Monday, August 28, 2017

A SOLDIER’S STORY (1984): Story Concerning Black Soldiers



With race relations still always the subject of news stories, I thought about the movie, A Soldier’s Story, filmed over thirty years ago. Like Fences, also featuring Denzel Washington, A Soldier’s Story originally was a play and even on film makes viewing feel like one is watching a play.  Being only 101 minutes in length with the average film today going well over two hours, I’d say that this is refreshing.

A Soldier’s Story is a murder mystery.  It concerns the killing of a black sergeant, Sergeant Waters (Adolph Caesar), at a Louisiana army base during 1944.  Though a series of flashbacks we learn how the killing occurred.  At first everyone suspects white soldiers committed the deed – the murder occurring in the Deep South.  But subsequent investigation by a black officer and lawyer, Captain Davenport (Howard E. Rollins Jr.), eventually demonstrates that the murderer was one of the sergeant’s own men.

Waters is a tyrant when it comes to leading his platoon.  He is deeply ashamed of the humiliation he as a black soldier faces, and wants to prove to his white officers that a black soldier has the discipline to fight in the war in Europe.  Any soldier who does not live up to his exacting standards he demotes or tries to force out of his unit.  In one particular case, Waters’ tactics get a soldier, C.J. Memphis (Larry Riley), sent to the brig. Unable to withstand the confinement or the unjust accusations that Waters brings, C.J. eventually commits suicide.

This leads to the final confrontation between Waters and Private Peterson (Denzel Washington).  Peterson appears to be the only one in the platoon who can stand up to Waters’ bullying.  At one point he even takes Waters on in a bare-fisted fight only to come out on the losing end due to the dirty fight tactics that Waters uses.  Yet Waters secretly admires Peterson for his willingness to fight back and even wants to promote him.  Peterson, on the other hand, hates everything about his sergeant.

After C.J.’s suicide, Waters begins coming to the conclusion that no matter what he does, the white officers he serves will never respect him.  This leads to him drinking more and becoming even more sullen.  One evening, drunk and returning to town, Waters berates a couple of white patrol officers.  The patrol officers in turn beat Waters up.  Peterson, while out walking with another black soldier, discovers Waters lying by the side of the road.  Waters tells Peterson that no matter what a black soldier does, the white man will still hate him.  Peterson has no sympathy for his sergeant and instead shoots him.  Peterson, in his own way, is like Waters due to his willingness to harshly judge the character of another black man.

There is almost too much understatement in A Soldier’s Story with the exception of the acting of Adolph Caesar.  Caesar is almost the entire show.  Yet the movie is also a thoughtful film demonstrating not only the strained relations between black and white individuals, but also showing the tension that exists between blacks and other blacks.  Knowing the conditions black have faced through American history, such tension is understandable.
Director Norman Jewison has shown a willingness to take on films with race as a theme throughout his long movie career.  Most notably, this includes directing In the Heat of the Night released in 1967.  To his credit, Jewison never seems concerned about having a low budget.  In fact, he makes up for budgetary constraints by letting the dialogue tell the story and filming in locations such as bars and army barracks rather than providing dramatic scenery.

In a time where honest discussion concerning almost any issue is out of the question, it would be good if there were more films like A Soldier’s Story.  Such films will probably not come out of Hollywood, however, where storytelling resolves around special effects and every blockbuster appears to be a sequel.

August 28, 2017

© Robert S. Miller 2017