The Real Glory

Gary Cooper in the Philippines jungle was quite awesome. It was a very good part for him and The Real Glory (1939) is a terrific action film for this time! They even used some real filipino words which was surprising. Whenever Hollywood movies speak languages like Swedish or something, it's mainly gibberish, even if they could have easily gotten someone to do real dialogue, so it was a nice touch to go to the effort and add a little authenticity. I'll remember most the human catapults!!!

I cannot judge the historical accuracy of this film as I know nothing of this period of Philippine history (indeed watching this has prompted me to look into it), but what I can say is that this is visually impressive in many ways and a highly entertaining story. You can't look away, at least I couldn't. Is this making a spectacle of warfare? I don't think so, as the film speaks with sincerity to some important, even if now outdated (sadly), virtues.

The characters were okay but I didn't care for any of them. I didn't care much for the tone of the film nor how the natives were treated. A big but empty movie that seems to get a lot of praise.

An American colonialist movie with Gary Cooper carrying the day and saving everybody. The action at the end, was short of any reality, not so unusual for the time.

Worst way to be buried.