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. His fight for equality and respect forever changed the face of american sports, and his story continues to inspire new generations. The life story ernie davis, the first black player to win the heisman trophy, whose nfl career was cut short by leukemia. 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. Thus it is with this superior movie called the express. There are elements of truth in the cotton bowl segment, which accounted for three pages in the elmira express, robert c. The express is involving and inspiring in the way a good movie about sports almost always is. Watch the express starring dennis quaid in this drama on directv. A drama based on the life of college football hero ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy.
Universal pictures made a film the express on the same book which began production on april, 2007 and was released on october 10th, 2008. Find out where to watch, buy, and rent the express online on moviefone. The only fulllength biography of davis, ernie davis. Known as the elmira express, he was a threesport football, basketball, baseball star at the elmira free academy in elmira, new york. The express tells the story of ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the coveted heismann trophy for general excellence in college football. Gallagher, began production in april 2007 and was released on october 10, 2008. Based on the reallife story of college football hero ernie davis, the express will remind some moviegoers of the hearttugging brians song. Ernie davis is the subject of the movie the express. 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. The express is a biopic movie that focuses on the life of ernie davis, the first africanamerican athlete who received the muchcoveted heisman trophy. Ernie davis rob brown and teammate jack buckley omar benson miller charm gloria baker linara washington and sarah ward nicole behaire in the express. The ernie davis story is an american sports film directed by gary fleder released by universal pictures on october 10, 2008. Based on the incredible true story, the express follows the inspirational life of college football hero ernie davis rob brown, the first. Watch the express streaming online hulu free trial.
The express is more or less a biography of davis, played by rob brown in a likable if somewhat stiff performance. It is directed by gary fleder, produced by john davis, and based on the screenplay by charles leavitt. Tvma baseball, sports movie 2001 gods and monsters. He was posthumously inducted into the college football hall of fame in 1979. What happened to ernie daviss girlfriend sarah ward answers. Sarah ward was not the actual name of ernie davis girlfriend. 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. Under the guidance of coach ben schwartzwalder dennis quaid, davis becomes one of the schools best. 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 storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by charles leavitt from a book titled ernie davis. Davis didnt play during his freshman season at syracuse, as was the rule at the time, though he dominated practices. A motion picture biography, the express, directed by gary fleder and based on the nonfiction book the elmira express.
Her name was helen gott and she is currently an editor with the kansas city star newspaper. The express is a movie that deserves a real soundtrack. It is based on the life of syracuse university football player ernie davis, the first african american to. 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. The express 2008 stream and watch online moviefone. To honor ernie davis, the browns retired jersey number 45, the number he would have worn, in his honor. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Free academy, davis was a highschool allamerican in football and basketball. Dennis quaid plays ben schwartzwalder, the inspirational coach who does an exceptional job.
When davis later became a star running back for the syracuse orangemen, his. Watch the express 2008 full movie online free on putlocker. Love by the book tv movie 2014 a bookstore owner and hopeless. Rob brown plays ernie davis, while dennis quaid lends a supporting role as coach ben schwartzwalder. R biography, drama movie 20 searching for bobby fischer. Not to take anything away from ernie davis great achievement the movie is very accurate to his winning the heisman trophy. Rob brown in the express 2008 dennis quaid and darrin dewitt henson in.
A tribute to ernie davis syracuse football duration. The express 2008 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 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. The ernie davis story encompasses his short twenty three years of life, ending in 1963. In america in the late 1950s and early 60s, one young man became a symbol for a country grappling to move. Starring dennis quaid as the hardnosed coach that helped drive him to greatness, the express is a powerful story of. Watch the express online stream full movie directv. The formula is basic and durable, and when you hitch it to a good story, you can hardly fail. The icon jim brown is played by darren henson and charles dutton is. Gallagher, helped keep davis memory alive by exposing new generations of. Express yourself the ernie davis story the bible and. The express trailer directed by gary fleder and starring rob brown, dennis quaid, darrin dewitt henson, omar benson miller, nelsan ellis. Based on the incredible true story, the express follows the inspirational life of college football hero ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. Ernie davis was a star athlete at syracuse university and the first african american 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. Witness the inspirational true story of a real american hero. 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. I wanted this movie because ernie davis was a local young man from western pennsylvania that was an exceptional athlete. Related story shaquille oneal and his phoenix suns teammates rent a theater at carousel center to watch the express.
Not to take anything away from ernie davis great achievement the movie is. Born into poverty, ernie davis rob brown overcomes many obstacles to get into syracuse universitys football program. The ernie davis story is a 2008 american sports film produced by john davis and directed by gary fleder. Were talking muddy waters, nat king cole, big joe turner, ray charles and elvis, just. Not long before he died he had won the heisman, and met jfk. The express, a biopic about davis that opens friday, is at least in theory supposed to be based on his real life. This biopic focuses on the relationship of ernie davis 19391963, a gifted african. The express deserves a soundtrack as much as ernie davis.
The great ernie davis is played by rob brown as an adult and justin martin in his youth. The ernie davis story, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis. The film is wise not to present schwartzwalder as wholly color blind. This isnt just another movie about racism because the conflicts are well. Dennis quaid plays a coach in the story of ernie davis. The express original motion picture soundtrack mark isham. The movie portrays many negative and at times very painful to watch treatments of others. Based on the incredible true story, the express follows.
The ernie davis story, on which the movie is based. He was inducted into the college football hall of fame in 1979, and was the subject of the 2008 universal pictures film the express. 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. Ernest davis december 14, 1939 may 18, 1963 was an american football player, a halfback. I knew very little about him or his family so i found. The express is a 2008 american sports film produced by john davis and directed by gary fleder. The inspiring story of ernie the elmira express davis, the first african american to win the heisman trophy. 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. 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. 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. A drama based on the life of college football hero ernie davis, the first african american to win the heisman trophy. It follows davis life from his early youth in elmira, new york, in the 1940s and 50s. The 2008 universal pictures film the express, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis.
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