A Soldier's Story
A Soldier's Story | |
---|---|
Directed by | Norman Jewison |
Screenplay by | Charles Fuller |
Based on | A Soldier's Play (1981 play) by Charles Fuller |
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Russell Boyd |
Edited by |
|
Music by | Herbie Hancock |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 101 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $6 million |
Box office | $21,821,347[1] |
A Soldier's Story is a 1984 American mystery drama film[2] directed and produced by Norman Jewison, adapted by Charles Fuller from his Pulitzer Prize-winning A Soldier's Play. It is a story about racism in a segregated regiment of the U.S Army commanded by White officers and training in the Jim Crow South, in a time and place where a Black officer is unprecedented and bitterly resented by nearly everyone, and follows an African-American JAG officer sent to investigate the murder of an African-American sergeant in Louisiana near the end of World War II.
The cast is led by
The film premiered at the
Plot
In 1944 during
Nivens gives Davenport three days to conduct his investigation. Even Captain Taylor, the only white officer in favor of a full investigation, is uncooperative and patronizing, fearing a Black officer will have little success. While some Black soldiers are proud to see one of their own wearing captain's bars, others are distrustful and evasive.
Davenport learns that Waters' company was officially part of the 221st Chemical Smoke Generator Battalion. Though eager to serve their country, they are assigned menial jobs in deference to their white counterparts. Most are former players from the
James Wilkie, a fellow sergeant Waters demoted for being drunk on duty, initially describes Waters as a strict disciplinarian, but also a fair, good-natured NCO who got on well with the men, especially the jovial and well-liked C.J. Memphis. Davenport uncovers Waters' true tyrannical nature and his disgust with fellow Black soldiers, particularly those from the rural South.
Private Peterson reveals he stood up to Waters when he berated the men after a winning game. Waters challenged Peterson to a fight and beat him badly. Interviewing other soldiers, Davenport learns that Waters charged C.J. with the murder of a white MP, after a search conducted by Wilkie turned up a recently discharged pistol under C.J.'s bunk. Waters provoked C.J. into striking him, whereupon the weapons charge was dismissed and C.J. was charged with striking a superior officer.
When C.J.'s best friend Corporal Bernard Cobb visits him in jail, C.J. is suffering from intense claustrophobia and tells Cobb of a visit from Waters, who admitted it was a set-up Waters had done to others. Davenport learns from Cobb that C.J., awaiting trial, hanged himself. In protest, the platoon deliberately lost the season's last game, and Waters was shaken by the suicide. Taylor disbanded the team, and the players were assigned to the 221st.
Davenport learns that white officers Captain Wilcox and Lieutenant Byrd had an altercation with Waters shortly before his death. Both officers admit to assaulting Waters when he confronted them in a drunken tirade, but deny killing him as they had not been issued .45 ammunition. Though Taylor is convinced Wilcox and Byrd are lying, Davenport releases them.
Privates Peterson and Smalls go
Realizing Peterson and Smalls were on guard duty the night of Waters' murder, and thus had been issued .45 ammunition for their pistols, Davenport interrogates Smalls, found by the MPs. Smalls confesses Peterson killed Sergeant Waters, as revenge for C.J.'s death. Captured and brought to the interrogation room, Peterson confesses to the murder, saying "I didn't kill much. Some things need getting rid of”, to which Davenport retorts “Who gave you the right to judge who is fit to be a Negro?”
Taylor congratulates Davenport, admitting that he will have to get used to Negroes being in charge. Davenport assures Taylor that he will get used to it – "You can bet your ass on that," he adds, as the platoon marches in preparation for their deployment to the European theatre.
Cast
- Howard E. Rollins Jr. as CPT. Richard Davenport
- MSG.Vernon Waters
- Art Evans as PVT. James Wilkie
- David Alan Grier as CPL. Bernard Cobb
- David Harris as PVT. Tony Smalls
- Denzel Washington as PFC. Melvin Peterson
- Dennis Lipscomb as CPT. Charles Taylor
- Larry Riley as PVT. C.J. Memphis
- Robert Townsend as CPL. Ellis
- William Allen Young as PVT. Henson
- John Hancock as SGT. Washington
- Patti LaBelle as Big Mary
- Trey Wilson as COL. Nivens
- Wings Hauser as LT. Byrd
- Scott Paulin as CPT. Wilcox
- Mike Williams as PFC. Oscar
Production
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2018) |
Jewison and many of the cast members worked for scale or less under a tight budget with
A Soldier's Story was shot entirely in
Fuller had said Herman Melville's novella Billy Budd inspired the play.[7]
Reception
The film holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from a sample of 22 critics. The site's consensus reads, "A meticulously crafted murder mystery with incisive observations about race in America, A Soldier's Story benefits from a roundly excellent ensemble and Charles Fuller's politically urgent screenplay".[8]
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ "A Soldier's Story (1984)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ^ a b "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
- ^ a b "14th Moscow International Film Festival (1985)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
- ^ "A Soldier's Story (1984)". BFI. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
- ^ "A Soldier's Story - Box Office Data, DVD Sales, Movie News, Cast Information". The Numbers. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ISBN 0-8065-1647-X.
- JSTOR 41398468.
- ^ "A Soldier's Story | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. 1984-09-14. Retrieved 2024-04-12.