The Express

Infobox Film
name = The Express


caption = Theatrical release poster
writer = Charles Leavitt
Robert C. Gallagher
starring = Rob Brown
Charles S. Dutton
Dennis Quaid
director = Gary Fleder
editing = Padraic McKinley
William Steinkamp
producer = John Davis
distributor = Universal Pictures
released = October 10 2008
runtime =
country = United States
language = English
budget =
followed_by =
website = http://www.theexpressmovie.com/
amg_id = 1:392040
imdb_id = 0469903

:"For the British tabloid newspaper, see Daily Express."

"The Express" is an American sports film directed by Gary Fleder released by Universal Pictures on October 10 2008. [ [http://www.suathletics.com/News/Football/2007/6/14/Express6.14.07.asp?path=football SU Athletics - The Express’ to Film Scenes on Campus Next Week; Extras Needed ] ] [ [http://www.stargazettenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070609/NEWS01/706090318 Star-Gazette.COM - Local News ] ] It is based on the life of Syracuse University football player Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Production

Rob Brown ("Finding Forrester", "Coach Carter") stars as Davis and Dennis Quaid ("The Rookie", "Playing by Heart", "The Day After Tomorrow") plays Davis' Syracuse coach, Ben Schwartzwalder. The role of Pops is played by Charles S. Dutton ("Rudy", "Cry, the Beloved Country"). Brian Wysocki makes a brief appearance playing an overzealous fan. The film is directed by Gary Fleder ("Runaway Jury"). The screenplay was written by Charles Leavitt ("Blood Diamond") based on the authoritative biography by Robert C. Gallagher, "Ernie Davis, The Elmira Express: the Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner". Cinematographer Kramer Morganthau ("Fracture"); production designer Nelson Coates ("Runaway Jury"), in his sixth feature collaboration with the director; editor William Steinkamp ("Runaway Jury") in his fourth; and Editor Padraic McKinley, along with Costume Designer Abigail Murray ("Runaway Jury"), in her fourth, round out Fleder's creative team.

Filming began in April 2007 at Chicago area locations including Lane Technical High School, Amundsen High School, J. Sterling Morton West High School in Berwyn, Northwestern University in Evanston, Aurora, Mooseheart, Hyde Park and on Olde Western Ave. in Blue Island. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20070616084942/http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/425451,2_1_AU13_MOVIE_S1.article 'The Express' stops in Aurora] ] It concluded its fifty-three day shoot at Syracuse University. [ [http://www.suathletics.com/News/Football/2007/6/14/Express6.14.07.asp?path=football SU Athletics - The Express’ to Film Scenes on Campus Next Week; Extras Needed ] ]

Cast

*Rob Brown - Ernie Davis
*Dennis Quaid - Ben Schwartzwalder
*Charles S. Dutton - Pops
*Clancy Brown - Roy Simmons Sr.
*Darrin Dewitt Henson - Jim Brown

Historical criticism

Journalists and film critics noted that a scene of "racist vitriol" [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117938515.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 Anderson, John. "The Express" (review)] . "Variety" September 28, 2008] involving the October 24, 1959 game between Syracuse and West Virginia University, was fictitious and, as "Film Journal International" critic Frank Lovece noted, "veers remarkably toward outright slander". [http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/reviews/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003871198 Lovece, Frank. "The Express" (review)] , "Film Journal International", October 10, 2008] That game is "falsely shown as taking place at WVU's Mountaineer Field" in Morgantown, West Virginia, "rather than at Syracuse's own Archbold Stadium", the Orangemen's home field in New York state.

Additionally, Lovece found, "Aside from the fact that the game didn't even take place there, Schwartzwalder had earlier led West Virginia high-school teams to state championships, and was a beloved and respected figure with devoted fans there who wouldn't have given his teams any lip — so much so that on his death in 1993, WVU even instituted the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy". Syracuse quarterback Dick Easterly, who played with Davis in Morgantown the following year, on October 22, 1960, after the events of the Cotton Bowl game against the University of Texas, recalled no such events and said, "I apologize to the people of West Virginia because that did not happen. I don't blame people in West Virginia for being disturbed. The scene is completely fictitious". [http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/WVUSports/200810080283 Thompson, Matthew. "New movie shows WVU fans in false, ugly light"] , "Charleston Daily Mail" October 08, 2008]

Syracuse center Patrick Whelan, a Davis teammate, said of the movie's inaccuracies, " [W] e’re sitting watching this thing, saying, 'Jeez, where did they get that from?'". [ [http://www.tampabay.com/features/movies/article837721.ece Persall, Steve. "Teammates say 'The Express' changes history"] . "St. Petersburg Times", October 5, 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.theexpressmovie.com/ Official site]
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* [http://www.cyinterview.com Rob Brown interview]
* [http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/view.bg?articleid=1124550 ‘Express’ wins gridiron glory] Boston Herald