Daily Dialogue — June 10, 2013

“Come on!”

— Glory (1989), screenplay by Kevin Jarre, based on books by Lincoln Kirstein and Peter Burchard, letters by Robert Gould Shaw

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is all is lost, suggested by Turambar. Today’s suggestion by Barbara Thomas.

Trivia: With the exception of Shaw, none of the primary characters are based on real people in the 54th.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary from Barbara: “The 54th regiment, the first formal unit comprised of African American soldiers, after being repeatedly denied the chance to serve in combat, volunteer for a mission to take Fort Wagner.

Immediately, they are overwhelmed. Their commanding officer, Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick) is shot and killed.

Trip (Denzel Washington), the soldier whom Gould had most clashed with, takes up the flag and exhorts his fellow men to “Come on.”

Aside from some grunts and screams, “Come on” is the only dialogue spoken from then on. “Come on, Come on” until the men breach the wall of Fort Wagner — and see a mass of Confederates and cannons waiting for them.

The takeaway — the best dialogue is often no dialogue. The heat of battle is no time for a speech, no matter how eloquent. And no words could have packed the emotional punch of those closing moments of Glory. The look of shock on the faces of the men who made it to the breach, the silent dumping of the bodies, black beside white, stripped of their shoes, equals in battle and in death.”

NOTE: All you Daily Dialogue enthusiasts. We only have 2 suggestions thus far for this week’s theme. I’m laying down the gauntlet for you. How about some suggestions to elevate people’s souls first thing every morning with a dose of Daily Dialogue?

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