--- title: "Glory: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/glory/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/glory" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Glory (1989): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Glory as a moving account of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment and the black soldiers’ struggle against racism. Praise centres on the performances, particularly Denzel Washington’s, with the ensemble giving weight to the soldiers’ bravery and growing solidarity. The photography, period detail and forcefully staged battles also draw consistent approval, while several reviews value the attention paid to a lesser-known chapter of the American Civil War. The reservations concern how fully the soldiers emerge as individuals: sympathetic reviews still find stereotypes, conventional writing or an overbearing insistence on the film’s good intentions. The Los Angeles Times wants more of the black characters’ own perspective, while Empire finds archetypes rather than convincing men. The spread is broad despite the positive majority: The Guardian dissents sharply, finding the treatment overwrought and deeply flawed, though it shares the praise for Washington and Freeman. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 12 January 1990. Ebert praises the film as a strong and valuable story of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment's bravery and the black soldiers' fight against racism. He singles out the period detail and performances, particularly the way the film shows the regiment's growth through small scenes of conviction and solidarity. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/glory-1989) ## Radio Times — Adrian Turner Rating 4/5. This is a long overdue tribute to the 54th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry. It excels in its photography, violently staged battle scenes and Denzel Washington's performance, despite some stereotyping. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-sfs01k/glory/) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 1989. Canby highlights the film's focus on the 54th Regiment's valor in the assault on Fort Wagner and its historical significance in proving black soldiers' discipline. He notes the strong performances and the way it brings to life a lesser-known chapter of the Civil War. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/14/movies/review-film-black-combat-bravery-in-the-civil-war.html) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls it a stirring, glossy epic that feels authentic while looking grand and operatic, praising the stern acting and cinematography. However, the liberal-mindedness is often overbearing and characters are archetypes rather than real men. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/glory-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kevin Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 1989. Thomas describes it as an eloquent, heart-tugging Civil War epic with impressive battle scenes and strong performances, especially from Matthew Broderick and the ensemble. He notes its focus on the black soldiers' struggle but wishes for more perspective from the black characters themselves. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-14-ca-186-story.html) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 1990. Kael calls the film affecting and emotionally moving on a great subject, with strong performances from the black leads and thoughtful direction that elevates the conventional script. She praises the visual style and the way it honors the historical events without over-dramatizing. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1990/02/05/the-54th) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film well-intentioned but deeply flawed, describing it as a soft-bellied epic that is laughably overwrought, though praising the performances of Washington and Freeman. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/82544/glory) ## Time Out — CM 27 January 2017. The film heralds the bravery of the first black fighting unit in the American Civil War. Emphasis is on period detail and impressive battle sequences, though the screenplay shows less strength in characterisation and dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/glory) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/glory.md