A Soldier's Story

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A Soldier's Story

PG

1984

1h 41m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

82%

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5,000+ Ratings

A black Army investigator (Howard E. Rollins Jr.) travels to a remote military base in the heart of the Louisiana backwoods to look into the mysterious murder of a black sergeant toward the tail end of World War II. Once he arrives, the investigator discovers an Army regiment and an entire community that, despite the beginnings of integration, is still torn apart by race and segregation. He soon learns that on this base, trust is sparse and secrets are a currency all their own.

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Judy Stone

San Francisco Chronicle

Dec 8

4/4

Under Norman Jewison's direction, it is opened up to provide more of a feeling about the south in wartime, but Fuller's script retains his complex explorations of the men and their motivations.

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Catharine Rambeau

Detroit Free Press

Dec 8

9/10

Powerful, upbeat entertainment despite a serious message. Howard Rollins is splendid.

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Peter Travers

People Magazine

07/25/2018

Fuller's writing and Caesar's performance, the power of this Soldier's Story is impressive.

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

03/24/2021

4/5

Everyone has motive and opportunity and, under Norman Jewison's tight direction, the supporting cast, led by Denzel Washington and the Oscar-nominated Adolph Caesar, give next to nothing away.

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Lloyd Billingsley

Christianity Today

03/24/2021

A Soldier's Story is a moving piece of human drama that not only draws the viewer into the interior life of the characters -- the task of the dramatist -- but makes him work as well.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

03/20/2021

3/4

...a slow-moving drama that admittedly does suffer from a hit-and-miss first half...

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Max M

@Househuntermax Jul 18

Good direction and compelling story. It’s not bad.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Dec 1

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Andy B

@AndyB21 Nov 20

A not particularly intriguing murder mystery procedural in which the guy you think did it early on, did it. Some elements are great, in particular the sergeant's chilling speech where he explains why he's doing what he does, but the whole thing's a little too rambling to recommend.

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Alec C

@RT70643905 03/20/2024

How can you expect to fight for your country if you're at a war with yourself! With the hated Colonel Waters is murdered by an unknown killer, an investigator is asked to look into it, discovering the racial discrimination between the captain and his squad members, leaving the question of who did it up in the air. Boiling under the surface before going pop, this murder mystery manages to make us wonder which war is worth fighting for!

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isa e

@RT65594135 01/04/2024

Cast is perfect across the board, brilliantly paced, scripted and acted. Suspenseful and dramatic, one of my all time favourite movies.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 11/29/2020

Felt long, preachy, rambling and boring. Multiple soldier's stories meld together in a not very intriguing murder mystery that felt half obvious from pretty early on. I can't think of much to merit here.

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Norman Jewison

Director

Howard E. Rollins Jr.

Captain Davenport

Adolph Caesar

Sergeant Waters

Denzel Washington

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Synopsis

A black Army investigator (Howard E. Rollins Jr.) travels to a remote military base in the heart of the Louisiana backwoods to look into the mysterious murder of a black sergeant toward the tail end of World War II. Once he arrives, the investigator discovers an Army regiment and an entire community that, despite the beginnings of integration, is still torn apart by race and segregation. He soon learns that on this base, trust is sparse and secrets are a currency all their own.

Director: Norman Jewison
Producer: Norman Jewison, Ronald L. Schwary, Patrick J. Palmer
Screenwriter: Charles Fuller
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Surround