“…But this time, we must make a whole country for all are live here so that they all can speak, before the war began, many of my regiment have never seen any negro…we fight for men and women which poetry has not yet written, but we should presently be as enviable as renowned as any.” This letter was shown at the beginning of the film that Shaw wrote to his mother. The American Civil War is the most important event that affects the development of the United States. On the surface, the American Civil War looks like individuals fight for abolishing slavery and support Lincoln's election. Then, several states in south start proclaiming independence; and the states in the north started a fight for the union. However, looking carefully, individuals might realize that during the election in 1860, Lincoln only got 40% of the votes across the country. Besides Vermont, in most of the states in the north, Lincoln only got 50% to 60% support. Therefore, that is mean if he wants to succeed in the election, he needs to get support from the whole country, and this circumstance leads to a question: is that true that the people who lived in the north really hate the slavery? People can see characters' reaction and movement from the film that claims that they really do not care about if the slavery is abolished or not. This film was showing around 28 years ago; and at that time, people may never think about that after 28 years later, there will have a black president. Moreover, the sound effects and the background music are significant elements that affect audience and historians’ thoughts and feeling. Besides that, these aspects are very important for people to get involve and understand the history. In the ancient world, soldiers fight for glory because they have faith and belief in their mind. Therefore, this film called Glory might have the same meaning. The American Civil War needs a great reason that encourages soldiers to fight for, and the liberate slavery become the most crucial reason that can encourage soldiers to keep up high morale. Furthermore, the film is an autobiography, and most of the autobiography is using the first person point of view. Hence, the scenes that Shaw read the letters that he wrote to his mother is a method to show the first person perspective to the audience. Also, the voiceover helps individuals to get to know the historical event better. Because the movie is also a story of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry, so the other two main protagonists Trip and John play the important parts.
According to the Constitution of the United States1, they indicate that the Negro has right to join the election, but their vote only counted as third-fifth. As the matter of fact, this rule is disobeyed the constitutional spirit. Perhaps, individuals will think that this rule is made by the southern citizen; however, the southern citizen wants the black people to have the right to vote, and because at that time, black people take a big portion of the population in the south. Hence, their votes become more important. This is true that the causes of American Civil War include slavery, but the basic problem is economy. The diversity of economy between south and north become the origin of the civil war. Besides that, the British play a big part in this situation, and they offered help for the south; and all of these circumstances associated with the economy problem.
Robert Shaw who is a narrative's protagonist was "the son of wealthy Boston abolitionists" and he is "an educated, idealistic young man"2 sometimes he makes people he is relying on his parents too much because he always wrote letters to them and tell them almost everything about himself. The film starts on the battlefield, and it tells the audience the concept and the situation of the story directly.
When he back to home, Shaw "Shaw meets abolitionist Frederick Douglass (Raymond St. Jacques) and Massachusetts Governor John Andrew (Alan North), who offers Shaw the command of a regiment of Negro soldiers, the Massachusetts 54th."3
Shaw started to organize the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry, and Thomas became the first volunteer. Moreover, the film also stressed and emphasized the change, situation, and the growth of Thomas; for instance, what's his inner change. Besides that, the same portrayal and description of the inner heart appear in other character's circumstances. As the matter of fact, the most impressive scenes in the film are their way of fighting. At that time, the southern soldiers are more experienced than the northern soldier, and perhaps the reason is that the southern people just been through the Mexican-American War, and they have some excellent commander left from that war. Furthermore, they have the better weapons that are provided by British. However, the northern soldier looks more inexperienced and younger. During the first battle in this film, these soldiers are using the old-fashioned way to against the enemy.4 they are tidy and keep rank, and move forward till fighting at close quarters. Also, this way of the fight has been continued until the end of the movie. As the matter of fact, the soldiers did not have the machine gun, and they only have the rifle; therefore, they have one more complicated step is to reload the gun; and the most excellent soldier can shoot three times in a minute. Thus, that is mean their way of battle can cause the huge casualty rate. After the last battle in the film, "Shaw is tossed into a mass grave with his men, including Trip."5 Only at this moment, it showed the equal between black people and white people because even though they have different colors, they have the same aim and fight for same thing. Furthermore, "A postscript adds that the 54th "lost over half its number" in the attack, and that President Lincoln credited the 180,000 "men of color" who fought for the Union "with helping to turn the tide of the war"6 This evidence state that what they did is worthy and consequential
James Horner makes the sound effect in this film, and the music in the film is grand, magnificent and strikes a deep chord. The sound effect is really important for the film. The theme of the film is dignity and glory; therefore, James Horner used a lot of orchestral music in order to emphasize the background of this period of time. There are several scenes that are very impressive. The first one is when they used canning to punish Denzel Washington, and after he took off this shirt, the old scars are on his back, and all these scars represent the humiliation. He looked at Shaw and finally shed one tear.7 at this part, the director using the close-up shot; therefore, the audience can see the progressive transformation of his face and emotion. Moreover, the second impressive scene is when Shaw volunteered for his regiment, and he said: "There is more than rest and fight, sir, there is a character, there is the strength of heart.”8 Also, at this moment, the director used the same method as the first one, and the close-up shot showed the emotion of Shaw and his strength. Furthermore, the third impressive scene is before Shaw went to the battle, and he told to the journalist: " If I should fall, remember what you see here.”9 Then, he frees his horse. The most time in this movie, Shaw was riding on his horse in order to highlight his noble and different. However, before the last battle in the film, he releases his horse because he finally stands at the same position with his regiment. Shaw and his regiment became the pioneer of throw off the shackles and the forerunner of fighting for freedom. Moreover, the film is more like the growth of Shaw because during the 122 minutes, the Director showed the changes of his thoughts and behaviors, and same as Thomas.
A large number of historians "interested in film reach a large enough mass to begin to create the meetings, essays, journals, and books that indicate a topic is on the scholarly map."10
Films become a new method of learning history. People usually study history from books, articles, literature, documents, etc. films are able to help historians and students understand the history more. Moreover, films have visual effect and sound effect. Therefore, sometimes individuals might not understand the word in the book or literature, but they can understand from the frames.
To sum up, film studies as a new way of learning history help students and historians understand the more circumstances and situations. Also, from the visual and sound effects, individuals can get to know the historical events from the first-person point of view. Besides that, Glory is a really successful film; and there are several impressive scenes that help people get to know the personalities of protagonists.
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