David Harris made a name for himself with the role of Cochise in 1979’s The Warriors (the more Native American-inspired member of the infamous gang). It could be said that the late but great actor had a thing for dramas, even if there was a little action injected in them at times too. With a big screen career that lasted for almost 40 years, the man ended up starring in all sorts of high-intensity features after the iconic gang movie, including a film about a newly hired warden trying to fix a very violent prison (1980’s Brubaker) and becoming Officer Donny Simmons for 16 episodes of NYPD Blue that aired 15 years later.
In hindsight, The Warriors was a bit of a unique role for Harris as many of his later roles involved stepping into an authority figure — whether it be a super for an apartment building, a law enforcement agent, or some kind of army personnel. Only five years had passed since the filming of The Warriors, and one specific movie came along that showed the grand evolution of Harris’s character acting. Cochise may have been a halfway soldier, sometimes joking with the other Warriors and at other times fighting as if his life depended on it, but he never once betrayed his ranks with a hidden truth. On the other hand, Harris’ Private Smalls from the movie A Soldier’s Story held an unfathomable secret close to his chest that could shatter a once closely-knit unit.
David Harris as Private Tony Smalls in A Soldier’s Story
A Soldier’s Story
Set during World War II, A Soldier’s Story follows an African American army officer investigating the murder of a Black sergeant on a Louisiana military base. The narrative unpacks the complexities of racial tensions and the moral struggles faced by soldiers, all while delivering a gripping mystery that gradually reveals deeper societal issues.
- Release Date
- September 14, 1984
- Director
- Norman Jewison
- Runtime
- 101 Minutes
- Writers
- Charles Fuller
Directed by Norman Jewison (known for creating films that related to real-life issues) and based on a 1981 play of the same name, A Soldier’s Story was a rather shocking look into segregated army life during World War II. At this time (and for many years on), Jim Crow laws reigned over the southern US, and these policies set the foundation for this murder mystery. Played by Adolph Caesar, master sergeant Vernon Waters is shot dead one night while drunkenly making his way back to base from a dive bar. For the short time that we see him alive, as well as in all the flashbacks, Caesar’s portrayal of a bitter, old army man who wants to change his race’s path is certainly enthralling, if not corrupt.
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Investigating this case is headstrong Richard Davenport, a captain from the Judge Advocate General Corps. Stepping into this role is powerful actor Howard E. Rollins Jr., another fascinating actor nominated for a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and an Academy Award at various points during his tenure. While the contrast of seeing an upstanding JAG captain who isn’t afraid of racial divisions come to the defense of a sadistic old-timer is interesting enough, the remarkable cast that makes up Water’s company easily makes A Soldier’s Story a must-watch, even in modern days. This includes names like David Alan Grier as Officer Bernard Cobb, Denzel Washington as Private Melvin Peterson, and, you guessed it, David Harris as Private Tony Smalls.
Making Use of Actual Forts to Film A Soldier’s Story
The first thing you want to take into consideration with A Soldier’s Story is that it’s not filmed in some studio backlot or well-maintained set in the middle of nowhere. Besides some pivotal scenes being filmed in Clarendon, Arkansas, and the baseball sequence recorded in Lamar Porter Athletic Field, most of the movie was made in actual army locales: Fort Chaffee and Fort Smith (both in Arkansas as well).
In many exterior scenes (if not all of them), Jewison uses his panning technique to highlight the landscape in the background — low horizons and small, narrow buildings that convey a very narrow and focused future for these soldiers. The interior shots of offices and barracks, on the other hand, are empty, thus making space for the camera to focus on the work of the actors in the shot. Speaking of the aforementioned cast, they all bring a certain kind of tension to A Soldier’s Story which cannot be ignored.

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While Caesar perfectly depicts an army-certified ring leader with a god complex (who tortures anybody who doesn’t fit into his twisted fantasy), Larry Riley and Denzel Washington show contrast to Waters in different ways. Riley’s C.J. is the naive singer (and more light-hearted) of the group. Even though the audience clearly falls for his charisma, Waters thinks men like him should be exiled from the Black race for their uneducated minds. Through flashbacks, Washington’s Peterson conveys a more resilient figure towards Waters’ bullying, projecting the protector inside of us all. Mindlessly following Waters, Larry Riley showcases Private Memphis as the in-betweener, seeking to obey but still questioning the sergeant on the inside.
David Harris Shines in A Soldier’s Story
Given the exemplary performances, it’s no surprise that A Soldier’s Story was nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and many others. Individually speaking, Caesar and Jewison actually received official accolades from the NAACP and Moscow International Film Festival. While Harris was never recognized for his display in the emotional finale, we shall take a look at that here. Just as Davenport is figuring out what actually happened to Waters on that fateful night, the man who he needs to interrogate is trying to run away right into the shadows and far away from the base (through the bushes, the mud and all the more grimier aspects of nature).
After trying to hop on the back of a train, Smalls is intercepted by army forces and taken to stand in front of the JAG captain. Harris’ emotional display that slowly culminates in his confession of being an accomplice of sorts (as well as what happens after) not only sucks the air out of this close-quartered climax but also makes his otherwise background character now into a much more memorable one. While Smalls serves as the bridge toward finding the real murderer, Harris knows this is his moment to shine and uses it to the best of his abilities. If you want to watch A Soldier’s Story for yourself, this mystery drama is available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.
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