The Express (2008)

Director:

Gary Fleder

Writers (WGA):

Charles Leavitt (written by)
Robert Gallagher (book)

Release Date:

10 October 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Plot:

A drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Plot Keywords:

African American | Coach | Syracuse University | American Football | Student Athlete

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 18	7:45 PM	MAX
Mon. Nov. 23	9:15 AM	MAX

Cast

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
Saul Rubinek	...	Art Modell
Craig Hawksley	...	George Marshall
Jeff Still	...	Al Malette
Geoff Stults	...	Bob Lundy
Derek Graf	...	Maury Youmans
Evan Jones	...	Roger 'Hound Dog' Davis
Maximilian Osinski	...	Gerhard Schwedes
Enver Gjokaj	...	Dave Sarette
Laroyce Hawkins	...	Art Baker
Lucas Ellman	...	Squirrel
Josh Odor	...	Darrell Royal
Matt Trissel	...	Clay Taylor
Chad L. Stevens	...	Peter Logan
Keir Thirus	...	Bob Ferguson
Chaz Black	...	Jimmy Saxton
Garth Gelker	...	Holy Cross Linebacker
David Darlow	...	Cotton Bowl Official
Michael Skewes	...	Cotton Bowl Referee
Gary Houston	...	Marty Harrigan
Ned Schmidtke	...	Bill Clark
Keith Kupferer	...	Small Fry Coach
Christopher Sullivan	...	Assistant All-Star Coach
Aaron Roman Weiner	...	Opposing Coach
Tim Grimm	...	W. Virginia Coach
Matthew Settle	...	President Kennedy
Stu Lisson	...	Man in a Suit
Lance Baker	...	Reporter
Christian Stolte	...	Dan Boyle
Mike Bradecich	...	Tom Martin
Chris Farrell	...	W. Virginia Sportswriter
Doug James	...	CBS Announcer
Ronald A. Hawkins	...	Syracuse Announcer
Linara Washington	...	Gloria Baker
Chadwick Boseman	...	Floyd Little
Kevin R. Kelly	...	Man in Dark Suit
Bruce Jarchow	...	Dr. Hewlett
Ridge Canipe	...	Gang Leader
Stephen Louis Grush	...	Gang Member #1
Louie Cesario	...	Gang Member #2
Paul Turner	...	Longhorn Scout
Rick Uecker	...	Middle-Aged Man
Kris Wolff	...	Groundskeeper
Jeffrey Zabrin	...	Small Fry QB
Darryl Warren	...	Heisman Official
Brian Mahoney	...	Buffalo Doctor
Philip Rayburn Smith	...	Business Lawyer
Laurie Larson	...	Proprietor
Will Zahrn	...	Doctor
Phillip Edward Van Lear	...	NAACP Member (as Phillip Vanlear)
Michael Hargrove	...	Arthur
F. David Roth	...	Photographer
Richard Henzel	...	W. Virginia Booster
Howie Johnson	...	W. Virginia Heckler #1
Eddie Bo Smith Jr.	...	Dallas Bellhop
Jeff Christian	...	Syracuse Trainer
Victor Cole	...	Hotel Worker
William Dick	...	Heisman Man in Suit
Sam Derence	...	Sports Reporter
Brian Boland	...	Cleveland Browns Asst. Coach
Walker Howard	...	Robert Field
Leonard House	...	Alan Touissant
Allan Graf	...	W. Virginia Referee
Kevin Stark	...	Reporter #1 (Team Bus)
Kurt Naebig	...	Reporter #2 (Team Bus)
Ernest Perry Jr.	...	Preacher
Ed Smaron	...	Play-by-Play Announcer
Dan Flannery	...	Hot Shot
Chet Coppock	...	PA Announcer
Robert Cullent	...	Petie
Guy Klinzing	...	Chancellor Tully
Barry Tolli	...	Elmira Free Academy Quarterback
Chris Cowan	...	Boston College Linebacker
Mike Malczyk	...	Penn State Linebacker
Torrey Vogel	...	Brokaw
Kenya Drew	...	Pretty Girl
John Anderson	...	Cotton Bowl Referee
Jeff Welsh	...	Texas Quarterback
Michael Labus	...	Cleveland Browns Quarterback
Mike Ullrich	...	Franklin (as Michael Ullrich)
Lonnie Brooks	...	Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Laurel Beck	...	Nurse
Ellen Fliesler	...	Spectator, Passerby
Naomi Heilmann	...	Majorette
Kyle Hillman	...	Syracuse Player #57
Jordon Hodges	...	Weisman - Syracuse Football Player
Bob Kaliebe	...	Reporter - Syracuse Daily News
Sharon Kluge	...	Wealthy wife of alumni
Jacqueleen Kolessar	...	Student
Robert Kramer	...	Heckler
Jamie Louachai	...	Cheerleader
Angelina Lyubomirova	...	Band Member
Alexandra Mann	...	Syracuse Fan
Krista McEnany	...	Texas Fan
Jill Sayre
André Sogliuzzo	...	President Kennedy (voice)
Meaghan Lynn Stichauf	...	Young student
Irene Suhnaska	...	Syracuse Cheerleader
Giota Trakas	...	University student
Mike Whyte	...	Reporter
Lisa Wolf	...	Football Fan
Nathan Adloff	...	Student (uncredited)
Carlo Aparo	...	Sideline Spectator (uncredited)
Billy Atchison	...	Syracuse Football Player #25 (uncredited)
Scott Baity Jr.	...	Neighborhood Boy (uncredited)
Christopher Scott Bell	...	Syracuse Football Player (uncredited)
Joey Bicicchi	...	Syracuse Football player (uncredited)
Alex Bickle	...	Football Fan (uncredited)
Daniel Boughton	...	Football Player / Dancer / Student / Fan (uncredited)
Suzy Brack	...	Syracuse Spectator (uncredited)
Kelli Clevenger	...	Game spectator (uncredited)
Evyenia Constantine	...	Syracuse student (uncredited)
Jason Frederick	...	Football Player - Syracuse #67 (uncredited)
Alex Gil	...	Football Game Spectator (uncredited)
Ryan Hartford	...	Syracuse Cheerleader (uncredited)
J. Alec Holmes	...	Sportscaster / Reporter (uncredited)
Mark Keiser	...	Syracuse Spectator (uncredited)
Thomas Kosik	...	Assistant coach (uncredited)
Don Kress	...	Times Reporter / Photographer (uncredited)
Tim Krueger	...	Reporter - Look Magazine (uncredited)
Liz Larsen-Silva	...	West Virginia Fan (uncredited)
Maximilian Law	...	Narrator (uncredited)
J.R. Martino	...	Syracuse Football Player (#86) (uncredited)
Joseph Mazurk	...	Reporter in Cotton Bowl press box (uncredited)
Chad Queen	...	Syracuse Player (uncredited)
Henry Sandifer	...	Syracuse Student (uncredited)
Mark Scafidi	...	Syracuse / Cleveland Browns Football Player (uncredited)
Gary Sedlock	...	Photographer / News reel camera operator (uncredited)
Tom Shelley	...	Texas / Syracuse Football Player (uncredited)
Joe Sinopoli	...	Gang Member (uncredited)
Toni-Marie Spera	...	Fan (uncredited)
Jimmy Styx	...	Syracuse Player (uncredited)
Kevin Szaflik	...	Texas Fan - Reporter (uncredited)
John Thurner	...	Reporter - Life Magazine (uncredited)
Adrian Turika	...	Boston college football player (uncredited)
Chuck Wagner	...	Syracuse Strength Coach (uncredited)
Edwin M. Walker	...	Segregated Syracuse Student (uncredited)
Robert A. Young	...	Assistant Syracuse Football Coach (uncredited)
Kevin Zaideman	...	Sideline Fan (uncredited)

Directed by
Gary Fleder

Writing credits (WGA)
Charles Leavitt		(written by)
Robert Gallagher		(book "Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express")

Produced by
Adam Coplan	....	co-producer
Derek Dauchy	....	executive producer
John Davis	....	producer
Ryan Kavanaugh	....	executive producer
Arne Schmidt	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Kramer Morgenthau

Film Editing by
Padraic McKinley
William Steinkamp

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Matt Miller
Mickie Paskal
Jennifer Rudnicke
Jennifer L. Smith
Mary Tricia Wood

Production Design by
Nelson Coates

Art Direction by
Seth Reed

Set Decoration by
Denise Pizzini

Costume Design by
Abigail Murray

Makeup Department
Denise Baker	....	additional hair stylist
Mary 'Dugan' Buono	....	key hair stylist
Latrice Edwards	....	makeup artist
Vivian Guzman	....	additional hair stylist
Lisa Jelic	....	makeup artist
Kristin Lamar	....	makeup artist
Aimee Lippert-Bastien	....	key makeup artist
Dominic Mango	....	hair department head
Tony Mirante	....	hair department head
Suzi Ostos	....	makeup department head
Thomas Terhaar	....	hair stylist
Tim Toth	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Billy Higgins	....	unit production manager
Sean T. Stratton	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Deigl	....	second second assistant director
Allan Graf	....	second unit director
Richard S. Lederer	....	second assistant director
Traci M. Lewis	....	second assistant director: second unit
Michael T. McNerney	....	second assistant director: second unit
Stefan Rand	....	second second assistant director: second unit
Amy Schmidt	....	first assistant director: second unit
Aaron Schneider	....	second unit director
Michael Zimbrich	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Marc Baird	....	storyboard artist
Jason Breitzman	....	prop master: second unit
Danny Cavada	....	additional art department production assistant
David J. Chamerski	....	assistant property master
Helmer Claesson	....	on-set dresser
William Dambra	....	property master
Kyle Holden	....	assistant property master
Kyle Holden	....	prop master: second unit
Abbie Jacobson	....	assistant set decorator
Matthew J. Norskog	....	second on-set dresser
Paul Sharpe	....	art department production assistant
Monica Sotto	....	art department coordinator
Glenn Stevens	....	construction foreman
Larry Szymanowski	....	on-set scenic artist
David Tennenbaum	....	set designer
Scott Troha	....	leadman
David Utley	....	assistant art director
Randall D. Wilkins	....	set designer
Erica Willis	....	art department production assistant
Jane Wuu	....	set designer
Cliff Zimowski	....	set decorating coordinator
Phil Ellman	....	greensman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bryan Bowen	....	sound effects editor
Tim Butler	....	adr mixer
Eddie Bydalek	....	digital sound mix technician
Michael Capulli	....	boom operator: second unit
Zack Davis	....	adr editor
Karl Dondlinger	....	boom operator: second unit
Frank Fleming	....	sound recordist
Scott Martin Gershin	....	supervising sound editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor
Andy Koyama	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank A. Montaño	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Moriana	....	foley artist
David Obermeyer	....	sound mixer
Mark Ormandy	....	additional sound
Michelle Pazer	....	adr editor
Stephen P. Robinson	....	sound designer
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Blair Scheller	....	boom operator
David Stanke	....	first assistant sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Kevin J. Summers	....	boom operator
Renee Tondelli	....	supervising dialogue editor
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Hugh Waddell	....	adr supervisor
Hugh Waddell	....	dialogue supervisor
Thomas Whiting	....	adr editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist
Peter Zinda	....	sound effects editor
Emilio Mazur	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Gary Abrahamian	....	animation lead: CIS Hollywood
Jayni Borgaro	....	paint and roto artist: CIS Hollywood
Steve Bowen	....	digital intermediate colorist
Melissa Brockman	....	visual effects producer
Elika Burns	....	roto/paint artist: CIS Hollywood
Joanna 'Joey' Cade	....	Massive animation producer: Reel FX
Scott Seungpil Chung	....	effects artist: CIS Hollywood
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals
Sarah Coatts	....	visual effects producer: PIC
Shane Cook	....	compositor: CIS Hollywood
Craig Crawford	....	compositor: CIS Hollywood
Sara Docksey	....	visual effects coordinator: CIS Hollywood
Alan Hernandez	....	texture artist
Heather Elisa Hill	....	production supervisor: CIS Hollywood
Ian Hubbard	....	modeler: CIS Hollywood
Ian Hubbard	....	texture artist: CIS Hollywood
Mark Justison	....	roto/paint artist: CIS Hollywood
Dan Kaufman	....	digital vfx supervisor: CIS Hollywood
Heather MacPhee	....	paint and rotoscope artist: CIS Hollywood
Philippe Majdalani	....	digital intermediate assistant producer
Steven Messing	....	matte painting supervisor: Digital Backlot
Kama Moiha	....	compositor: CIS Hollywood
Kenneth Nakada	....	digital matte painter: CIS Hollywood
James P. Noon	....	tracking
Gregory Oehler	....	senior compositor: CIS Hollywood
Eric Pender	....	cg artist: CIS Hollywood
Brian Ripley	....	digital artist
Chris Ryan	....	cg artist: CIS Hollywood
Rick Sander	....	visual effects lighter
Greg Shimp	....	paint & rotoscoping artist: CIS Hollywood
Craig A. Simms	....	compositor: CIS Hollywood
Thomas J. Smith	....	visual effects supervisor
Andy Tanguay	....	lead modeler: CIS Hollywood
James Valentine	....	paint & rotoscoping artist: CIS Hollywood
Jerry Weil	....	cg artist: CIS Hollywood
Matt Wilson	....	compositor: CIS Hollywood
Matt Ashton	....	senior systems: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Donald Fly	....	general manager: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Amy Garback	....	effects liaison: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Brian Holmes	....	systems engineer: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
J. Kitazaki	....	production assistant: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Robert Minsk	....	systems: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)
Kyle Yamamoto	....	programmer: CIS Hollywood (uncredited)

Stunts
Daniel Abikasis	....	stunt double
Dedric Anderson	....	stunts
Warren Anderson	....	stunts
Angela Batchelor	....	stunts
Nick Brett	....	stunt rigging coordinator
Ryan Chibucos	....	stunt double
Ed Donoghue	....	stunt performer
Conrade Gamble	....	stunt double
Garth Gelker	....	stunts
Allan Graf	....	stunt coordinator
Derek Graf	....	stunts
Jason Grimm	....	stunt performer
Jason Grimm	....	stunts
Ryan Hamby	....	stunts
Rob Mars	....	stunt double
Chad L. Stevens	....	stunt double
Russell Thomas	....	stunts
Gino Woulard	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Tim Armstrong	....	video assist operator
Art Bartels	....	key grip
Steve Bernstein	....	epk videographer
Kevin Boyd	....	video assist operator
Kevin Boyd	....	video supervisor
Thomas S. Ciciura	....	assistant camera
Jonathan Clark	....	film loader
Dawn Copeland	....	electrician
Joseph Czerw	....	electrician
Joseph Czerw	....	grip
Chris Dame	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jaime Dawkins	....	technocrane technician
Steve Denny	....	camera operator: second unit
Don Devine	....	camera operator
James Dewinski	....	electrician
Shannon DeWolfe	....	camera loader: second unit
Jonathan Ellison	....	grip
Fred Folmer	....	dolly grip
Joe Gajewski	....	crane technician
Zachary Gannaway	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Alejandro Garcia	....	crane technician: Technocrane
Alejandro Garcia	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Jeffery Garland	....	second assistant camera
Bob Gomez	....	rigging grip
Charles S. Hodes	....	still photographer
Jacques Jouffret	....	Steadicam operator
Jacques Jouffret	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Peter Kuttner	....	first assistant: "b" camera
Oliver Larry	....	rigging grip
Brett Laumann	....	chief lighting technician
Matthew LeCrone	....	electrician
Andrew Lostumo	....	electrician
Blake E. Matthys	....	electrician: second unit
Lance Mayer	....	libra head technician
Jeff Mihovilovich	....	second assistant camera
Chris Mulsoff	....	rigging electric best boy
Thom Owens	....	camera operator: second unit
Keith Pokorski	....	remote camera technician
Chad Rivetti	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Spencer M. Rohan	....	grip
Peter D. Roome	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, football unit
James F. Roorda	....	key rigging grip
Mark Santoni	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Dan Schroer	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Bob Scott	....	director of photography: second unit
Karina Teismann	....	electrician
Brian Wells	....	camera intern
Kevin Wisor	....	electrician
Steven R. Wojcik	....	additional camera operator
Mark N. Woods	....	technocrane operator
Cameron Zetty	....	lighting console programmer
Stephanie Dufford	....	camera loader: second unit (uncredited)
Jeff Tomcho	....	additional second assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tara Feldstein	....	casting assistant
Samantha Finkler	....	casting associate
Lindsay Heller	....	extras casting assistant
Terry L. Lamfers	....	casting executive
Clare Morris	....	extras casting associate
Joan Philo	....	extras casting director
Erin Toner	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nanrose Buchman	....	assistant costume designer
Lizzie Cook	....	key costumer
John Darmour	....	costumer
Gretchen Gain	....	assistant costume designer
Melissa Grzybek	....	costumer
Demetricus Holloway	....	set costumer
Maria Lorenzana	....	costumer
Eileen McCahill	....	costume supervisor
Shannon Neubauer	....	costumer
Gabriel Nieves	....	production assistant: wardrobe (2007)
Rachael Ohman	....	set costumer
Vivian D. Pavlos	....	set costumer
Heather Pollock	....	key costumer
Damien Quinn	....	football costumer
Jamie Rush	....	costume assistant
Nadia Salameh	....	set costumer
Maryann Scinto	....	costume dyer and ager
Ericka N. Shane	....	costume coordinator
Melissa Stinson	....	costumer
Nancy Takehara	....	costumer
Valerie Zielonka	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Banner Gwin	....	apprentice editor
Jason Joseph	....	first assistant editor
Brett Lavinthal	....	first assistant editor
Harry Muller	....	color timer
Greg Podunovich	....	first assistant editor
Mike Sowa	....	digital preview timer
Chris DeLaGuardia	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music supervisor
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Michael K. Bauer	....	music editor
Dick Bernstein	....	supervising music editor
Steve Biossat	....	playback singer
Adam Blau	....	drumline arranger
Greg Hayes	....	score recordist
Dave Lawrence	....	assistant music editor
Alison Litton	....	associate music supervisor
Cindy O'Connor	....	additional music arranger
Tyler Parkinson	....	music pre-recording engineer
Conrad Pope	....	orchestrator
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer
Margaret Yen	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
James F. Hogan	....	transportation coordinator
Patrick Lynn	....	picture car coordinator
Robert Wallace	....	driver

Other crew
Krystin Auriemma	....	production assistant
MeSun Barnett	....	set production assistant
Nathaniel E. Bell	....	location assistant
Jesse Brooks	....	location assistant
Nicholas Carranza	....	additional second assistant accountant
Jack Clancy	....	set medic
Jim Copek	....	photo double
Alex Deas-Hamrick	....	assistant: Mr. Davis
Michael Dorner	....	payroll accountant
Matt Dworzanczyk	....	production assistant
Elliott Eisman	....	production assistant
Julio Ferrario	....	creative director: main titles
Heather Fielding	....	studio teacher
P.J. Fishwick	....	production assistant
Marc Frankowski	....	accounting clerk
David Fulton	....	unit publicist
Will Gatlin	....	craft service
Corey Gibbons	....	production assistant
Matthew Goodwin	....	additional production assistant
Allan Graf	....	football coordinator
Derek Graf	....	assistant football coordinator
Nicole Graf	....	football operations coordinator
Pamela B. Green	....	main title producer
Thomas Haring	....	production assistant
Kyle Heller	....	production assistant
Will Higgins	....	production assistant
Kristie J. Hittle	....	athletic trainer
Beau Holden	....	assistant: Dennis Quaid
Qadree Holmes	....	asset manager
Holli Hopkins	....	set production assistant
Bam Hughes	....	production assistant
Nicholas Jamison	....	set production assistant: Chicago
Michael R. Kern	....	first assistant accountant
Ross L. Kulma	....	on-set first aid
Ron Landry	....	stand-in
Christopher Lane	....	set production assistant
Joseph Lazicki	....	stand-in
Alex Lee	....	production assistant
Curtis Leopardo	....	production assistant
Frankie Lindquist	....	set production assistant
Sharon Lomasney	....	assistant production coordinator
Elizabeth Ludwick-Bax	....	script supervisor
Vinh Lu	....	location scout
Craig Maltby	....	production assistant
Timothy Meehan	....	assistant: Gary Fleder
Steve Mikula	....	photo double
Steve Mikula	....	stand-in
Heidi Brook Myers	....	adr loop group
Tom Nicoll	....	production assistant
Lauren A. Oliver	....	researcher
Margaret J. Orlando	....	production coordinator
Brian Palmert	....	location assistant
Brian Palmert	....	production assistant
Barry Papick	....	acting coach
Jeremy W. Peacock	....	production assistant
Jola Piwowarcyzk	....	second assistant accountant
Michelle Poole	....	assistant production coordinator
Brandie Posey	....	production assistant
Jason Potash	....	set production assistant
Terrie Quinlan	....	studio teacher
Nick Rafferty	....	assistant location manager
Moheen Ramsey	....	production secretary
Stefan Rand	....	set production assistant
Annabeth Rickley	....	assistant to executive producers
Maria Roxas	....	key assistant location manager
Jamie Rush	....	production assistant
Ryan Salzwedel	....	stand-in
Roy Samuelson	....	adr loop group
Brooke Satrazemis	....	script supervisor: second unit
Nikki Scavo	....	production assistant
Michelle Schultz	....	athletic trainer
Heather Sharpe	....	assistant production coordinator
Victor H. Soto	....	equipment manager
Andy Spellman	....	set production assistant
Cheryl A. Stone	....	production accountant
Anne Stuart	....	craft service assistant
Bret August Tanzer	....	production assistant
Carol Ann Thomas	....	production supervisor: Syracuse, New York
Carol Ann Thomas	....	travel coordinator
David Thornsberry	....	location manager
David Dino Wells Jr.	....	extras coordinator/pa
Nichole Wleklinski	....	production assistant
John David Wolfe	....	assistant location manager
Jarik Van Sluijs	....	creative director/editor: main titles (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Davis Entertainment
• IDEA Filmproduktions
• Relativity Media

Distributors

• Universal Studios (2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• Universal Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Sky Cinema (2009) (Germany) (TV)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• fX Network (2010) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• CIS Hollywood (visual effects)
• Reel FX Creative Studios (massive crowd animation)

Other Companies

• Liquid Soul Media  marketing and promotion
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• ExtraOrdinary Casting  extras casting
• Joan Philo Casting  extras casting
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• PIC Agency  titles
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• SportsBrandedMedia  sports consultants
• Sportsrobe  costumes

Also Known As:

The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (USA) (promotional title)
The Express: Un héroe que marcó la historia (Argentina) (DVD title) [es]

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic content, violence and language involving racism, and for brief sensuality. (edited from PG-13 version)

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #43975) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Berwyn, Illinois, USA

Company:

Davis Entertainment

Trivia:

Career team record @ Syracuse 1959 11-0 1960 7-2 1961 8-3.

Goofs:

Factual errors: At the very start of the movie, in the huddle of the first play the audience witnesses during the Texas game, you can clearly hear the quarterback say the play and he says it is a Shovel Pass, but when the play is run it is in fact a direct hand off to Ernie Davis not the shovel pass that was called.

Quotes:

Texas Longhorn player: I'm gonna kick your black ass back to Africa boy!
Jack Buckley: Oh yeah? Too bad I'm from Philly.

Movie Connections:

References Stalag 17 (1953)

Soundtrack:

Hound Dog

The Express, despite some exaggerations, was a mostly inspiring bio-film of Ernie Davis

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.