A Soldier's Story (1984)
Inspired by the Herman Melville novel Billy Budd, writer Charles Fuller created the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Soldier's Play, which he then adapted into this film drama in 1984, for socially conscious, liberal director Norman Jewison. In the racially-divided 1940s, Fort Neal, Louisiana, is a military base where black soldiers are sent not to fight in WWII but to play baseball against other armed forces teams. The murder of a black sergeant, Waters (Adolph Caesar) brings an investigator, Captain Davenport (Howard E. Rollins, Jr.) to the base. Davenport, the first black officer that most of the men have ever met, suspects that a pair of white men were responsible for Waters' death, but his probe reveals that nearly everyone, regardless of skin color, had ample reason to kill the loathsome but pitiable Waters. The cast of A Soldier's Story features early supporting performances from several African-American actors who would go on to greater prominence, including Denzel Washington, David Alan Grier, and Robert Townsend. The film was nominated for three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Caesar) and Best Adapted Screenplay. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Howard E. Rollins, Jr., Adolph Caesar, (more)
- Director(s):
- Norman Jewison
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Blu-ray
| Digital SD
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Synopsis of A Soldier's Story
Inspired by the Herman Melville novel Billy Budd, writer Charles Fuller created the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Soldier's Play, which he then adapted into this film drama in 1984, for socially conscious, liberal director Norman Jewison. In the racially-divided 1940s, Fort Neal, Louisiana, is a military base where black soldiers are sent not to fight in WWII but to play baseball against other armed forces teams. The murder of a black sergeant, Waters (Adolph Caesar) brings an investigator, Captain Davenport (Howard E. Rollins, Jr.) to the base. Davenport, the first black officer that most of the men have ever met, suspects that a pair of white men were responsible for Waters' death, but his probe reveals that nearly everyone, regardless of skin color, had ample reason to kill the loathsome but pitiable Waters. The cast of A Soldier's Story features early supporting performances from several African-American actors who would go on to greater prominence, including Denzel Washington, David Alan Grier, and Robert Townsend. The film was nominated for three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Caesar) and Best Adapted Screenplay. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 101 mins
Complete Cast of A Soldier's Story
- Howard E. Rollins, Jr. - Capt. Davenport
- Dennis Lipscomb - Capt. Taylor
- Art Evans - Private Wilkie
- Larry Riley - Pvt. CJ Memphis
- David Harris - Pvt. Smalls
- Scott Paulin - Capt. Wilcox
- Michael Williams - Barracks Soldier
- William Allen Young - Private Henson
- Wings Hauser - Lt. Byrd
- Adolph Caesar - Master Sgt. Waters
- Patti LaBelle - Big Mary
- Denzel Washington - Pfc. Peterson
- John Hancock - Sgt. Washington
- Trey Wilson - Col. Nivens
- John Valentine - Umpire
- Patricia Brandkamp - Ida Nivens
- David Alan Grier - Cpl. Cobb
- Robert Townsend - Cpl. Ellis
- Director(s):
- Norman Jewison
- Writer(s):
- Charles Fuller
- Producer(s):
- Patrick Palmer, Ronald L. Schwary, Norman Jewison
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Language, Questionable for Children, Adult Situations, Violence)
- 1984 - Edgar Allan Poe Awards - Best Screenplay
- 1984 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actor
- 1985 - Moscow International Film Festival - Special Prize
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