光荣战役

“…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.

“1862年7月国会立法建立黑人军团，黑人从军陆续开始，但是要到次年初废奴宣言发布才正式有大量黑人加入联邦军队作战。整个南北战争期间，在联邦军队服役的黑人军团大约有 179,000名黑人，占联邦陆军的10%。另有19,000人在海军服役。内战期间有近40,000 名黑人士兵死亡，其中战死者约四分之一，大多数死于受伤感染或瘟疫疾病。”

其中最著名的就是罗伯特·古尔德·萧上校受命领导黑人组成的麻塞诸塞州第54自愿步兵团。

罗伯特于1863年4月17日接任上校。原本大家都认为这是出于政治宣传而成立的作秀部队，但是萧却坚持要为黑人赢回尊严，严格训练，主动请战。第一战是1863年7月16日南卡罗来纳詹姆斯岛战役，获胜，死伤54人。两天后，7月18日罗伯特又主动请缨作为进攻Fort Wagne先头部队，最终和54团的大部分士兵战死。

电影对主角罗伯特塑造比较失败，仿佛他是天生的废奴主义白人军官。 饰演黑人志愿兵的丹泽尔·华盛顿表演比较出彩，因此获得奥斯卡最佳男配。摩根·弗里曼饰演一个老成持重的黑人军士长，但感觉他在所有影片里的形象都差不多。

但是影片对剧情节奏把握恰到好处，不急不慢，一步步带观众走进南北战争时代，一点一滴感受黑人的不易，对19世纪滑膛枪战争细节的展现让人心惊胆战，今天人看来那种作战方式无异于列队送死。 特别值得一提的是配乐，和主题配合得完美无缺。

1989年拍摄的《光荣战役》，30年以后再看仍然感动落泪。

美国南北战争，北方政府为了煽动南方黑奴逃离加入北方，于是打算成立一支全黑人军队，组建任务落到了白人萧上校肩上。北方政府原本意图，这个军队形式大于意义。他们只要到南方秀一秀露露面，起到煽动效应即可。

萧上校内心却另有想法。他希望黑人军队，能够成为真正意义上的军队，纪律严明、能征善战，为击溃南方军贡献自己的力量。

但是现实比想象艰难。

黑人战士，没有鞋，没有军服，更别提发枪。萧上校跑到后勤负责人处，武力威胁，才弄到装备。

黑人战士月薪10元，而白人是13元。萧上校带领全体军队拒绝领薪，直到公平对待。

黑人战士，被分配去做砍树修路的粗活，而白人才有权利上战场。萧上校捉住上级贪污的把柄，威胁上级，获取让黑人上战场的机会。

终于，黑人54军打出了第一个漂亮的胜利之战。在最关键的海边战斗中，黑人54军被要求首批部队，拿下碉堡。

然而，等待他们的是一连串无情大炮的轰击，54军以半数伤亡，包括萧上校战死，仍然没有取得胜利。

54军漫山遍野的尸体，永远躺在了这个沙滩上。他们在为自己黑人自由而战，他们在为黑人的光荣而战。

全国人民因此事震惊，于是北方政府开始了全面大规模招募黑人，黑人的书写自己的光荣时代正式开启。