At James Island, Thomas's bayonet sticks out of the Confederate soldier's chest, with Thomas right behind him. Neither would be acceptable at the time of the Civil War. One child wears a digital watch on his hand. The film also included small details that were historically correct, such as the pidgin many former slaves spoke, the 54th’s struggle to attain proper footwear, the tension between Irish and blacks in the north, and the horrific and primitive medicinal methods used in the civil war. The educated northern blacks who actually made up the regiment likely wouldn't know work songs originating in the fields of southern plantations, never mind adding new lyrics. The shadow on Shaw's face changes when he tells men he will tear up his paycheck. | The first was the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment, followed by the 2nd Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In the opening scenes, when Shaw marches beside his soldiers toward the Antietam battle, the rank insignia on his epaulets change from that of a captain (two bars) to that of a second lieutenant (no insignia within the epaulet borders) because it's a flashback. Gen. Beauregard proposed it as a battle flag, and the Army of Northern Virginia may have used for a very short time before it was officially rejected. The champagne was first made in 1921 and released for sale in 1936. When Rawlins finds him, he is lying next to a completely different man. The way in which the black Union soldiers were treated is once again historically accurate; in both the film and in real life, Black soldiers were paid three dolares less than white Union soldiers, and the entire 54th regiment did not accept payment until the Union government passed a law promising equal pay. After Col. Shaw is notified of his promotion, he and Maj. Forbes talk outside, and Maj. Forbes drinks champagne from a Dom Pérignon bottle. Another example of advanced cinematography can be seen in the final scene, as Shaw is dragged to a ditch and thrown in with piles of other dead bodies, the camera trained on his lifeless face as it tumbles on a stack of the deceased, symbolic of his importance and ultimate mortality. The sky changes from clear to overcast multiple times on the beach prior to the charge of Fort Wagner. In the Civil War, Cavalry troops on both sides didn't attack deployed infantry head-on as depicted unless the attack was made in response to a surprise encounter, or out of sheer desperation to escape an enemy encirclement. During the singing of the Negro spiritual on the eve of the assault on Ft. Wagner, the key and tempo noticeably change when the soundtrack switches from playback to production sound (recorded on location). One such inaccuracy deals with the apparent background of the black soldiers that make up the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. Although African Americans had fought with distinction in the American Revolution and the War of 1812, many in the North questioned the discipline and fighting capabilities of African Americans. The men's breath is visible the night before the big attack on Fort Wagner. During the siege, the Confederates in the fort discovered that their wells had been poisoned by the decomposing bodies of Union soldiers buried in nearby mass graves. After Rawlins hands Trip a rifle, Trip fires it into the air with an audible "click" (as in no round loaded). After an intense two-day bombardment by Union artillery, the Confederate Army was forced to abandon Fort Wagner on the night of September 6, 1863. The discrimination and prejudice held upon the blacks, was noticeable at that time, and was showed frankly throughout the movie. The 54th’s struggle to see real battle in the film was also historically correct; The scene of the 54th being forced to plunder the Georgian coastal town of Darien after Colonel Montgomery ordered Shaw to command his regiment to raid the town is historically documented in letters of Shaw, and the scene even includes a real, direct quote of Montgomery’s, “You see sesesh has to be cleared away by the hand of God like the Jews of old. However, Hollywood tends to put a spin on the reality with words like inspired or based on a true story. A children's choir sings "My Country 'Tis of Thee." The position of the sun as Shaw inspects the beach before Fort Wagner. The range of emotion is so diverse and intense, the already important subject matter is made even more powerful. Kristen Haddox, Penn State University4. This topic is thoroughly discussed in the 1989 film Glory, and although the majority of Glory’s main characters were completely fictional and the 54th regiment was composed mostly of educated freedmen rather than the ragtag bunch of runaway slaves that were depicted in the movie, the film’s portrayal of the regiment’s climactic march against Fort Wagner, of the 54th regiment’s leader, Robert Gould Shaw, and of the treatment of black soldiers throughout the civil war were remarkably accurate, making the film as a whole extremely historically correct. One of the more major inaccuracies is the way in which Colonel Robert Gould Shaw is depicted in the movie as first choice to command the regiment, when actually, the command was offered to him, and he hesitated before deciding to accept. Fort Wagner was attacked from the south, so the Atlantic Ocean should be on the right. Here are 25 iconic songs from the past 50+ years. In the next shot, his palm is facing the ground. With Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman. It was a naval flag adopted late in the war and flown by a few ships. was established as a regiment composed exclusively of the cream of Northern black society. And those who were asked to detect the inaccuracies in the films learned just as much incorrect information as students who were merely told to watch them.The historical inaccuracies in movies used in the research included:-- The film "Glory," which tells the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry in the Civil War. The lyrics date to 1831, and were popular by 1863. The stripes of the era were individual stripes, and had to be sewn on one-by-one. The film’s historical accuracy is also part of what makes it great; and although a few characters’ acting is sometimes subpar, Glory’s overall emotion, cinematography, and music creates a beautiful work of art worthy of 4 ½ out of 5 stars. The charge on Fort Wagner occurred two days later, on July 18th. The paper concludes that the historical accuracy of the film is not as important as the actual making and viewing of the film. Its first battle was James Island, South Carolina, on July 16, 1863, then Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863. In the final attack, Thomas stabs a Confederate soldier with a gun that bends right before he is stabbed. Civil War artillery did not fire over the heads of friendly troops for several reasons, including premature explosion of shells. Gen. Harker is based upon Maj. Gen. David "Black Dave" Hunter, who enlisted ex-slaves in the Department of South Carolina. When Colonel Shaw volunteers to lead the charge on Fort Wagner, he tells General Strong, "you should have seen us in action two days ago; we were a sight to see". During the first battle, somehow bayonets are fixed before they charge. When Jupiter shoots bottles with his newly issued rifle, he shoulders the weapon on his right side, but looks with his left eye. And, truthfully, it sucks. During the battle at James Island, within a second, and without orders to attach them, all of the 54th Regiment have their bayonets mounted for the charge. This would mean that they were headed south instead of north. In the second assault on Fort Wagner, Shaw is shot three times in the midsection on the wall. The film is a fairly good representation of the actual story of Shaw and the 54th regiment. Historically, Shaw was not promoted immediately upon taking command of the 54th regiment. He should have said "you should have seen us in action yesterday.". As he does so, he salutes with his palm facing forward. The 54th went on to fight at Olustee, Florida (February 20, 1864), Honey Hill, South Carolina (November 30, 1864), and Boykin's Mill, South Carolina (April 18, 1865). Overall, the film Glory was astonishingly accurate and should be recommended to any student who wants to gain a better knowledge of the Civil War and/or the 54th regiment. While most of the German army fought Britain, Belgium and France in the west, a German army and the Austro-Hungarian Army faced Ru… The acclaimed Civil War hit, […] Perhaps the most personal of battles, however, took place within Lincoln himself. Although it has its minor inaccuracies, Glory is overall an ambitiously correct telling of black Union regiments during the Civil War, and portrays significant events and people nearly flawlessly. McPherson and many other historians make note of multiple discrepancies between historical truths and scenes depicted in Glory. President Abraham Lincoln, concerned about harming the morale of white soldiers and alienating slaveholding border states, initially resisted pleas to allow black combat troops in the Union Army. At the end of the day, one of the key elements of whether a movie’s historical accuracy matters comes down to each specific audience member. Especially with an unfamiliar weapon, it would've been impossible to get a proper sight with his left eye. Just before Christmas, Shaw rides his horse, practicing with his sabre on watermelons, which are harvested in the late spring and early summer. In the film, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment trains through Christmas 1862, after the September 1862 Battle of Antietam. Andrew wanted it to be an elite unit. Overall, Glory was an excellent movie, thoroughly enjoyed, and utterly worthy of its ranking. After the initial interchange. Everyone's been here. As Lincoln addressed, throughout the 1860s, a political and proverbial war of ideology in the United States raged alongside the physical battles between north and south. Glory, the epic account of the 54th Massachusetts, one of the first all-black regiments in the Civil War, contains numerous historical inaccuracies. "Glory" (at the Cineplex Odeon Century City) is an eloquent, heart-tugging Civil War epic about the first black infantry regiment to march off to battle for the Union. Other harsh punishments were used, such as being "spread eagled" on the spare wheel of an artillery limber, which often broke the man's back. The movie Glory is incredibly accurate in its story of the 54th Massachusetts regiment, the first all black regiment in the history of the United States. When handing out Enfields, John Rawlins says that they are ".57 caliber Enfields rifles." When Shaw goes to the Quartermaters office, he demands "600 pairs of shoes and 1200 pairs of socks." Glory, the epic account of the 54th Massachusetts, one of the first all-black regiments in the Civil War, contains numerous historical inaccuracies. Following the failure of the July 18, 1863 attack, Union Major General Quincy Adams Gillmore laid siege to the fort. Montgomery's fanaticism did lead him to plunder and burn Darien, Georgia. A Long, Wet Voyage How many of these useful items do you keep in your own bag? When Shaw and Cabot talk to General Harter about transferring their men to combat command, Cabot has his hands on his lap when the camera faces him. Songs About Being 17Grey's Anatomy QuotesVine Quotes4 Leaf CloverSelf Respect, 1. When the camera faces General Harter, Cabot's face is leaning on one hand. There is never an order given to fix them. When Maj. Forbes approaches Shaw to ask why he is being so hard on the men, he is outside and not wearing his uniform blouse (coat) or a hat. Crazy Credits ", without moving his lips. In the film, Shaw's body is dumped into the mass grave with his red sash. In the film, Shaw's conversation with General Strong takes place on the 17th, with the regiment resting that night and making the charge the next day. On the other hand, another viewer may hate the depiction of kilts in Braveheart, finding t… Soundtracks, At one point Shaw tells Sergeant Major Mulcahy "at ease." The correct flag would have been the state flag with a blue background. In real life, General Strong asked the question, and. Because the Queen Mary was an English ship, arriving from Britain, who had been part of the war for two years, she should have been painted gray long before appearing in the film’s events. In real life, the 54th Massachusetts didn't accept runaway slaves because Gov. Alternate Versions Many songs on both sides of the Civil War used the same melody, including "The Bonnie Blue Flag" and "Arms of Abraham," a humorous song lamenting the experiences of a draftee in the Union Army. When the 54th Massachusetts march past the Southern plantation, a group of slave children run out to see them. The movie consistently shows Confederate troops carrying the classic "stars and bars" Confederate battle flag. The director points it out in the UK DVD release. In fact, modern military regulations require hats (covers) be worn whenever outdoors. In the vast majority of such attacks, the result was almost always followed by heavy cavalry casualties. He was also 25, unlike 44-year-old, In the film, Shaw asks who will carry the colors if they should fall during the assault on Fort Wagner. During the Civil War, the command would have been "rest" or "in place rest.". One person may watch Braveheart, a classic tale about a Scottish revolution led by the legendary William Wallace,and love the kilt cladden-Scotsmen, feeling that it adds to the feel of the movie. When Shaw is shot during the assault on Fort Wagner, a cable trails from his leg as he falls to the sand. Women are known to lug around heavy purses with unnecessary items inside. Over here! I'm sure there'll be chocolates, too. Trip is being brought before Cpt. Kevin Jarre's inspiration for writing the film came from viewing the monument to Colonel Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in Boston Common. Connections According to official records, the 54th sustained 272 casualties, closer to 40%. Shortly after Rawlins says the men need shoes, a soldier's shoe is slowly removed in front of Shaw. At the time, he was part of the Army of the Cumberland's Tullahoma Campaign in Tennessee. Shaw’s death is also accurate; there are many reports of him being shot three times through the chest, as it was also shown in the film. Jennifer Kustanovich, SUNY Stony Brook5. | In the film, Shaw dies after falling on the parapet of Fort Wagner. Shaw's body is thrown into a mass grave still in uniform, minus boots and socks. Additionally, the assault on Fort Wagner was portrayed extremely truthfully, with huge casualties for the 54th and the 54th’s failure in capturing the confederate stronghold (the only fault here that the attack took place from south to north, rather than north to south as depicted in the movie; but this neither matters, nor does it take away from the entire movie). In their first battle, the 54th faces a Confederate Cavalry charge which is easily repulsed. During the assault on the fort, the bayonets are obviously rubber. To be a consistently good shot, Jupiter should have been looking with his right eye. Already, the film has been met with critical acclaim: Many, including Slate movie critic Dana Stevens, have named it one of the best movies of 2014. According to an account by the unit's Color Sgt., Shaw made it to the top of the wall, was shot once through the heart, died instantly, and fell outside of the wall. | In real life, the 54th Massachusetts was organized in March 1863. We need to be prepared with a list of things to have with us whenever we leave the house again. General Charles Garrison Harker wasn't in South Carolina when the 54th Massachusetts was there. When the 54th first marches past a mansion in Georgia, a square concrete curb is visible on the left side of the road (to the soldiers' right). He returned the sash to Shaw's widow 20 years later. 9.) (The movie will get a wide release on Jan. History Film Analysis (300) Film Analysis For the film analysis assignment I chose to watch the movie “Gladiator.” With any modern day movie one runs the risk of finding flaws in the historical accuracy. When they first form the line in that scene, bayonets are obviously not fixed. That flag, given to the regiment by the state government, was never carried in action. The song mentions kangaroos, which were unknown to most Americans at the time. As Rawlins hands out the Enfield rifles, he calls out each one's serial number. Because only the most healthy and robust African-Americans were allowed to enlist in this regiment, many recruits were rejected for medical reasons. It's a feel-good basketball flick based on the 1966, Texas Western Basketball team, … Most modern historical films have been adjusted to fit Hollywood standards thus compromising the historical accuracy. Major Rawlins walks up to break it up, his coat is unbuttoned, with his undershirt clearly visible. Infantry tack was all black, or sometimes blue. Southern slaves, denied education, were even less likely to have heard of them. When Major Forbes arrives on the scene when the 54th is starting a fight with the white Union soldiers, the corporal the Major calls out changes from corporal to sergeant and back. Most of the battle scenes were clearly filmed at Civil War reenactments, as the soldiers approach far too close (especially to cannon) in large numbers before they fire. The Union Army banned flogging in 1861. In the movie, Shaw is surprised when the men refuse pay that was reduced because they are a "colored" regiment, though he eventually joins them in their refusal. Trivia He was promoted to Major once the regiment had assembled its first company, and became a Colonel a few weeks later, after the regiment was approaching full strength. 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