7.2/10
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A Soldier's Story (1984)

PG | | Crime, Drama, Mystery | 2 November 1984 (USA)
A Soldier's Story Poster
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An African American officer investigates a murder in a racially charged situation in World War II.

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Charles Fuller (screenplay), Charles Fuller (play)

Stars:

Howard E. Rollins Jr., Adolph Caesar, Art Evans | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
See full cast »
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Storyline

A black soldier is killed while returning to his base in the deep south. The white people of the area are suspected at first. A tough black army attorney is brought in to find out the truth. We find out a bit more about the dead soldier in flashbacks - and that he was unpopular. Will the attorney find the killer ? Written by Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

based on play | soldier | flashback | military lawyer | captain | See All (107) »

Taglines:

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.

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | War

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 1984 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

A Soldier's Story See more »

Filming Locations:

Clarendon, Arkansas, USA See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$156,383, 16 September 1984, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$21,821,347
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Caldix See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

One of three prestigious dramas that Norman Jewison made at Columbia Pictures during the late 1970s and early 1980s, all of which got Academy Award nominations. The films include Agnes of God (1985), A Soldier's Story (1984), and ...and justice for all. (1979). See more »

Goofs

Peterson and Smalls would have had to turn in their side arms at the conclusion of their guard detail in which Peterson kills Waters. When their weapons were turned in someone should have noticed that Peterson's pistol had been fired. See more »

Quotes

Colonel Nivens: Remember, you're the first colored officer most of these men ever seen. The Army expects you to set an example for the colored troops... and be a credit to your race.
See more »

Alternate Versions

CBS edited 5 minutes from this film for its 1987 network television premiere. See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Ricky Schroder/Lisa Eilbacher/Justin Wilson (1985) See more »

Soundtracks

Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)
Written by Lew Brown (as Leroy Brown), Charles Tobias (as Charlie Tobias) and Sam H. Stept
Performed by The Andrews Sisters
Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I've seen this movie over a dozen times and was always wondering if Samuel Jackson is in the movie uncredited? The scene where Capt. Davenport is taking to Pvt. Wilkie and the soldiers are celebrating being on standby alert and shooting flares outside the barracks. I say the soldier with 2 other soldiers are yelling and the one with the gold rimmed glasses is Jackson. He was in the original play version but lost out for a role for reasons unknown. I'm assuming he was given a small role since he didn't get a more active one. Anyone agrees or have noticed?
See more »

User Reviews

A gripping military drama
12 July 2003 | by jc1305us – See all my reviews

A Soldier's Story, (1984) is the story of an Army sergeant who is

found murdered in cold blood. Whodunnit? The choices are many

in this engrossing, complex morality play which is set in the

backdrop of the segregated Army of WWII. (Only 60 years ago!)

This is truly a black eye on the military if there ever was one.

Several future stars are featured here including Oscar winner

Denzel Washington, David Alan Grier, and the excellent Howard

Rollins Jr. who stars as an Army Capt. and lawyer sent from

Washington to unravel this mysterious killing. The movie really

belongs to Adolph Ceasar as the murdered sergeant , however. A

WWI veteran and medal winner he constantly affirms the the ability

of the black soldier in a segregated Army as professional, efficient

and courageous, but who fails to stand for any "weaknesses" he

sees in his men, many of whom are naieve country boys, whose

ways he believes are keeping black men subjugated in Uncle

Sam's Army. One chiling scene not to be missed is Ceasar's

solliliquy in the bar with his staff sergeant, in which he describes

an incident in France in WWI. An excellent movie which should be

viewed as part of recent US history. Highly recommended.
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