A Pleasant Surprise

[L Verge]

During the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, Surratt House has been featuring a movie night each year. In 2011, we had to start with Gone With The Wind; and we followed that in 2012 with Red Badge of Courage.

Tonight we showed Glory to an audience of about 30 patrons and plied them with free popcorn and sodas -- and candy bars for 50 cents. Glory has been around since the 1990s, but it should be shown for the next 50-100 years.

One of the members of the audience tonight was a Mr. Stan Slater, who played one of the extras in the ranks of the 54th Massachusetts. He brought some of his memorabilia with him and discussed what it was like working with the film. His most prized possession is actually a document from the Smithsonian Institution certifying that his uniform, used in the making of the film, is now on display at the Smithsonian. He was allowed to keep his rifle -- because the Smithsonian no longer accepts firearms.

It's little surprises and perqs like this that continue to make my job so enjoyable. It capped off a day where we also hosted a bus group from a Civil War Round Table in Michigan. What a nice group of people!

[KateH.]

What a fascinating story. That's awesome that Mr. Slater got to keep some props from set. I just saw Glory for the first time in class on Thursday and thought it was fantastic.

[RJNorton]

Be careful, Kate, that's one of those movies where the music can get in one's head and you cannot get it out. When Glory was released, PepsiCo was so impressed with the movie that it sent a free, edited version to thousands of schools nationwide. The most violent scenes and some language were edited out. The principal brought the movie to me and asked me to use it in class if I had the time. I showed it several times, and the music was "with me" 24 hours a day it seemed.

[L Verge]

The fantastic acting ability of all the major players just with their facial expressions alone is amazing. The one scene where Denzel Washington is getting flogged under orders from Matthew Broderick alone is wonderful. When that tear starts to roll down Denzel's face, but the eye it's coming from is still filled with loathing and defiance, just rips your heart out.

Believe it or not, this was the first time I had seen the movie. I could watch it another 3-4 times just to catch all the nuances. We also had two graduates of West Point in the audience, and we were discussing later the military training that demanded certain actions vs. the human values that tell you those actions are wrong.

[LincolnMan]

Wonderful stuff Laurie. It's a great movie. What a surprise too! How did you not see the film until now???

[irshgrl500]

During the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, Surratt House has been featuring a movie night each year. In 2011, we had to start with Gone With The Wind; and we followed that in 2012 with Red Badge of Courage.

Tonight we showed Glory to an audience of about 30 patrons and plied them with free popcorn and sodas -- and candy bars for 50 cents. Glory has been around since the 1990s, but it should be shown for the next 50-100 years.

One of the members of the audience tonight was a Mr. Stan Slater, who played one of the extras in the ranks of the 54th Massachusetts. He brought some of his memorabilia with him and discussed what it was like working with the film. His most prized possession is actually a document from the Smithsonian Institution certifying that his uniform, used in the making of the film, is now on display at the Smithsonian. He was allowed to keep his rifle -- because the Smithsonian no longer accepts firearms.

It's little surprises and perqs like this that continue to make my job so enjoyable. It capped off a day where we also hosted a bus group from a Civil War Round Table in Michigan. What a nice group of people!

Laurie,
Sounds like great fun. Too, that must have been a real treat to host a group all the way from Michigan.
I have never seen Glory but now, I must make a point of seeing it.

[LincolnMan]

I actually am a good friend with one of Col. Shaw's descendents- who lives here in Michigan (but moved here from Boston). Even though he has been in Michigan most of his adult life- he still has that Boston accent. He thinks we have the accent- not him.

[L Verge]

Karin - We get quite a few out-of-state bus tours. Last month, we hosted a commercial company who brought senior citizens in from Wichita and Kansas City.

Bill -- Long story about not seeing Glory before, but it basically boils down to caring for my mother for the last seventeen years of her life during that period, on top of working and enjoying a new grandson born in 2000. Believe me though - I did find time for Nemo and other kids' movies.

[brtmchl]

That sounds like my life Laurie. We are lucky if we get to see 2 movies a year intended for grown ups. Our life seems to evolve around Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks. The last time we saw a real movie was when Lincoln came out. We are going to attempt to watch Parkland tonight on DVD. By the time we get the kids to bed we are usually to wiped out for a full movie.

Glory was a fantastic movie.

Roger, how edited were those movies when you taught? In your opinion, what would the age appropriateness of the edited versions be?