MovieChat Forums > A Soldier's Story (1984) Discussion > adolf ceaser/ sgt. waters- one of the be...

adolf ceaser/ sgt. waters- one of the best performances ever




i have to say adolf ceasers character in a soldier story has to be one of the best, most underrated performances in movie history. he is totally absorbing in this role. every scene he is in is captivating. i think me and my uncle know every line of his in this film. the scene when he talks about what happened in france, or when he confronts c.j. memphis in jail, are just too classic for words. this film and adolf ceasers performance should be seen by all movie fans everwhere. how adolf didn't get some kind of award is beyond me.

reply

I agree, and it saddens me when I think about the fact that he's deceased, Howard Rollins is deceased (too young), and Larry Riley is deceased. (also too young to die). That was some of the finest acting that I've ever seen.

reply

Adolf Ceasar as Sgt. Waters is ine of the best characterizations in movie history. His line "the day of the geechie is gone boy" to Memphis when he was in jail gave me chills. This is probably one of the best movies that nobody has ever seen.

reply

i saw it the other day.

Bloody good movie

reply

Funny character

reply

I think that Adolf Ceaser's best line was "when we slit his throat he didn't know why"

reply

spencede: I think that Adolf Ceaser's best line was "when we slit his throat he didn't know why"


Chilling, wasn't it?

This is such a great movie. Another adaptation I wish I had seen performed on-stage.

reply

He was a very good actor. Either you hated his character or you loved him the way he played it. He got into his roll and that's what make a good actor. By the way, did you know that he sang the "Windsong commercials". remember "I CAN'T SEEM TO FORGET YOU, WINDSONG STAYS ON MY MIND!"

reply

I just watched the Windsong commercial on youtube.com.. i cant believe thats Adolph Caesar singing that... but hey if you say so.

reply

What's up Chalik, I heard about in a documentary that he song the Windsong commercials. It do sound like him with the deep voice. Must see that commercial, hadn't seen them in years!!!!

reply

It was great. I don't think it was underrated. He was Academy-Award nominated for crying out loud. He's a very famous actor, and this movie was very famous too -- it was Academy Award nominated as Best Picture.

But I say Dr. Haing S. Ngor was the best supporting actor of 1984, hands down. Not only did he act impeccably, he actually lived it. And this is why he won the Oscar and not Caesar.

reply

If not for the Killing Fields, Adolf Caesar would have definitely gotten the Best Supporting Oscar.

The part where he is telling the story of "Moonshine: King of the Monkeys" had a chilling effect and the feel of being a stage play, which is probably the same in the "play" version. It was kinda' scary when he is looking at himself in the bar mirror and the background and CJ singing blacks out.
"And when we slit his throat, you know the fool asked what he had done wrong". He stated it so matter-of-factly, and without any remorse whatsoever. Scary

reply

Yes, he was awesome. The became the character, inside and out. He lit up the screen.

reply

http://actoroscar.blogspot.com/2011/02/best-supporting-actor-1984-adolph.html

Caesar portrays the cruelty of his character well, in a proper strict systematic fashion. Caesar has the right intensity in his performance. Caesar is particularly good in moments in which he speaks of his thoughts on race. Caesar makes Waters' racism very realistic, and he shows it something that Waters had been taught to be his father. Waters' performance is interesting an effective performance, that shows almost an systematic racism developed within the character. Caesar makes Waters a complex man with his somewhat short amount of time, his presence makes a strong impact in a film despite his character dying in the first few minutes of the film. Leaving sort of his stain on all of it, and offering the most compelling character in the narrative.

reply

Posted 13 years ago, and you didn't hear them praise this performance? I did!

reply