This is a digitized version of an article from the timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. The main accident that makes a cause of the whole story is the fact that africanamerican sergeant was shot. Clarendon monroe county, fort chaffee, fort smith sebastian county, and the lamar porter athletic field in little rock pulaski county. A soldiers story 1984 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. A soldiers story 1984 a black army investigator howard e. An african american officer investigates a murder in a racially charged situation in world war ii. A soldiers story is a 1984 dramatic movie filmed entirely in arkansas at four locations. A soldiers story starts off with a nigerian soldier that has been wed barely a week but finds himself being sent off to a war torn zone, much to the chagrin of his new bride.
The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. A soldiers story movie was directed and produced by norman jewison. A soldiers story photojournalist chris hondros, recently killed in libya, discussed his work in wartorn liberia with smithsonian in 2006. Watch a soldiers story watch movies online free youtube. This is the exceptional story of americas first unit of african american soldiers during the civil war and the young, inexperienced northerner whos given the job of training and leading them. A soldiers story is a 1984 american drama film directed by norman jewison, adapted by charles fullers from his pulitzer prizewinning off broadway production a soldiers play. This movie made history because it was one of the first in the modern era that dared to tell a story about the prejudice in the south almost exclusively using black actors.
Robert townsend, larry riley, david allen grier and yes the denzel washington are the soldiers. When one soldier is found shot and killed near his louisiana military base, a lawyer who is a captain howard e. A soldiers story 1984 movie summary norman jewison. A soldiers story is one of those movies thats about less than you might think. Most movies that involve the armed forces are about battles, war, and dying. Suspicion immediately points to the local whites, who are not too happy about all these blacks stationed in their branch of the deep south.
A soldiers story is a taut, gripping film which features many of the old fashioned virtues of a good hollywood production brilliant ensemble acting, excellent production values, a crackling script adapted from the pulitzer prize winning a soldiers play 1981 by its author, charles fuller, fine direction and a liberal political message. Inspired by the herman melville novel billy budd, writer charles fuller created the pulitzer prizewinning a soldiers play, which he then adapted into this film drama in 1984, for socially. A soldiers story is an intimate look into the life of a wounded soldier as he faces the unimaginable. Cast information crew information company information news box office. So the white soldiers told the french women that black men had a tail, i wonder if it was a sincere.
An african american officer investigates a murder in. The collection, harold pinter, 1976, with malcolm mcdowellalan bateshelen mirrenlaurence olivier duration. It begins with the murder of a black sergeant, who is shot near an army base in louisiana in 1944. After being turned down by several studios, it was produced on an extremely low budget and went on to win numerous awards, earning more than four times what it cost. The white people of the area are suspected at first. The movie ends with a handshake between davenport and one of the white officers who has made life hard for him. A soldiers story by general of the army omar bradley is the story of world war ii as general omar bradley saw it.
A smalltown baseball player with big league dreams becomes an elite special ops pilot and an american hero when he leads his platoon on a rescue mission in afghanistan. A soldiers story is a 1984 american drama film directed by norman jewison, adapted by charles fuller from his pulitzer prizewinning 1981 off broadway production a soldiers play. This is a more ironic ending than was perhaps intended, because a soldiers story was directed by norman jewison, the director who ended in the heat of the night with sidney poitier and rod steiger shaking hands. The soldier, played by tope tedela, is caught in the middle of an attack in a foreign country and is left for dead. Featuring one of denzel washingtons earliest film roles, a soldiers story is an adaptation of the stageplay a solders play about the causes and aftermath of the murder of a black sergeant in the 40s. He didnt know but assumed that nguyen van nghia had been killed in their battle, smith said. Starring is howard e rollins as a captain richard davenport a black officer and jr. A meticulouslycrafted murder mystery with incisive observations about race in america, a soldiers story benefits from a roundly excellent ensemble and. In the heat of the night 1967 was a groundbreaking piece of work in its time, and the hurricane 1999 was another awardwinning exploration of institutionalized. Tensions flare in this gripping film about a murder on a black army base near the end of world war ii. A really chilling film that is topnotch in all cinematic departments. A black soldier is killed while returning to his base in the deep south. Interviewing other soldiers, davenport learns that waters charged c.
Based in part on the actual letters of that young officer and brought to life with astonishing skill and believability. A soldiers story cast and crew cast photos and info fandango. A soldiers story 1984 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. A soldiers story is a 1984 military drama that explores the mysterious death of an unpopular africanamerican officer at a world war ii training camp. While the world is busy fighting fascism in 1944, black soldiers in the segregated u.
Rent a soldiers story 1984 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. A 1984 wartime dramamystery film directed by norman jewison, a soldiers story was adapted by screenwriter charles fuller from his own pulitzer prizewinning 1982 offbroadway play a soldiers play, which was also a loose setting update of billy budd. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing a soldiers story near you. Best picture, best supporting actor caesar and best adapted screenplay.
A soldiers story quotes, movie quotes movie quotes. A soldiers story is one of those movies that can be viewed on many levels, but still manages to be somewhat entertaining. In soldier love story lori loughlin plays dana marshall, a young professional and single parent who went through a divorce and has custody of her 10 yr old son, jared. Robert townsend,the talented actor, director,producer,writer, plays corporal ellis and david alan grier is cpl. The movie starred a number of distinguished actors including denzel washington, howard e. A soldiers story is the behindthescenes eyewitness account of the war that shaped our century. Rollins, travels from washington to the deep south in.
A veteran himself, smith became interested in reeds story when he learned about the diary. Read the a soldiers story movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on movies. We find out a bit more about the dead soldier in flashbacks and that he was unpopular. A black military officer who is also a lawyer is sent to investigate the murder of a black sergeant in louisiana near the end of world war ii. Soldiers story, a 1984 movie clip they still hate you. The play was performed offbroadway by the negro ensemble company. It is not without many huge faults and its lack of black women in a film that attempted to showcase a portion of the black experience is a minus that will never go away, no matter how much handwaving is attempted. It begins with the murder of a black sergeant, who is shot near. Seldom do movies outline the personal life of our armed forces.
Featuring powerful interviews and emotional reenactments from travis and kelsey mills and fellow soldiers who witnessed the events of april 10th, travis. Bradleys unassuming and straightforward style underscores how he is portrayed by contemporary accounts. The cast of a soldiers story features early supporting performances from several africanamerican actors who would go on to greater prominence, including denzel washington, david alan grier, and robert townsend. The play was performed off broadway by the negro ensemble company. A black officer is sent to investigate the murder of a black sergeant in louisiana near the end of world war ii. A soldiers story available on dvd, bluray, itunes, amazon and netflix. A tough black army attorney is brought in to find out the truth. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Fullers story takes place during world war ii, at an army base in louisiana, where vernon waters, a black platoon sergeant, has been shot to. A soldiers story 1984 norman jewisons long career as a filmmaker has touched on all types of stories, but he seems to really hit his targets when dealing with racial injustice. A soldiers story is a 1984 american drama film directed by norman jewison, adapted by. A soldiers story cast and crew cast photos and info.
Army are fighting racism, and struggling with each other in the drama a soldiers story. The movie was released on september, 1984, in the united states. Soldiers story, a murder and racism on a black military base in the south, from the pulitzer prizewinning play. The script and characters are engaging and thoughtful, but a film adaptation of a play is always a tricky proposition, as they rarely feel.