IMDb > The Express (2008)
The Express
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The Express (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 36 | slideshow) Videos (see all 20)
The Express (2008) -- Open-ended Trailer from Universal Pictures
The Express (2008) -- Clip: Coach's half-time speech to the team
The Express (2008) -- Behind The Scenes: Scoring a touchdown
The Express (2008) -- Interview: Dennis Quaid "On the key to making sports movies"
The Express (2008) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   3,735 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Charles Leavitt (written by)
Robert Gallagher (book)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Express on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 October 2008 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
A drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(72 articles)
Top 7 Actors playing Athletes in Sports Films
 (From Scorecard Review. 3 October 2009, 7:30 AM, PDT)

Pandorum Review Now Live
 (From Dread Central. 28 September 2009, 3:59 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
The Express, despite some exaggerations, was a mostly inspiring bio-film of Ernie Davis more (38 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Rob Brown ... Ernie Davis

Dennis Quaid ... Ben Schwartzwalder
Darrin Dewitt Henson ... Jim Brown

Omar Benson Miller ... Jack Buckley

Nelsan Ellis ... Will Davis, Jr.

Charles S. Dutton ... Willie 'Pops' Davis

Justin Martin ... Young Ernie Davis

Justin Jones ... Young Will
Nicole Beharie ... Sarah Ward

Aunjanue Ellis ... Marie Davis

Elizabeth Shivers ... Elizabeth Davis

Clancy Brown ... Roy Simmons Sr.
Danny McCarthy ... Bill Bell

Regina Hoyles ... Sister

Chelcie Ross ... Lew Andreas
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (USA) (promotional title)
The Express: Un héroe que marcó la historia (Argentina) (DVD title) [es]
more
MPAA:
Rated PG for thematic content, violence and language involving racism, and for brief sensuality. (edited from PG-13 version)
Runtime:
130 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor) | Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Career team record @ Syracuse 1959 11-0 1960 7-2 1961 8-3. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: In the 1960 Cotton Bowl game, the movie showed Texas pulling within one point of Syracuse, 15 - 14. While this added drama, the game was never that close in the second half. Syracuse was up 23-6 when Texas scored their second and last TD with 7:39 remaining in the game. Being up 9 points also means that the climatic scene at the end of the game would have been a moot point. Texas was not in a position to tie Syracuse even with a TD and 2 point conversion. more
Quotes:
[watching Ernie practice against high school players]
Jim Brown: He's too fast for these kids.
Ben Schwartzwalder: He's too fast for anybody.
more
Movie Connections:
References The Moon Is Blue (1953) more
Soundtrack:
Send For Me more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is "The Express" based on a book?
Any recommendations for other "first Black" movies?
more
4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
The Express, despite some exaggerations, was a mostly inspiring bio-film of Ernie Davis, 23 October 2008
8/10
Author: tavm from Baton Rouge, La.

Before I write the review proper of The Express, I have something to nitpick: I know when films are made "based on a true story" some events are going to be exaggerated. Nonetheless, I expect most of what happens in those movies to reflect a certain truth and be as accurate as possible. So when I read here on IMDb that the taunts of the Syracuse vs. West Virginia game from WV stadium members NEVER HAPPENED and that the coach that Dennis Quaid played had actually worked near the surrounding areas, that marred some of the enjoyment I got out of this movie based on Ernie Davis, whom I actually read about in elementary school in a literature textbook during the '70s. I wasn't bothered by some other inaccuracies I read about, however, since many of them were more minor and therefore, doesn't ruin the picture for me. The performances of Rob Brown as Davis and Quaid as head coach Ben Schwartzwalder had me riveted for most of the movie and I also enjoyed Charles Dutton as Davis' grandfather and Nicole Beharie as Davis' girlfriend, Sarah Ward. The tragic fate of Davis in the last 15 minutes also was handled tastefully and reading about President Kennedy's eulogy before the end credits was especially inspiring. So despite my misgivings about the whole West Virginia scene, I'm recommending The Express for anyone curious about this nearly forgotten time in college football history. P.S. I was pleasantly surprised to read in the end credits that part of this movie was shot in my birthtown of Chicago, Ill.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Express (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Ernie davis was the MAN whaledogs911
My High School Football Short Film rainefilms
Syracuse v WVU racism LIE in this movie DawnReinas
To me this movie is Syracuse's Rudy kylenuss
Why change the scores? Judger
Were all three really drafted by Cleveland? ladies_man134
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