It follows davis life from his early youth in elmira, new york, in the 1940s and 50s. In america in the late 1950s and early 60s, one young man became a symbol for a country grappling to move. Not long before he died he had won the heisman, and met jfk who wanted to congratulate him for his courage. The ernie davis story offers discussion topics, writing activities and service project ideas for youth ages 18 based on the central themes in the book and the movie. Gallagher is an extremely inspiring and motivating book. Watch the express online stream full movie directv. The life story ernie davis, the first black player to win the heisman trophy, whose nfl career was cut short by leukemia. The epic scene where ernie davis comes out to play with a torn hamstring. In real life, owner art modell wanted ernie introduced in his uniform, but coach paul brown wouldnt allow it because ernie wasnt officially on clevelands roster.
The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by charles leavitt from a book titled ernie davis. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Under the guidance of coach ben schwartzwalder dennis quaid, davis becomes one of the schools best. The express, a biopic about davis that opens friday, is at least in theory supposed to be based on his real life. Gary fleder does more than that in telling the story of ernie davis the elmira express, the running back for syracuse who became the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy, in 1961. Born into poverty, ernie davis rob brown overcomes many obstacles to get into syracuse universitys football program. Ernie davis rob brown and teammate jack buckley omar benson miller charm gloria baker linara washington and sarah ward nicole behaire in the express. I ordered the express paperback as a christmas gift. The ernie davis story, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis. At the end of the movie, ernie davis is introduced with the browns before their preseason game against the pittsburgh steelers, wearing his cleveland browns uniform. Witness the inspirational true story of a real american hero. Robert gallagher did an amazing job illustrating ernie davis life story. Davis was drafted by pro football, but then leukemia was discovered, he never played a pro game and died in 1963.
There are elements of truth in the cotton bowl segment, which accounted for three pages in the elmira express, robert c. Gary fleders biopic of syracuse running back ernie davis, hits all the conventional. Football great jim brown on the express and why kobe. The express, follows the true story of ernie davis. In the movie, the team is told outside the cotton bowl that the hotel where the banquet is. The ernie davis story encompasses his short twenty three years of life, ending in 1963. Based on the incredible true story, the express follows the inspirational life of college football hero ernie davis rob brown, the first.
Davis was seen as a hero and a man of true character while facing racism and discrimination o. Ernie davis, a young black athlete who overcomes adversity and racism, leads his college football program to a championship. The express original motion picture soundtrack mark isham. Here was a young man who came from a broken home and a life of poverty, and through hard work, commitment to excellence and strength of character became the best in his sport, receiving college footballs highest honorthe heisman trophy.
The ernie davis story is a 2008 american sports film produced by john davis and directed by gary fleder. Gallagher s biography of davis that is the alleged basis for the film but accounts for probably 15 to 20 minutes of the twohour movie. The inspiring story of ernie the elmira express davis, the first african american to win the heisman trophy. Gallagher, helped keep davis memory alive by exposing new generations of. Based on the reallife story of college football hero ernie davis, the express will remind some moviegoers of the hearttugging brians song.
Does the movie the express stay true to the actual story of syracuse star ernie davis. R biography, drama movie 20 searching for bobby fischer. The express is involving and inspiring in the way a good movie about sports almost always is. Remember ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy before his life was tragically cut short by leukemia. It is directed by gary fleder, produced by john davis, and based on the screenplay by charles leavitt. The film is wise not to present schwartzwalder as wholly color blind.
I wanted this movie because ernie davis was a local young man from western pennsylvania that was an exceptional athlete. Schwartzwalder recruits davis with the help of allamerican running back, jim brown. The ernie davis story, directed by gary fleder and based on the nonfiction book the elmira express. Starring dennis quaid as the hardnosed coach that helped drive him to greatness, the express is a powerful story of triumph on and off the field that will have you cheering again and again.
The 2008 universal pictures film the express, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis. Ernest davis december 14, 1939 may 18, 1963 was an american football player, a halfback. Dubbed the elmira express because of his tireless drive, davis. This biopic focuses on the relationship of ernie davis 19391963, a gifted africanamerican athlete, and his coach from 1958 to 1962 at. The ernie davis story is an american sports film directed by gary fleder released by universal pictures on october 10, 2008. The movie may make for good family viewing, but this book explains the true story of just how brave, unselfish and caring this young man was, right up until his death. Not to take anything away from ernie davis great achievement the movie is very accurate to his winning the heisman trophy. Gallaghers biography of davis that is the alleged basis for the film but. Watch the express streaming online hulu free trial. Football great jim brown on the express and why kobe needs to step it up.
Ernie davis is a young black man living up north in the 1940s, where discrimination. Express yourself the ernie davis story the bible and. Universal pictures made a film the express on the same book which began production on april, 2007 and was released on october 10th, 2008. He left his legacy behind as he was the first african american to win the heisman trophy, the most glorified award in college football. The elmira express on which the movie, the express, is based may not be the most literary piece of work ever written, but it the real story of ernie davis legacy. Tvma baseball, sports movie 2001 gods and monsters. A drama based on the life of college football hero ernie davis, the first africanamerican to. The express is more or less a biography of davis, played by rob brown in a likable if somewhat stiff performance. I loved the movie based on the true life of ernie davis so i knew i would love the book as well.
Gallagher, began production in april 2007 and was released on october 10, 2008. The film is based on the life of syracuse university football player ernie davis, the first african american to win the heisman trophy, portrayed by actor rob brown. The ernie davis story, on which the movie is based. In the express, a sturdy new biopic of legendary syracuse running back ernie davis, the real contest is waged against racism. It is based on the life of syracuse university football player ernie davis, the first african american to win the heisman trophy. Dennis quaid plays a coach in the story of ernie davis. Based on a true story, the express follows the extraordinary life of college football hero ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. This biopic focuses on the relationship of ernie davis 19391963, a gifted africanamerican athlete, and his coach from 1958 to 1962 at syracuse university, ben schwartzwalder 19091993. Starring dennis quaid as the hardnosed coach that helped drive him to greatness, the express is a powerful story of triumph on and off the field that will. Ernie davis was a star athlete at syracuse university and the first african american to win the heisman trophy.
The formula is basic and durable, and when you hitch it to a good story, you can hardly fail. The score is correct syracuse beat the longhorns, 2314. Starring dennis quaid as the hardnosed coach that helped drive him to greatness, the express is a powerful story of triumph on and off the. The only fulllength biography of davis, ernie davis. The express 2008 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The express, gary fleders biopic of syracuse running back ernie davis, hits all the conventional plot points of the traditional inspirational football story. Rent the express 2008 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. The stiffness comes in part from the script, by charles leavitt, which is. Davis was a player for syracuse university during late 1950s and early 1960s who went on to become the first african american to win the heisman trophy. Based on a true story, the express follows the extraordinary life of college football hero ernie davis rob brown, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. The express tells the story of ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the coveted heismann trophy for general excellence in college football.
The express movie guide 2008 the ernie davis story tpt. Dennis quaid and darrin dewitt henson in the express 2008 rob brown and omar. The express is a biopic movie that focuses on the life of ernie davis, the first africanamerican athlete who received the muchcoveted heisman trophy. Rob brown stars as trailblazer ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. A drama based on the life of college football hero ernie davis, the first african american to. Rising from the humblest of beginnings, ernie davis rob brown overcame impossible odds to become the first africanamerican to win college footballs greatest honor the heisman trophy. Beharie also played ernie davis girlfriend in the movie the express 2008.