meals, insisted I be served a beer, and shook my hand as I left. He said to my Mam “Good tough young lad you’ve got there.”
Good story that.
@@ChicagoIrishman- Now I’m a bit older I do wonder if he was trying to chat up my Mam! They must have been about the same age.
Good for them to have an Irishman as their drill instructor and at the end of their training he very proud of them.
Reminds me of the best instructors we had. Hard as nails ... but in the end, we understood why.
A lot of people missed Thomas doing this very move when he got inside Fort Wagner to take out a Rebel soldier. So badass...
"You bloody Hindus get it right"😂😂😂😂😂
Lmaooo I cracked up at that line 😂
Mexicans, Hindus, the Prince of Africa...he must have been just randomly picking a country each time. If we'd seen more of him maybe he would have got in references to Japanese, Eskimos, Arabs...
He was a Drill Sergeant, not a Drill Instructor. Drill Instructors were abut 50 years away. When I was a Drill Instructor, I hated privates. I still do. They have not yet earned the right to take their place among Marines. But as soon as they are dismissed at graduation, I love them. They are now Marines. The most rewarding thing was when one would come up to me and say, "Thank you, Sir!"
My Drill Instructor in ‘82, Sgt. Little always called us females or girls. It was not until we graduated that he called us men, his men! No better feeling in the world. Thanks Sgt Little for turning us boys into men.
Man, I love this movie. One of the best things HBO ever showed back in the day (way,way back).
He’s one of my favorite characters ever. He needs his own expanded universe miniseries.
3:31 SGM Mulcahy was so good he slapped that bayonet with his left and right hand in one go.
Never noticed that 😄
Sgt. major Mulcahy was rough but he did his job, made them soldiers and saved some of their lives.
That face Denzel gives mulcahy as he’s leaving at the beginning lol
Trip really thought he was gonna walk up to Mulcahy. That would NOT have ended well for him.
This is one of the most Fair D.S I've ever seen... Next to D.I Hartman.. For those who never served, u need to understand this Drill Sergeant isn't Racist... He is actually one of the Fairest..
2:43 "let him grow up some more". I always loved that part.
People are literally complaining about an Irish drill sergeant during the civil war not having the sensitivity of the public today