A Soldier's Story (1984)
Average Rating: 7.2/10
Reviews Counted: 17
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 2
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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 6,112
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Movie Info
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
Sep 14, 1984 Wide
Aug 28, 2001
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
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Cast
-
Howard E. Rollins Jr.
Capt. Davenport -
Adolph Caesar
Master Sgt. Waters -
Dennis Lipscomb
Capt. Taylor -
Art Evans
Private Wilkie -
Patti LaBelle
Big Mary -
Denzel Washington
Pfc. Peterson -
Larry Riley
Pvt. CJ Memphis -
David Alan Grier
Cpl. Cobb -
-
Scott Paulin
Capt. Wilcox -
Michael Williams
Barracks Soldier -
Trey Wilson
Col. Nivens -
William Allen Young
Private Henson -
David Harris
Pvt. Smalls -
Wings Hauser
Lt. Byrd -
Robert Townsend
Cpl. Ellis -
Patricia Brandkamp
Ida Nivens -
-
John Valentine
Umpire -
John Hancock
Sgt. Washington
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All Critics (20) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (2) | DVD (3)
Jewison's lack of interest in developing anything other than his rather debatable ideological point relegates the film to the realm of moderately competent TV drama.
Top CriticCharles Fuller adapated to the big screen his powerful Pulitzer prize winning play about the murder of a black captain. Directed by Norman Jewison, the movie is well acted but it's too verbose.
A powerful and arresting drama.
Strongly written and performec.
Reveals the virulence of racism
Occasionally preachy, but otherwise intense and provocative racially provocative drama
Audience Reviews for A Soldier's Story
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Foreign Titles
- A Soldiers Story (DE)
- A Soldiers Story (UK)
