“˜Buffalo Soldiers’ casts false, negative picture
By Daily Bruin Staff
July 20, 2003 9:00 p.m.
I was given a preview screening of the film “Buffalo
Soldiers” on July 1, and I was horrified by what I saw and
heard.
Before I express my observations and concerns about the film, I
will present my credentials. I am an alumnus of UCLA (M.S.
’66), a life member of the UCLA Alumni Association, a retired
Army officer, and a life member of the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry
Association. I must admit that I am not an avid fan of
“Hollywood-type” military films. They tend to impart
too many myths and disinformation. However, I have a special
interest in the film “Buffalo Soldiers” since the title
is the nickname applied in 1867 to historic military regiments.
To most people in the United States, Buffalo Soldiers are black
men who established an outstanding record of military service in
the U.S. Army from 1866 to 1944. It is my understanding that the
film is an adaptation of a novel by Robert O’Connor with the
same title. He apparently connected his fictitious prose with real
men known as Buffalo Soldiers in order to gain public attention.
However, there is no overt connection between the film’s
title and the actual movie.
The film conveys an unfavorable impression of U.S. soldiers,
some of whom are now serving our country honorably in Iraq and
elsewhere. For example, after the opening scene, a painted U.S.
flag is shown similar to a scene in the movie “Patton.”
Instead of being the background of an elevated platform, the
painted flag is on the ground and is being stepped on by marching
soldiers. I consider this scene to be disrespectful of the U.S.
flag.
The film has an excessive amount of profanity by senior officers
and senior enlisted men, suggestive sex (oral sex in bed, sexual
intercourse in a car and in a swimming pool), manufacture and use
of illicit drugs by soldiers, theft of government property,
violence and corruption. Credits at the film’s end include a
disclaimer and a “R” rating which most of the viewing
public will miss.
And just as importantly, while no mention is made of the real
Buffalo Soldiers ““ 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry Regiments and
24th and 25th U.S. Infantry Regiments ““ there is a subtly
implied connection. There are at least two scenes which, in my
opinion, hold hidden meaning. The first is when a loose tank,
driven by a black crewman who is apparently driving under the
influence, runs over private property, leaves a path of destruction
and is later blown apart at a gas station. The tank crewmen and
other soldiers are killed ““ all of whom are white, except the
driver.
Other scenes show military policemen, who are black soldiers,
committing acts of violence and engaging in corruption instead of
enforcing military law. These scenes, intentionally or
unintentionally, convey a negative image of all black soldiers and
degrade the sterling service of the real Buffalo Soldiers who, as
mentioned before, were mostly black men. Many of the film’s
viewers will believe that these scenes are accurate.
Because of the script’s high degree of negativism about
U.S. soldiers, profanity, suggestive sex, illicit drug use,
violence and corruption, I recommended in writing to a Miramax
Films executive that the film’s title be changed from
“Buffalo Soldiers” to “Gang of Soldiers,”
“Rogue Soldiers” or some other title that more
accurately fits the script.
In my opinion, students at UCLA should invest their time in
discovering the truth, not wasting it on an outrageous film.
Henderson is a retired U.S. Army colonel and past president of
the 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association.
