No matter how many times I read about it in history books, no matter how many times I see it in movies, the idea of setting yourself up as a target and relying on SHEER CHANCE is a concept I'll never wrap my head around.
They definitely had their reasons, or it wouldn’t have been the de facto way of fighting back in those days. It was easier to communicate between different units in a time before radio, and it was also an easier way of massing fires onto your enemy in a time before the invention of smokeless powder. Battlefields of these days were extremely choked up with smoke, so it was easy to lose your own guys or other sister units in attacks or defenses. Not a good way to fight, granted, and I’d never want to fight that way. But it was for more strategic reasons of the day was the reason they fought like that.
Building on @YoWatTheHeck a common misconception is that all of these battles were on large empty fields and everyone stood in lines trading fire until the one of them gave up. In reality, it would often be one big game of chicken, with one side attempting to advance into melee range on the other faster than the other side could shoot. The Civil War muddies these waters further due to the irregular tactics of confederate soldiers, who would ambush the enemy and flee further up/down the road before return fire could reach them all to do it over again. There's way more factoring into it, but the common foot soldier had more options available to them than just standing there and praying (though admittedly, that *was* a big chunk of it)
Exactly what I was thinking watching this. Compared to how we fight now, it's amazing how humans evolve in many aspects. To create new strategies, tactics, and weaponry. Or just the evolution of society in general. Sadly, nowadays in America, it appears we are trying to make life, too easy. Without struggle or pain, or inconvenience. But as the saying goes "competition breeds evolution". Growth (in various capacities) comes from hardships.
if you are living easy you must be a rich cunt. I'm not from America, but know it's history and politics. as long as there are two parties whose goal is only to make money and look after their rich mates, there will always be hardship. any changes they make to make life "easier" are simply concessions to attempt to pacify the poor and working and farming classes @@gabrielgarcia-zw8fu
"It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell." - William Tecumseh Sherman
One of the most brutal aspects of this scene is that after Robert wakes up and walks around, he sees that the battle is still ongoing. To me, it says something about the futility of war and how quickly those moments of extreme terror or bravery are forgotten.
To me I also felt a sort of comfort form it, that despite everything time marches on. Even this battle will just become history in a day, two days or whatever.
Done without anesthetic or pain killers (short of a snort of whiskey) of any kind, too. And given how there were no antibiotics, he probably died of infection from the amputation anyways as it was a very common occurrence.
@@Hinestyler2 This was done during battle and away from supply lines sometimes. Supply runs out or they save it for those they know they can save when low.
@@Soldier4USA2005 Anesthesia had existed for long enough for surgeons to begin refusing operations if they had no anesthesia. The guy getting amputated was just a bad way to show it - he would be under shock, lost a lot of blood and the torniquet would've numbed off the limb. He would not have been able to resist like that, because for whatever reason they want to amputate without any sort of anesthesia.
I remember showing this movie to my history class in 7th grade back than we were taught about the country and world as a whole. We didn't spend a few days on a subject we spent weeks.
The movie is titled "Glory" because after this opening scene the rest of the character's experience is on borrowed time. He already died in his own mind, and when he comes back it's obvious that any more participation in the war is futile. Yet he carries on with what he has left in him, for a cause that has found him, wherever that goes. That's Glory.
He just realized then and there, amongst the dead, between the yells and silences that he could have been dead as well if he stood up after the blast that threw him on the floor. He didn't. He chose to fake his death to survive. From that moment on, he never reconciled with himself. I think he felt he betrayed himself by feeling fear of dying on that battle and decided to overcome that fear. The scene that follows to me is the best of this movie, when he goes back home and enjoys an abundant dinner in good company, and then, the realization, all this people laughing, eating, listening to music, this high class people, with the privilege to skip recruitment if they wish and isolate themselves in the comfort of their fancy bubble when so many people are suffering, dying, being blown to pieces, but their screams cant be heard in the middle of that opulence, and he is there, with them and at the same time on the battlefield, hearing the noises of cruelty. What an incredible scene that was!
I like your assessment but if I may let me just add a couple things to assist in fine tuning your astute points. Shaw resisted the commission at first (the movie streamlines this and shows him accept the commission within 10 minutes, that didn’t happen) as he did not think such a promotion would benefit his long term military career. But after reconsidering, becoming a colonel would be advantageous for him. He was not an abolitionist like his parents. But as he took command of the 54th, he began to recognize that these men who were free already and not runaway slaves (as the movie depicted) were risking their lives for those still bonded. They weren’t fighting for their freedom, they were fighting for their families and for righteousness. He knew if they were virtuous, he must equal their virtue and in doing so, he realized the way to overcome fear was to stay a step ahead of it. He didn’t necessarily believe the war to be futile (he certainly didn’t want to be executed when inevitably captured if it were ‘futile’) as that would ensure his imminent death. But as he matured into adulthood as a colonel from a boy who was a lieutenant, he recognized the best leader merely sets the best example. There was honor or ‘glory’ in that, as there was for black soldiers giving up their freedom and lives for those still enslaved.
@@hardcorehunter9438still though, they could easily have ran out forcing them to perform surgery without. Dances with Wolves at least provided lip service at the beginning by one of the surgeons mentioning they were out of ether.
An overlooked detail of Matthew Broderick’s acting is when he comes to after that little kick from Morgan Freeman . He lifts his head and immediately sees Freeman’s grayish trousers and wide brimmed hat . He Seems to believe momentarily, that he’s been captured by the Confederates, before Freeman steps in front of the sun. It’s a subtle little gem of acting and completely believable since he’s been knocked out for a while.
I appreciate all the subtleties you pointed out. I rewatched the clip with that in mind and I do see/feel the relief in the Captain as he realizes it’s an ally who’s prodding him. However, I can’t help but notice (and I wonder if Freeman’s character noticed as well), how clean the Captain’s coat looks. Other can a somewhat bloody gash in the cheek and then the neck. His head wasn’t hit, his torso is and and other limbs are intact. How did he pass out so easily? It helps reveal a little bit the early cowardice of the Captain, and how early in the battle he *went down*. *Note: I say cowardice without any malice on my part. I’ve never been in a battle, and this was his first. Anyone of us could have been in his situation, and find themselves overwhelmed by it.
Was lucky enough to see this movie in class in highschool. Must be blowing up on the algorithm, deserves a full rewatch. Forgot just how brutal it was. I think people need to be exposed to this.
In the beauty of the Lillies Christ was born across the sea With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free His day is marching on
This movie is so good. The scene where Denzil's character is whipped and he stares with a single tear falling down his face is heartbreaking and such good acting.
I love that scene when Morgan Freeman gives him a little kick-"You alright there captain?" I don't know why? Maybe just foreshadowing of things to come?
Shaw all of 24 leading a hundred men into a desperate and deadly battle in the bloodiest single day battle in American history.Different time, you grew up fast in war.
Remember when you could have hundreds of extras on the film set? I participated in two such massive shoots. Whilst it was no great battle, it was fun to be part of something so grand.
Still one the best! Cant believe it's been like 30 something years ago, I remember when it first came out, and wondering how Mathew B. was going to do in this film since he always was a more comic actor - but it has a superb cast! RIP 'Snowflake':( but a great film that will stand the test of time...one of the finest depiction of the Civil War, especially highlighting the contribution of the 54th Regiment and others.. I cry every time is see it..
The Union victories at Antietam and Murfreesboro, Tennessee were what Lincoln needed before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. I visited both battle sites. I love the history of the American Civil War.
@Soldier4USA2005 I genuinely can't wrap my head around how warfare eventually evolved into taking turns killing each-other from long distances until you're close enough to kill with melee weapons. That's screwed up
@@averagejoe8358 Evolution of warfare. Single shot weapons that were horribly inaccurate (generally, some were better than others) and required volley fire to be effective.
@@Soldier4USA2005At this point however muskets and cannon had gotten much more accurate. The problem was the tactics hadn't really evolved to factor that in yet. Part of why the Civil War was so bloody.
Always liked that little gleam in Morgan Freeman's eyes when he sees that the young captain is alright, and Broderick's relief seeing he's not a Confederate taking him prisoner.
What’s gripping when I think about it from time to time is imaging the kid who got recruited right after school to ww2 and just gets his head blown off the break. Never left town, kissed a girl, never had a chance even in battle. What kind of life and existence is that. Now in the bigger scope there were an estimated 100bn people who came and went before us 99.99999 all forgotten. No need to fret about life and especially take it for granted.
Jennifer Grey was in the car with him. She suffered severe whiplash injury from the accident. That and suvivors guilt, was one of the reasons she disappeared from public eye after "Dirty Dancing" release. I think Broderick probably got confused driving in the UK, which explains why he was driving in the wrong lane. It is easy to do--been there done that. You have to really concentrate to not revert back to US driving.
The Battle of Antietam had 22,000 casualties in one day. It was the bloodiest day in American history. Remember, these were ALL Americans that were casualties. many of the neb who were killed in the battle were buried in hasty dug graves by the Black men. After the battles the bodies were dug up and reburied in mass graves for those who could not be identified or were returned to the families if requested.
Cannon balls were just one worry. Most artillery could also shoot rounds that exploded overhead, throwing shrapnel as well as cannister fire which turned a howitzer into a shotgun from Hell.
If you ever get the chance to see the luminary ceremony at Antietam, it is worth it. Over 20,000 bags of sand with candles lit up around the fields. I got out of the car and re-lit as many as I could before driving away to not hold up traffic.
This Battle of Antietam which took place in 1862, was the Union victory Lincoln needed to where it could really back up his Emancipation Proclamation. Which was only exclusively a war measure changing the reason/cause of fighting the war, shifting from not only preserving the Union, but also abolishing slavery. Which also was meant to cause Britain and France to turn a blind eye to this American conflict as both of those countries had already abolished slavery decades earlier. And thus never coming to the aid of the Confederacy, which they were poised to do. Given cotton/economics and all of that. But the Emancipation Proclamation was just that, a presidential proclamation, and not actual law. Thus Lincoln, being the lawyer he was sought to permanently solve the issue of slavery by lawfully changing/amending the law, by passing the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the US Constitution.
The thing about this scene is that where the 2nd Massachusetts was positioned during the battle, there was no fence in front of them. They went into the cornfield where in this scene there is no cornfield at all. When he’s walking back there is a hill as well, with artillery firing to the west. They attacked north to south and those batteries would have been firing at nothing.
Good point. Historical accuracy is subject to a LOT of things when it comes to movies. Still no excuse for Napoleon. Absolutely ridiculous, to the point of insulting to history and it's fans like us.@@dantea7475
Partly a necessity of communications too, small units could operate independently, but large-scale movements you had to keep units within hearing distance if the orders changed. After all, pre-planning and intelligence are not guaranteed to be accurate even now, back then, even less so.
I will never forget my first day landing in my AO in Afghanistan. I was well-trained for years at that point, but... Actually being on the battlefield is a feeling that you could never adequately put into words. The only way a human being will ever know what it's like to fight in a war, is to fight in a war...
The marksmanship of the southern soldiers was excellent because their families relied on them since they were little to provide food for the table knew some guys like that when I used to shoot competitions nicest guys you ever want to meet first time I ever ate squirrel raccoon deer rabbit and pretty much anything that moved and they used the same recipe their great grandmother used
This was probably somewhat true in the early days of the war, but, the South had a good number of untrained men as well. They definitely had better cavalry and leadership - initially. However, those advantages eroded fairly quickly. The Union consistently had better hardware (such as artillery, engineering abilities).
@lilredcutie0 the union also blocked the southern trade over seas and convinced other nations to side with the union. This had large benefits to their war effort especially against a mostly agrarian people
Saddens me to think of my country torn apart by the Civil War. The horrors that were experienced on both sides are too great to calculate. There is glory in death, if done for a just cause. I'm grateful that my generation, my father's and my children's generation (so far) hasn't had to unwillingly lay down their lives like previous generations of our nation did, however. We stand on the shoulders of our previous generations and those who willingly continue to sacrifice their lives over the past 50 years, voluntarily.
I remembered when I saw this movie back in middle school most of our classmates were talking about this movie like for weeks after watching it sometimes we still remember it when we hang together....btw the muzzle sound and buzz of those 6 pounder Parrot cannon shells is so freaking scary I can't imagine a direct hit on any part of your body
Rifled muskets were introduced later in the war. Until then you had to get fairly close to the enemy. Once rifled muskets and better ammunition made its way to battlefields, the infantry tactics didn't evolve with them. It was a turkey shoot for both sides.
@@michaelnaretto3409 Yes, the Generals always seem to fight the last war. Shelby Foote’s comments the subject are right on. They lined up, massed their fire and got blown away.
Any wound, no matter how small could lead to infection and death in those days. I am trying to imagine the mentality of these men, on both sides, fighting the war
I remember the director saying something about the hospital scene. He said something like, “We laid that scene on a little thick.” I don’t think they did. Back in those terrible times, they didn’t have as advanced medicine as we do today. During those times their doctors were severely lacking the proper instruments and supplies to treat a lot of wounds and injuries. Most of the time, they handled most injuries with amputations. As horrific as that sounds today, it was the way things were back then.
3:03 Tree bursts. After just watching Band of Brothers and now seeing this I no longer think the confederates were misfiring as I did the last time I saw this when I was younger.
I always thought that was funny, considering that artillery at the top had a low trajectory. There would be no actual reason to ever aim that high. My guess it that they just thought the practical effect of blowing explosives off at the top of a tree looked cool. Lol
Except in real life, they gave the soldier chloroform. This amputation portrayal was done for drama's sake, and it almost never happened like that in real life.
I can’t believe it took me…… (35 minus 18….) 17 years to realize the first battle we see in this movie was a victory as told to us by the orderly. In most movies it’s portrayed as any army that’s breaking, taking losses, etc., it’s an assumed loss. Yet… It’s said casually as we watch a man’s leg get sawed off. This is what a victory looks like, paid for by both victor and loser. Blood, gunpowder, fire, and flesh
beautiful clip. A much better move than Gettysburg with respect to showing the lot of the common soldier and of blacks. Gettysburg probably had a less impressive budget. But, they should have inserted a scene showing the ANV enslaving free blacks in Chambersburg, PA as Lee advanced. Such a scene would have added context.
It was a made for tv movie. There wasn’t much of a budget at all. They were saved by the sheer number of civil war reenactors that volunteered. Saved them millions of dollars and time since the guys came with their own uniforms, muskets, canons and they already knew how to talk era appropriate, march in formation, etc and helped out the director with accuracy. A pretty heartwarming story if you check out the behind the scenes.
@@Nitsua2828 - yes. I've heard that and seen "behind the scenes" videos. I think Gettysburg was a very good and even beautiful movie. And it gives a decent view of the relevant strategic and grand tactical concerns, as well the "brother vs. brother" nature of the conflict in the Armistad scenes (in fact, I wish some of the cut scenes had been left in). But, I think it missed the mark with respect to slavery a bit, as discussed above.
I still remember way back in grade school I had teacher who was “teaching” a history class and she wanted recommendations about what movie to watch in school about the civil war and I suggested Glory, she then brought in the movie “Road to Glory” which had nothing to do with it of course if I remember correctly. I think I was the only kid in class that could at that time out teach about history. She knew NOTHING about the civil war.
In every movie with war scenes including artillery, they just can NOT do without explosions, it's crazy. In these periods, they were cannonballs, not shells. They never were any explosions of the sort. As a result, the depiction we have of what war may have been at the time is completely blurred in fantasy. Seems like moviemakers are all ignorant about war, yet they seem to enjoy it. It's obscene.
This the only movie I’ve ever seen that the sound matches the way veterans described the sounds of battle. I seen it written many times about the “rattle of musketry “ and that’s exactly what it sounds like in this movie. I love it when the confederate soldiers are cheering.
It wasn’t uncommon for confederate officers to take their slaves with them to the battlefield camps to serve them in different capacities. There is supposedly a true story of a very young slave boy running onto the battlefield, after his “master” had fallen(unalive), and retrieving his master’s priceless Spanish sword. The sword was discovered in his African American descendant’s home in Detroit about 30 or 40 years ago.
These movies should unite us more than ever, considering how much the government wants us split apart for their political gain. Too much blood was shed for our nation to die from within
@@FactoryOldFork The movie Patriot seems to disagree. Not that that film is historical fact, but it seems reasonable that ambushing and hiding in tree lines could be just as effective with less risk.
@@willdazey7368And where are your cannons and cavalry going to go? What will you do when you need to defend a position? America won the revolutionary war not because they fired from trees, but because the French, Dutch and Spanish supported them.
Fun fact:This scene depicts the first day of the Battle of Antietam,another man on the battlefield was a Lieutenant named McKinley…William McKinley,yes the future president William McKinley
That part where the officer gets his head blown to bits is just harrowing. Certainly dispels any illusions of the ‘glory’ of battle.
There's glory in killing, there's no glory in dying.
He could still be alright
@@halfrightface A bit of bed rest and he’ll be right as rain
Dulce et decorum est. (look it up)
Catching a .58 caliber mini ball with your teeth will do that do you
No matter how many times I read about it in history books, no matter how many times I see it in movies, the idea of setting yourself up as a target and relying on SHEER CHANCE is a concept I'll never wrap my head around.
They definitely had their reasons, or it wouldn’t have been the de facto way of fighting back in those days. It was easier to communicate between different units in a time before radio, and it was also an easier way of massing fires onto your enemy in a time before the invention of smokeless powder. Battlefields of these days were extremely choked up with smoke, so it was easy to lose your own guys or other sister units in attacks or defenses.
Not a good way to fight, granted, and I’d never want to fight that way. But it was for more strategic reasons of the day was the reason they fought like that.
Building on @YoWatTheHeck a common misconception is that all of these battles were on large empty fields and everyone stood in lines trading fire until the one of them gave up. In reality, it would often be one big game of chicken, with one side attempting to advance into melee range on the other faster than the other side could shoot. The Civil War muddies these waters further due to the irregular tactics of confederate soldiers, who would ambush the enemy and flee further up/down the road before return fire could reach them all to do it over again.
There's way more factoring into it, but the common foot soldier had more options available to them than just standing there and praying (though admittedly, that *was* a big chunk of it)
Exactly what I was thinking watching this. Compared to how we fight now, it's amazing how humans evolve in many aspects. To create new strategies, tactics, and weaponry. Or just the evolution of society in general. Sadly, nowadays in America, it appears we are trying to make life, too easy. Without struggle or pain, or inconvenience. But as the saying goes "competition breeds evolution". Growth (in various capacities) comes from hardships.
if you are living easy you must be a rich cunt. I'm not from America, but know it's history and politics. as long as there are two parties whose goal is only to make money and look after their rich mates, there will always be hardship. any changes they make to make life "easier" are simply concessions to attempt to pacify the poor and working and farming classes @@gabrielgarcia-zw8fu
In a world without radios for every few men it was necessary for communication and movement. These battles were won by tactics, not sharpshooters.
"It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell." - William Tecumseh Sherman
sherman was the real deal
"War is war and hell is hell, because hell doesn't have innocent bystanders." - Hawkeye
Oddly poignant coming from a bloodthirsty savage like him.
@@rhone733 sounds like something the Hawkeye character from the tv show M.A.S.H. said. Not the Hawkeye from the James Fenimore Cooper novel.
@@rhone733 Was just thinking the same thing. “And then he went out to burn more women and children as he cried out for vengeance”
One of the most brutal aspects of this scene is that after Robert wakes up and walks around, he sees that the battle is still ongoing. To me, it says something about the futility of war and how quickly those moments of extreme terror or bravery are forgotten.
To me I also felt a sort of comfort form it, that despite everything time marches on. Even this battle will just become history in a day, two days or whatever.
War never ends. Battles might end but wars will continue to be fought internally.
That soldier crying as they cut off his leg haunted me since the first time I saw this movie
Done without anesthetic or pain killers (short of a snort of whiskey) of any kind, too. And given how there were no antibiotics, he probably died of infection from the amputation anyways as it was a very common occurrence.
@@Soldier4USA2005Thats mostly a misconception. Most procedures then were done with some sort of anesthesia.
@@Hinestyler2 This was done during battle and away from supply lines sometimes.
Supply runs out or they save it for those they know they can save when low.
@@Soldier4USA2005 Anesthesia had existed for long enough for surgeons to begin refusing operations if they had no anesthesia. The guy getting amputated was just a bad way to show it - he would be under shock, lost a lot of blood and the torniquet would've numbed off the limb. He would not have been able to resist like that, because for whatever reason they want to amputate without any sort of anesthesia.
Same here. Fifth grade (1990) in history class, I’ll never forget it 😳
I remember showing this movie to my history class in 7th grade back than we were taught about the country and world as a whole. We didn't spend a few days on a subject we spent weeks.
Now I doubt it is even shown again in schools.
The movie is titled "Glory" because after this opening scene the rest of the character's experience is on borrowed time. He already died in his own mind, and when he comes back it's obvious that any more participation in the war is futile. Yet he carries on with what he has left in him, for a cause that has found him, wherever that goes.
That's Glory.
There is a video I watched on the reason it was named glory, something to do with the book it was based off of
Then he goes on to die for real, just like the real Shaw did, and be remembered for the rest of American history.
He just realized then and there, amongst the dead, between the yells and silences that he could have been dead as well if he stood up after the blast that threw him on the floor. He didn't. He chose to fake his death to survive. From that moment on, he never reconciled with himself. I think he felt he betrayed himself by feeling fear of dying on that battle and decided to overcome that fear. The scene that follows to me is the best of this movie, when he goes back home and enjoys an abundant dinner in good company, and then, the realization, all this people laughing, eating, listening to music, this high class people, with the privilege to skip recruitment if they wish and isolate themselves in the comfort of their fancy bubble when so many people are suffering, dying, being blown to pieces, but their screams cant be heard in the middle of that opulence, and he is there, with them and at the same time on the battlefield, hearing the noises of cruelty. What an incredible scene that was!
That’s a great way of putting it
I like your assessment but if I may let me just add a couple things to assist in fine tuning your astute points. Shaw resisted the commission at first (the movie streamlines this and shows him accept the commission within 10 minutes, that didn’t happen) as he did not think such a promotion would benefit his long term military career. But after reconsidering, becoming a colonel would be advantageous for him. He was not an abolitionist like his parents. But as he took command of the 54th, he began to recognize that these men who were free already and not runaway slaves (as the movie depicted) were risking their lives for those still bonded. They weren’t fighting for their freedom, they were fighting for their families and for righteousness. He knew if they were virtuous, he must equal their virtue and in doing so, he realized the way to overcome fear was to stay a step ahead of it. He didn’t necessarily believe the war to be futile (he certainly didn’t want to be executed when inevitably captured if it were ‘futile’) as that would ensure his imminent death. But as he matured into adulthood as a colonel from a boy who was a lieutenant, he recognized the best leader merely sets the best example. There was honor or ‘glory’ in that, as there was for black soldiers giving up their freedom and lives for those still enslaved.
At 8:21, That poor solider..."..please don't cut anymore please!"
Damn.
Always hated that part. Has stuck with me since I was young
Yeah, but contrary to popular belief most Of the amputations in the civil war were indeed done under anesthesia, either chloroform or ether.
@@hardcorehunter9438Thank you for sharing!! Big misconception there!
Must’ve ran out of pain killers, in that era, with that large of an influx of wounded, damn.
@@hardcorehunter9438still though, they could easily have ran out forcing them to perform surgery without. Dances with Wolves at least provided lip service at the beginning by one of the surgeons mentioning they were out of ether.
An overlooked detail of Matthew Broderick’s acting is when he comes to after that little kick from Morgan Freeman . He lifts his head and immediately sees Freeman’s grayish trousers and wide brimmed hat . He Seems to believe momentarily, that he’s been captured by the Confederates, before Freeman steps in front of the sun. It’s a subtle little gem of acting and completely believable since he’s been knocked out for a while.
I think you are overanalyzing. I didn't see that at all.
Well spotted
Mmm that's good trivia lol
@@mrmacguff1n: To those that imagine it happened that way, yes.
I appreciate all the subtleties you pointed out. I rewatched the clip with that in mind and I do see/feel the relief in the Captain as he realizes it’s an ally who’s prodding him.
However, I can’t help but notice (and I wonder if Freeman’s character noticed as well), how clean the Captain’s coat looks. Other can a somewhat bloody gash in the cheek and then the neck. His head wasn’t hit, his torso is and and other limbs are intact. How did he pass out so easily? It helps reveal a little bit the early cowardice of the Captain, and how early in the battle he *went down*.
*Note: I say cowardice without any malice on my part. I’ve never been in a battle, and this was his first. Anyone of us could have been in his situation, and find themselves overwhelmed by it.
Was lucky enough to see this movie in class in highschool. Must be blowing up on the algorithm, deserves a full rewatch. Forgot just how brutal it was. I think people need to be exposed to this.
Same and yes!
One of Matthew Broderick's best movies.
Still say that he should have been nominated for an Oscar for this one.
@@brianswanigan9891dein Ernst?
Honestly the only role I believed from him, everything else is meh
8:00 The actor portraying the hospital orderly taking care of Capt. Shaw also played the part of Neelix on Star Trek: Voyager.
Thank you! recognized the voice but couldnt place the face!
Yea I thought the same. But didn't see the face clearly to tell for sure
ETHAN PHILLIPS!
I knew his voice sounded familiar.
“We fight for men and women whose poetry is not yet written but which will presently be as enviable and as renowned as any.” Wow.
His letters are amazing. Poetry in itself.
In the beauty of the Lillies Christ was born across the sea
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free
His day is marching on
This movie is so good. The scene where Denzil's character is whipped and he stares with a single tear falling down his face is heartbreaking and such good acting.
Read it was a real whip but less harmful softer..the tears were real it still hurt him
Denzel won Best Supporting Actor for his role.
I drive past Antietam battlefield regularly. Haunts me each time I pass it.
Weil?
@@philipppaasch8929antietam was one of our bloodiest fights.
@@philipppaasch8929 No Kurt Weil wasnt there. He was born long after the Civil War.
@@mikeoyler2983 okay, jetzt ist kompletter Absturz? 😅😄
I'd be scared to drive around there at night. That place has got to be haunted.
This film still stands up all these years later.
I love that scene when Morgan Freeman gives him a little kick-"You alright there captain?" I don't know why? Maybe just foreshadowing of things to come?
That tried & true tactic of slowly marching towards artillery in an entrenched elevated position.
Right!?!? 🤦
Shaw all of 24 leading a hundred men into a desperate and deadly battle in the bloodiest single day battle in American history.Different time, you grew up fast in war.
At 24 he was old.
@@Mugdorna Yeah, Confederate Colonel Bergwyn was 21 when he died at Gettysburg
Remember when you could have hundreds of extras on the film set? I participated in two such massive shoots. Whilst it was no great battle, it was fun to be part of something so grand.
The medic! The medic talking to him! It's Neelix!
Thank you that was going to make me a little nuts, I couldn’t place him.
No way lol
He is also half of Tuvix
Waa laberst du?
Haha... it really is... no matter where Neelix ends up... seems he always has friends who has friends
Walking into battle like that is just madness
Not gonna lie, I was tearing up in the last thirty seconds.
Still one the best! Cant believe it's been like 30 something years ago, I remember when it first came out, and wondering how Mathew B. was going to do in this film since he always was a more comic actor - but it has a superb cast! RIP 'Snowflake':( but a great film that will stand the test of time...one of the finest depiction of the Civil War, especially highlighting the contribution of the 54th Regiment and others.. I cry every time is see it..
the chorus in this movies theme is heavenly.
“He was waiting to do it after a big victory, which is I guess what this is.” Powerful line, just adding “I guess” to it
The Union victories at Antietam and Murfreesboro, Tennessee were what Lincoln needed before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. I visited both battle sites. I love the history of the American Civil War.
Huh. Neelix was the doctor doin' up Broderick's wound.
Can you imagine the PTSD from back then?
Nope and I don't want to.
Walking straight into enemy fire as your friends and fellow soldiers die around you is a special kind of messed up.
That's why everyone drank so much.
@Soldier4USA2005 I genuinely can't wrap my head around how warfare eventually evolved into taking turns killing each-other from long distances until you're close enough to kill with melee weapons. That's screwed up
@@averagejoe8358 Evolution of warfare.
Single shot weapons that were horribly inaccurate (generally, some were better than others) and required volley fire to be effective.
@@Soldier4USA2005At this point however muskets and cannon had gotten much more accurate. The problem was the tactics hadn't really evolved to factor that in yet. Part of why the Civil War was so bloody.
Always liked that little gleam in Morgan Freeman's eyes when he sees that the young captain is alright, and Broderick's relief seeing he's not a Confederate taking him prisoner.
All I used to do was watch this movie as a kid. Such an amazing Civil War staple.
Matthew Broderick’s greatest ever performance, terrific actor
The tactics were insane.
35 years old, and I've never heard of or seen this movie..... watching it immediately
How is God's name did he not win the Oscar for this as Shaw??? There are not many movies that touched my soul, this is one of them.... 👍👍👍👍👍
What’s gripping when I think about it from time to time is imaging the kid who got recruited right after school to ww2 and just gets his head blown off the break. Never left town, kissed a girl, never had a chance even in battle. What kind of life and existence is that. Now in the bigger scope there were an estimated 100bn people who came and went before us 99.99999 all forgotten. No need to fret about life and especially take it for granted.
The narrations of his letters in the movie are supposedly what Robert Shaw wrote to his parents
Omg that soldier getting his leg cut off the civil war was very brutal
Grammatik? Englisch?
Fun fact! In 1987, Matthew Broderick caused a car accident that cost the lives of a mother and daughter in Ireland. He was fined £100.
yeah and it was quickly memory holed because he was supposed to be the lead in some other big movie (which didn't happen obviously)
And they never got justice. Lovely.
Fun fact it is not.
@@MountVernonPolitics who the fuck asked you
Jennifer Grey was in the car with him. She suffered severe whiplash injury from the accident. That and suvivors guilt, was one of the reasons she disappeared from public eye after "Dirty Dancing" release.
I think Broderick probably got confused driving in the UK, which explains why he was driving in the wrong lane. It is easy to do--been there done that. You have to really concentrate to not revert back to US driving.
The Battle of Antietam had 22,000 casualties in one day. It was the bloodiest day in American history. Remember, these were ALL Americans that were casualties. many of the neb who were killed in the battle were buried in hasty dug graves by the Black men. After the battles the bodies were dug up and reburied in mass graves for those who could not be identified or were returned to the families if requested.
Canon balls move pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while...
HAHA!…That’s Awesome!🤩🤣🤩
Cannon balls were just one worry. Most artillery could also shoot rounds that exploded overhead, throwing shrapnel as well as cannister fire which turned a howitzer into a shotgun from Hell.
@@douglaslorin739 you missed the reference lol
If you ever get the chance to see the luminary ceremony at Antietam, it is worth it. Over 20,000 bags of sand with candles lit up around the fields. I got out of the car and re-lit as many as I could before driving away to not hold up traffic.
I have ancestors that fought on both sides. They all survived with minor wounds and lived up in their 70's and 80's.
This Battle of Antietam which took place in 1862, was the Union victory Lincoln needed to where it could really back up his Emancipation Proclamation.
Which was only exclusively a war measure changing the reason/cause of fighting the war, shifting from not only preserving the Union, but also abolishing slavery.
Which also was meant to cause Britain and France to turn a blind eye to this American conflict as both of those countries had already abolished slavery decades earlier. And thus never coming to the aid of the Confederacy, which they were poised to do. Given cotton/economics and all of that. But the Emancipation Proclamation was just that, a presidential proclamation, and not actual law. Thus Lincoln, being the lawyer he was sought to permanently solve the issue of slavery by lawfully changing/amending the law, by passing the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the US Constitution.
The thing about this scene is that where the 2nd Massachusetts was positioned during the battle, there was no fence in front of them. They went into the cornfield where in this scene there is no cornfield at all. When he’s walking back there is a hill as well, with artillery firing to the west. They attacked north to south and those batteries would have been firing at nothing.
Hard to show the larger battle if all your actors are obscured by a cornfield
Good point. Historical accuracy is subject to a LOT of things when it comes to movies. Still no excuse for Napoleon. Absolutely ridiculous, to the point of insulting to history and it's fans like us.@@dantea7475
Don't think I will ever understand how walking into gunfire and cannon was the best warfare strategy.
The weapons evolved, the tactics did not. It took ww1 to make people realise charging your enemy blindly is a stupid tactic
Partly a necessity of communications too, small units could operate independently, but large-scale movements you had to keep units within hearing distance if the orders changed. After all, pre-planning and intelligence are not guaranteed to be accurate even now, back then, even less so.
I will never forget my first day landing in my AO in Afghanistan.
I was well-trained for years at that point, but...
Actually being on the battlefield is a feeling that you could never adequately put into words. The only way a human being will ever know what it's like to fight in a war, is to fight in a war...
lol he just got a little scratch the other dude getting an amputation
Glory 1989 it was my favorite movie
Thank you for one of the epic soundtracks, James Horner. Rest in peace.
The marksmanship of the southern soldiers was excellent because their families relied on them since they were little to provide food for the table knew some guys like that when I used to shoot competitions nicest guys you ever want to meet first time I ever ate squirrel raccoon deer rabbit and pretty much anything that moved and they used the same recipe their great grandmother used
This was probably somewhat true in the early days of the war, but, the South had a good number of untrained men as well. They definitely had better cavalry and leadership - initially. However, those advantages eroded fairly quickly. The Union consistently had better hardware (such as artillery, engineering abilities).
@@lilredcutie0Union also had more men, so they could bear the loses. The confederacy couldn’t
@lilredcutie0 the union also blocked the southern trade over seas and convinced other nations to side with the union. This had large benefits to their war effort especially against a mostly agrarian people
Saddens me to think of my country torn apart by the Civil War. The horrors that were experienced on both sides are too great to calculate. There is glory in death, if done for a just cause. I'm grateful that my generation, my father's and my children's generation (so far) hasn't had to unwillingly lay down their lives like previous generations of our nation did, however. We stand on the shoulders of our previous generations and those who willingly continue to sacrifice their lives over the past 50 years, voluntarily.
it wasn't torn apart by civil war, it was torn apart by Southern barbarism and treason
I remembered when I saw this movie back in middle school most of our classmates were talking about this movie like for weeks after watching it sometimes we still remember it when we hang together....btw the muzzle sound and buzz of those 6 pounder Parrot cannon shells is so freaking scary I can't imagine a direct hit on any part of your body
Probably the Only movie that made me cry at the end. Best War movie if not Top 5 Always.
Not sure who said this, but it stuck with me. "The Glory of War is covered in blood that saved no one".
Incredible that anyone survived being wounded even the least injured. Nothing sterilized at all infections must have been rapid.
Just remember we lose more men during the Civil war then all our other wars 600 thousand
@@nancyhilliard1634 and the majority of deaths from both sides came from dysentery more than battle.
What an insane way to fight a war. While all wars are a bit insane, boldly walking up-protected into entrenched positions is a bit suicidal.
Rifled muskets were introduced later in the war. Until then you had to get fairly close to the enemy. Once rifled muskets and better ammunition made its way to battlefields, the infantry tactics didn't evolve with them. It was a turkey shoot for both sides.
@@michaelnaretto3409 Yes, the Generals always seem to fight the last war. Shelby Foote’s comments the subject are right on. They lined up, massed their fire and got blown away.
@@michaelnaretto3409Rifled muskets were widely used since the beginning of the war.
@@michaelnaretto3409They had rifiled barrels since revolutionary war , look up the Kentucky rifle.
@@RFSpartan Yes, at the start of the war there were some rifled muskets, but they didn't become standard issue until later.
Any wound, no matter how small could lead to infection and death in those days. I am trying to imagine the mentality of these men, on both sides, fighting the war
another awesome film from back when they made movies.
I remember the director saying something about the hospital scene. He said something like, “We laid that scene on a little thick.” I don’t think they did. Back in those terrible times, they didn’t have as advanced medicine as we do today. During those times their doctors were severely lacking the proper instruments and supplies to treat a lot of wounds and injuries. Most of the time, they handled most injuries with amputations. As horrific as that sounds today, it was the way things were back then.
3:03 Tree bursts. After just watching Band of Brothers and now seeing this I no longer think the confederates were misfiring as I did the last time I saw this when I was younger.
I always thought that was funny, considering that artillery at the top had a low trajectory. There would be no actual reason to ever aim that high.
My guess it that they just thought the practical effect of blowing explosives off at the top of a tree looked cool. Lol
Time*
This is what movies used to be like.
the sounds of the soldier screaming as the doctor saws away at the soldier's leg the shadows tell you what's going on .
Except in real life, they gave the soldier chloroform.
This amputation portrayal was done for drama's sake, and it almost never happened like that in real life.
For me,the best Civil War movie👍
Hearing that poor man screaming,while getting his leg amputated so sad
Ferris Bueller needs a day off after this.
"Next to a lost battle, nothing is so sad as a battle that has been won."
Arthur Wellesley
Love the civil war music
08:00
Holy shite, it's Neelix.
EVERYONES FAVORITE STAR TREK CLOWN, NEELIX
Not sure, but was that also Barry Pepper holding the soldier down with amputation?
“This might hurt you I’m sorry.”
Broderick, trying not to feel embarrassed as he watches a man get his leg sawed off: 👀
One thing rarely brought up is that Matthew Broderick has a decent resemblance to Robert Gould Shaw.
Agree 😀 But Cary Elwes actually looks even more like the real Shaw...
I thought Red was gonna say, “You alright there, Ferris?”
Excellent film, the correct way to tell the story of these brave men, well done 👏 ✔️ 👍
Too much Hollywood, not enough facts.
Antietam was a F’ing Bloodbath.
War.... war never changes 😢
I think it was said that the civil war was one of the most brutal wars America ever faced.
"Bro, I think if we line up and walk real slow towards a bunch of guys with rifles that we can win this thing." - Every General from 0 to 1914.
I can’t believe it took me…… (35 minus 18….) 17 years to realize the first battle we see in this movie was a victory as told to us by the orderly.
In most movies it’s portrayed as any army that’s breaking, taking losses, etc., it’s an assumed loss.
Yet…
It’s said casually as we watch a man’s leg get sawed off.
This is what a victory looks like, paid for by both victor and loser.
Blood, gunpowder, fire, and flesh
I remeber i saw this in my 8th grade U.S history class and i love this film as it portrayed the horror of war
Diver City really turned out well
beautiful clip. A much better move than Gettysburg with respect to showing the lot of the common soldier and of blacks. Gettysburg probably had a less impressive budget. But, they should have inserted a scene showing the ANV enslaving free blacks in Chambersburg, PA as Lee advanced. Such a scene would have added context.
It was a made for tv movie. There wasn’t much of a budget at all. They were saved by the sheer number of civil war reenactors that volunteered. Saved them millions of dollars and time since the guys came with their own uniforms, muskets, canons and they already knew how to talk era appropriate, march in formation, etc and helped out the director with accuracy. A pretty heartwarming story if you check out the behind the scenes.
@@Nitsua2828 - yes. I've heard that and seen "behind the scenes" videos. I think Gettysburg was a very good and even beautiful movie. And it gives a decent view of the relevant strategic and grand tactical concerns, as well the "brother vs. brother" nature of the conflict in the Armistad scenes (in fact, I wish some of the cut scenes had been left in). But, I think it missed the mark with respect to slavery a bit, as discussed above.
I was not prepared for this as a fifth grader
Surley they knew that marching very slowly towards the guns in rows wasn't the best offensive tactic.
Absolute crime this movie didn't win Best Picture.
This scene alone shows how bloody Antietam and the civil war really is
The guy getting his leg sawed off is 50x more terrifying than the combat scene
7:30 💀
I still remember way back in grade school I had teacher who was “teaching” a history class and she wanted recommendations about what movie to watch in school about the civil war and I suggested Glory, she then brought in the movie “Road to Glory” which had nothing to do with it of course if I remember correctly. I think I was the only kid in class that could at that time out teach about history. She knew NOTHING about the civil war.
In every movie with war scenes including artillery, they just can NOT do without explosions, it's crazy.
In these periods, they were cannonballs, not shells. They never were any explosions of the sort.
As a result, the depiction we have of what war may have been at the time is completely blurred in fantasy.
Seems like moviemakers are all ignorant about war, yet they seem to enjoy it. It's obscene.
This the only movie I’ve ever seen that the sound matches the way veterans described the sounds of battle. I seen it written many times about the “rattle of musketry “ and that’s exactly what it sounds like in this movie. I love it when the confederate soldiers are cheering.
If you look closely, you can see LeVar Burton's great grandfather marching with the confederates.
It wasn’t uncommon for confederate officers to take their slaves with them to the battlefield camps to serve them in different capacities. There is supposedly a true story of a very young slave boy running onto the battlefield, after his “master” had fallen(unalive), and retrieving his master’s priceless Spanish sword. The sword was discovered in his African American descendant’s home in Detroit about 30 or 40 years ago.
Lol good one
I remember thinking Duck Ferris in the battle of Antietam scene. Antietam was a blood bath for both sides.
He always felt guilty about this. That’s why he refused to back down the next time
Amazing tactics
A++++ Film
These movies should unite us more than ever, considering how much the government wants us split apart for their political gain. Too much blood was shed for our nation to die from within
Morgan Freeman could read rank as a non-enlisted and former slave. Pretty impressive.
yeah shiny silver captain bars are just so hard to read
Maybe he's buried enough to know the difference.
marching in open fields while the enemy shoots at you. madness.
that’s all you could do with muskets, if they were all scattered they wouldn’t have any accuracy in their shots whatsoever
@@FactoryOldFork The movie Patriot seems to disagree. Not that that film is historical fact, but it seems reasonable that ambushing and hiding in tree lines could be just as effective with less risk.
Someone has to take that hill.
You either march in formation like that or get carved up by cavalry. It's not like they were stupid back then.
@@willdazey7368And where are your cannons and cavalry going to go? What will you do when you need to defend a position? America won the revolutionary war not because they fired from trees, but because the French, Dutch and Spanish supported them.
Got hearing that man scream in the hospital tent imagine getting your leg cut off with a hacksaw with no painkiller😢
Fun fact:This scene depicts the first day of the Battle of Antietam,another man on the battlefield was a Lieutenant named McKinley…William McKinley,yes the future president William McKinley
Seeing the soldier get his head blown off disturbed the HELL out of me when I was a kid