THE SOLDIER'S STORY

REVIEWED BY BRETT WILLIS

Our rating: 2 out of 5

Because of: language

Rated:

Set in a U.S. army camp for black soldiers in Tynin, LA, 1944, this emotional film explores the plight of blacks trying to find the best way to “make it” in a white man’s world. Sergeant Waters (Adolph Caesar) has been murdered while walking back to base from a black nightclub. Was it the local KKK, who hates seeing black soldiers and particularly any above the rank of private? Was it some white officer that Waters had crossed? Or was it black-on-black violence, in reprisal for Waters’ harsh treatment of his own men?

The inquiry seems stalled (actually there’s infighting and cover-up), so Washington sends black Capt. Davenport (Howard E. Rollins Jr. of TV’s “In the Heat of the Night”) to investigate. You can just feel the tension running through the town as its citizens see Captain’s bars on a “Tan Yank.” Davenport isn’t welcome at the base either. The local white officers don’t appreciate interference from Washington, and they don’t need anything else that might set off a riot or a lynch mob. But there’s comfort in being discriminated against; at least Davenport gets a barracks all to himself.

The plot is convoluted, but resolves adequately. To the extent that it reflects how things really were, it’s a sobering reminder that segregation was no way to run an army. The story is tense and painful throughout. Not something you want to watch late at night, and then go to sleep on. Unfortunately, language derails this film with four uses of the f-word, many, many uses of other profanity, vulgarity, curses including GD, sexual slang, and derogatory ethnic terms (including their use by blacks against other blacks). One simple-minded soldier engages in voodoo-related talk. There's no direct sexual content; just some put-downs, jokes about V.D. etc. The scenes at the black nightclub include well-done but somewhat sensual music and dancing (the club owner, Big Mary, is played by Patti LaBelle).

The opening-scene firearms murder of Sgt. Waters is eventually played a second time so we can see who the shooter was. It turns out that that killing is linked to other killings. There’s arguing, fist fighting and an extreme amount of bad attitude. It’s very uncomfortable to watch white officers put a social agenda ahead of fairness and military justice. They’re part of an army preparing to fight the Nazis, and yet they regard black people as “of no consequence.” It’s also uncomfortable to see blacks trapped in the system and turning on each other.

The acting is convincing, the production values are high. The Herbie Hancock music is great. And there are a few light, enjoyable moments, such as when the church organist is forced to play “white” hymns but manages to throw in a special “riff” at the end. Overall, though, the mood is heavy. Very heavy. Other than Caesar and Rollins (who are now both deceased), a bright spot in the cast is the then up and coming Denzel Washington. This film must have been rated early in 1984, before the PG-13 rating was activated. Recommended for mature viewers only.

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