A Soldier’s Story | Death Wish

Featuring a scene-stealing breakout early performance by Denzel Washington, A Soldier’s Story portrays a murder mystery set at the racial minefield of a sweltering, segregated southern military base during WWII. Made around the time Hancock was developing his “Rockit” sound, the (somewhat incongruous) score was largely improvised by Hancock and his band. Nominated for three Academy Awards—Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay (Charles Fuller, adapting his own Pulitzer Prize–winning play), and Supporting Actor (Adolph Caesar for his searing performance)—the film features an impressive ensemble cast including Robert Townsend, David Alan Grier, Howard Rollins Jr., and, in her screen debut, Patti LaBelle as the local bar singer. (101 mins., 35mm)

Inspiring a trend of violent vigilante movies stoked by urban anxieties, Death Wish shows Charles Bronson (in his career-defining role) prowling the streets searching for the hoodlums (including Jeff Goldblum in his screen debut as “Freak #1”) who assaulted his wife and daughter. Advancing his Head Hunters sound (and recorded by the same group of musicians), Hancock’s tense, funky, and scuzzy score ranks among the very best of the 1970s. Beyond Goldblum, the film also features a number of supporting roles and cameos by great character actors such as Paul Dooley, Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia, Christopher Guest, and Saul Rubinek. (93 mins., 35mm)

• See the complete Soundtrack by Herbie Hancock lineup.