A Soldier's Story (1984)

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Charles Fuller (play)
Charles Fuller (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 February 1985 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | War

Tagline:

Alone, far from home, and far from justice, he has three days to learn the truth about a murder...and the truth is a story you won't forget.

Plot:

An African American officer investigates a murder in a racially charged situation in World War II.

Plot Keywords:

African American | Captain | Racial Prejudice | Racism | Southern

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Howard E. Rollins Jr.	...	Captain Davenport
Adolph Caesar	...	Sergeant Waters
Art Evans	...	Private Wilkie
David Alan Grier	...	Corporal Cobb
David Harris	...	Private Smalls
Dennis Lipscomb	...	Captain Taylor
Larry Riley	...	C.J. Memphis
Robert Townsend	...	Corporal Ellis
Denzel Washington	...	Private First Class Peterson
William Allen Young	...	Private Henson
Patti LaBelle	...	Big Mary
Wings Hauser	...	Lieutenant Byrd
Scott Paulin	...	Captain Wilcox
John Hancock	...	Sergeant Washington
Trey Wilson	...	Colonel Nivens

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Clarendon, Arkansas, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The original off-Broadway Negro Ensemble Company production of "A Soldier's Story " by Charles Fuller opened at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York on November 20, 1981, ran until January 2, 1983 and won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1982.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While Wilkie is being questioned by Capt Davenport about the murder of Sgt Waters, he tells the captain that Waters received awards called the FEF and the ETO. There is no award with the abbreviation FEF, and ETO stands for European Theater of Operations, which is a geographical area, not an award.

Quotes:

Private Wilkie: Is it true, sir, that when they found him, his stripes and insignia were still on the uniform?
Captain Davenport: Yes.
Private Wilkie: Something's wrong, ain't it, sir? I mean, those Klan boys, they can't stand to see us in these uniforms. They usually take the stripes and stuff off before they lynch us.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Private Screenings: Norman Jewison" (2007)

A Enthralling film about racism in the military

Commerating the 20th Anniversary of a brilliant classic!

This was one of the most powerful films that came out in 1984. Director Norman Jewison(In The Heat Of The Night)adaptation of the Puliitzer Prize-winning play(by Charles Fuller) and numerous NAACP awards for best achievement in African-American literature,tells about the ramificiations of racism and loyalty through the prism of blacks in the military,revealed through a mystery set in the 1940's deep South. Howard E. Rollins(Ragtime,and from the TV series In The Heat Of The Night)plays a military investigator,Captain Davenport,who is assigned to the murder of a drill instructor,Sergeant Waters,played by Adolph Caesar(The Color Purple),who was in charge of a black platoon during World War II. Under pressure from his superiors to wrap his investigation up quickly,Rollins instead delves deeply into the relationships between the despised drill instructor and his men,uncovering lies and animousity,and confronting the question of what it means to be black in a white man's world. Rollins delivers a riveting,stoic,emotional lead into the role of Captain Davenport while Caesar gives an electrifying performance as the Sergeant. A lot of fresh faces gives brilliant performances throughout the film including one from a youthful Denzel Washington,who makes an early appearance as a soldier with a deep grudge against the drill instructor and a deep mistrust of Rollins' investigator. Look for appearances by Larry Riley, David Alan Grier,Robert Townsend,and Patti LaBelle. A powerfully written story that makes the most of its large and impressive ensemble cast which still is enthralling--some 20th after its release.

MPAA Rating: PG-For Language,Racial Overtones and Comment,Violence.