Robert Gould Shaw leads the US Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both his own Union army and the Confederates.
Acting
Denzel's whipping scene — Oscar-winning agony.
Score
James Horner's choral elegy still haunts.
Cinematography
Frederick Douglass's funeral march into gold light.
Director
Edward Zwick
Matthew Broderick
Col. Robert Gould Shaw
Denzel Washington
Pvt. Trip
Cary Elwes
Maj. Cabot Forbes
Morgan Freeman
Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins
Jihmi Kennedy
Pvt. Jupiter Sharts
Andre Braugher
Cpl. Thomas Searles
John Finn
Sgt. Maj. Mulcahy
Donovan Leitch
Capt. Charles Fessenden Morse
JD Cullum
Henry Sturgis Russell
Bob Gunton
Gen. Charles Garrison Harker
Cliff DeYoung
Col. James M. Montgomery
Christian Baskous
Edward L. Pierce
RonReaco Lee
Mute Drummer Boy
Jay O. Sanders
Gen. George Crockett Strong
Alan North
Gov. John Albion Andrew
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real Robert Gould Shaw's family refused a proper burial; his body was dumped in a mass grave with his men. The film's ending respects this.
This film single-handedly revived the 54th Regiment's place in American education; most viewers in 1989 had never heard of them.
US
