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. Do you know the real legend of ernie davis or just the well known facts about his life. He led his college football team to an undefeated season and a national championship. Sep 27, 2015 the express 2008 dont lose yourselves half time speech 1960 cotton bowl classic duration. To honor ernie davis, the browns retired jersey number 45, the number he would have worn, in his honor. He died at age 23 in 1963, but managed to lead his high school basketball team to.
This quiz will challenge how much you know with some simple questions and other difficult ones that many people may not know. The ernie davis story offers discussion topics, writing activities and service project ideas for youth ages 18 based on the central themes in the. The express, gary fleders biopic of syracuse running back ernie davis, hits. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by charles leavitt from a book titled ernie davis. The express, a film chronicling davis brief but impactful life, re introduces. It tells the story of ernie davis, who was the first african american to win the heisman trophy and his. The only fulllength biography of davis, ernie davis. Dubbed the elmira express because of his tireless drive, davis also lived up to the title off the field fighting for racial equality. Rob celebrated his 16th birthday just before the start of production. The express 2008 dont lose yourselves half time speech 1960 cotton bowl classic duration. That is when we find out that ernie is an exceptional little dude. In the movie, dennis quaid played the coach who was the former coach of jim.
Family life blogger gina chen writes that she feels a little duped by the movie, and wonders what ernie davis would say a few intense scenes of racial bigotry in the express hollywoods. It helps us to realize that there is much more beyond the sports aspect of this magnificent individual. I ordered the express paperback as a christmas gift. A natural who never studied acting and who had no professional acting experience, made his acting and motion picture debut in finding forrester 2000. The express is involving and inspiring in the way a good movie about sports almost always is.
So ernie outruns the band of wicked children by leaping over fences and running really really fast. Meanwhile, his uncle is walking home, freaking out that ernie has probably been kicked to death, when who comes running down the street, but ernie davis. 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. Gallagher is one of the most heart shifting stories and it will definately change your outlook on sports, and how ernie davis affected sports today. 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. The gridiron action is vividly and excitingly rendered as is a superb supporting cast, most notably omar benson miller as daviss wisecracking teammate. Dennis quaid plays a coach in the story of ernie davis.
How floyd little decided to play football at syracuse. It is directed by gary fleder, produced by john davis, and based on the screenplay by charles leavitt. He was the first africanamerican man to win the heisman trophy and to be picked first overall in the nfl draft. Jul 22, 2014 what marine recruits go through in boot camp earning the title making marines on parris island duration.
The express crowdpleasing and ohsopredictable, the express is a muscular movie with social conscience that portrays ernie davis the first africanamerican collegian to win college football. The express deserves a soundtrack as much as ernie davis. Watch the express starring dennis quaid in this drama on directv. The ernie davis story is a biopic directed by gary fleder based on the book the elmira express. The express tells the story of ernie davis rob brown, the first african american to win the coveted heismann trophy for general excellence in college.
The express was one of the best sports movies i have seen. Before tragedy struck, davis was the hero of heroes on a. 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. Witness the inspirational true story of a real american hero. 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. His number is retired by the cleveland browns, and hes a member of the college football hall of.
The ernie davis story is a 2008 american sports film produced by john davis and directed by gary fleder. Aisle to glory, a 1998 comedy short film featuring kal penn. Jan 23, 2009 another exclusive available only on bluray is a 50thanniversary look at the 1959 syracuse national championship game featuring the heroics of ernie davis and his team. This book was the basis for the 2008 movie the express starring rob brown as davis and dennis quaid as coach ben schwartzwalder, read more. This biopic focuses on the relationship of ernie davis 19391963, a gifted africanamerican athlete, and his coach from 1958 to 1962 at. Ten months later, on may 18, 1963, ernie davis died of leukemia at 23 as football fans across the nation mourned.
Davis was drafted by pro football, but then leukemia was discovered, he never played a pro game and died in 1963. Ernie davis was only weeks from dying the last time dick easterly saw his heisman trophywinning teammate. Widely recruited to play running back in collegiate football, he chose. In the express, a sturdy new biopic of legendary syracuse running back ernie davis, the real contest is waged against racism. Teammates say express fumbles the facts chicago tribune. The express is a movie that deserves a real soundtrack. The ernie davis story is a movie about the star running back, ernie davis, and how discrimination and racism wouldnt stop him. The movie portrays many negative and at times very painful to watch treatments of others.
Born in new salem, pennsylvania, davis was raised by his maternal grandparents until he was 12 years old before moving to elmira, new york. He is a talented athlete in high school playing both basketball. Gallaghers biography of davis that is the alleged basis for the film but. Ernie davis, american collegiate gridiron football player who was the first african american to win the heisman trophy. Oct 09, 2008 in the express, a sturdy new biopic of legendary syracuse running back ernie davis, the real contest is waged against racism. Rob brown was born in harlem and raised in brooklyn, new york. Social problems in america have all but been buried, yet irritatingly they surface when our society is reminded not every american has learned the lessons of the past. There are elements of truth in the cotton bowl segment, which accounted for three pages in the elmira express, robert c. The ernie davis story based on a true story, the express follows the. Dec 07, 2016 ernie davis, a twotime allamerican halfback at syracuse university, lived a short life as a result of leukemia. It was 1963 at syracuse universitys alumni football game, where teammates celebrated the. Born into poverty, ernie davis rob brown overcomes many obstacles to get into syracuse universitys football program. The great ernie davis is played by rob brown as an adult and justin martin in his youth.
The express tells the story of ernie davis rob brown, the first africanamerican to win the coveted heismann trophy for general excellence in college. Rob brown plays ernie davis, while dennis quaid lends a supporting role as coach ben schwartzwalder. Ernie davis is the subject of the movie the express. The 2008 universal pictures film the express, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis. The express would need to work hard to fumble this ball, and it doesnt, making a smooth cinematic touchdown with heart, intelligence, guts, rapidfire editing, and a minimum of cliche. If you dont know a thing about davis, i wont spoil the plot for you here. Ernie the express davis rediscovering black history. Ernie davis was a college running back from 1959 to 1961 who was the first black football player to win the heisman trophy, the highest award given in that realm. Gallagher, helped keep davis memory alive by exposing new generations of. This movie, starring rob brown and dennis quaid, portrays how life was back in. It follows davis life from his early youth in elmira, new york, in the 1940s and 50s. Initial tests revealed leukemia in its most serious form. Based on the reallife story of college football hero ernie davis, the express will remind some moviegoers of the hearttugging brians song. Biography ernie davis was an allamerican on the gridiron, and a man of integrity off the field.
The express 2008 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Gallagher, is the book upon which the movie the express. Im a sucker for sports dramas, and the express struck a chord with me. A football movie that even nonsports fans can appreciate, the express is the story of ernie davis rob brown, who in 1961 became the first. 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. The triumph and tragedy of ernie davis, the first black. The acting by quaid and brown is phenomenal, and the story is compelling and inspirational. The original score from mark isham is fine and dandy, but how can you tell the tale of ernie davis without the tunes that set the stage for the movie. The express is the story of ernie davis, the 1961 heisman trophy winning. The syracuse team, coming off an undefeated season, was notable for the presence of ernie davis, a supremely talented running back who would go. The ernie davis story, directed by gary fleder and based on the nonfiction book the elmira express. The express is a biopic movie that focuses on the life of ernie davis, the first africanamerican athlete who received the muchcoveted heisman trophy. The express, a biopic about davis that opens friday, is at least in theory supposed to be based on his real life.
Were talking muddy waters, nat king cole, big joe turner, ray charles and elvis, just. The express is a touching sports biography of halfback ernie davis, a black athlete who followed in jim browns footsteps at syracuse university, only to have his career cut short by a fatal illness. The express, a film chronicling davis brief but impactful life, reintroduces. Sur les conseils dun coach autoritaire dennis quaid traffic, le jour dapres, davis parviendra a surmonter tous les obstacles pour devenir une veritable legende du sport. Check out the link below for information on how to get involved in a film about the little rock nine students in arkansas during 1957. I wasnt expecting the ending, since i had never heard of ernie davis until this movie, but now i. The express a tribute to ernie davis college football espn.
A multisport high school star in elmira, new york, davis went on to syracuse university. 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 movie is based on the 1983 biography ernie davis. Ernie davis was an all american running back for syracuse university.
It tells the story of ernie davis portrayed by rob brown, a talented young football player who many believe would have gone on to become the first black athlete to win the coveted. Thats all the more reason for being disappointed in the express, as it reduces. Ernie davis was the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. The score is correct syracuse beat the longhorns, 2314. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Ernie davis never played a snap in the nfl, yet there might not be an individual who. Express, by love and rockets, 1986 express christina aguilera song, 2010 express dina carroll song, a song by dina carroll from the 1993 album so close express b. Known as the elmira express, he was a threesport football, basketball, baseball star at the elmira free academy in elmira, new york. Rent the express 2008 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. 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.
T he story begins with a young ernie davis justin martin and a young will davis jr. Connecticut after taking the armys strenuous endurance test at west point. The ernie davis story the express is an awesome book written about the career of ernie davis and all of the hardships he faced on his journey to the nfl. The express, which opened nationwide october 10, profiles ernie davis, who in 1961 became the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. The ernie davis story is a 2008 american sports film produced by. The ernie davis story, a 2008 film starring dennis quaid. The movie opens in 1949 in pennsylvania coalmining country. Under the guidance of coach ben schwartzwalder dennis quaid, davis becomes one of the schools best. Ernie davis was an all american on the gridiron, and a man of integrity off the field. The express tells the story of ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the coveted heismann trophy for general excellence in college football. Ernie davis becomes the first africanamerican to win the.
The ernie davis story is a movie about the star running back, ernie davis, and how discrimination and racism wouldnt stop him from becoming the best football player he. Watch the express online stream full movie directv. Thus it is with this superior movie called the express. Universal pictures made a film the express on the same book which began production on april, 2007 and was released on october 10th, 2008. A threetime allamerican halfback and 1961 heisman trophy winner, ernie davis led syracuse university to the national championship as a sophomore and was inducted into the college football hall of fame in 1979. Be sure to include at least one morbidly offensive lineman for comic relief, and have everyone break into a malebonding song and dance in the. I loved the movie based on the true life of ernie davis so i knew i would love the book as well. The process of taking this nonfiction biography and creating from it a feature film requires adaptation. He was drafted by the cleveland browns, but never played a down in the nfl because he was diagnosed with leukemia soon after. When ernie davis had his physical exam, the doctor felt his neck and found. Rob brown stars as trailblazer ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy.
Oct 10, 2008 social problems in america have all but been buried, yet irritatingly they surface when our society is reminded not every american has learned the lessons of the past. The movie is inspirational on many levels and touches the viewer with the most dramatic obstacles such as racism and segregation. Based on the incredible true story, the express follows the inspirational life of college football hero ernie davis rob brown, the first. The express is the story of ernie davis, the 1961 heisman trophy winning running back from syracuse.
Justin jones, happily collecting soda bottles along the towns railroad tracks. Gallagher, began production in april 2007 and was released on october 10, 2008. I suspect ernie davis really was an interesting person. He was posthumously inducted into the college football hall of fame in 1979. The story of ernie davis is one of triumph and tragedy.
Free academy, davis was a highschool allamerican in football and basketball. In the movie the express, just before ernie davis walks out of the. What marine recruits go through in boot camp earning the title making marines on parris island duration. Watch the express movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. Oct 08, 2008 ernie davis legacy lives on long after his death. A multisport high school star in elmira, new york, davis went on to syracuse university, prezi. His fight for equality and respect forever changed the face of american sports, and his story continues to inspire new generations. The formula is basic and durable, and when you hitch it to a good story, you can hardly fail. Although the film traces the life of ernie davis, it only highlights the major events, tragedies and triumphs of the all star player at saracues university. Oct 10, 2008 ernie davis was only weeks from dying the last time dick easterly saw his heisman trophywinning teammate.
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