Murder on the Orient Express is one of the most famous murder mysteries written by Agatha Christie. That's the important thing." © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. At one point, during the film's gala opening last month in Syracuse, some players grew so upset at the emerging story -- including its depiction of coach Ben Schwartzwalder -- that they nearly left the theater before the closing credits, according to two players. Logged in users can submit quotes. Movies. The 1978 movie “Midnight Express,” based on a book by Billy Hayes, and adapted into a screenplay by Oliver Stone, shows Hayes’ arrest for trafficking in hashish, his beatings and the squalid prison conditions. Martin Luther King Jr.'s community organizing and marches. Film director Gary Fleder has not commented publicly on the West Virginia criticisms. 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 football. Oct. 10, 2008 Updated: Feb. 10, 2012 10:11 p.m. Facebook Twitter Email. Discussion of interracial dating. Ernie Davis, the movie, has some detractors. "The Express" ist eine Biographie des Footballspielers Ernie Davis. He was never that way to me." Several former SU players from that era -- including Schwedes, offensive tackle Bob Yates, tackle John Brown and quarterback Dick Easterly -- have stated publicly that they recall no such racial incidents in Morgantown. Your privacy is important to us. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. Trouble is, it never happened. Please support high-quality local journalism. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Charles Leavitt from a book titled Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express, authored by Robert C. Gallagher. While the film is entertaining from start to finish, it manages to still be very accurate to the story. The Express Quotes. What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Check out new Common Sense Selections for games, Teachers: Find the best edtech tools for your classroom with in-depth expert reviews, Cómo hablar con los niños sobre la violencia en el Capitolio de los Estados Unidos, Actividades de bienestar para el invierno, Which Side of History? Menu. See our. Related story. Former player Ger Schwedes says the movie makes for fine "fiction," but isn't close to portraying real events in his letter to the Post-Standard published today. Some kissing and light undressing (blouse removed, underwear on) in the context of a long-term committed relationship. "I thought, 'That's the story.'" 76 above). The impressive performance of the cast scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Film. The entire film involves intense, extensive discussions of race in the America in the '60s, from segregation to "Jim Crow" laws to Rev. Midnight Express is a 1978 prison neo noir drama film directed by Alan Parker, produced by David Puttnam and written by Oliver Stone, based on Billy Hayes' 1977 non-fiction book Midnight Express. Newspaper accounts mention no racial incidents, though such issues rarely made newsprint in that era. How has America moved forward in the years since the era depicted in the film, when segregation and overt racism were rampant? In both book and film, there are twelve suspects aboard the train, plus four others: Poirot, his friend Bouc, a train conductor named Pierre Michel, and, of course, the dead body. It’s a shame. "The Express" opened nationally last weekend and ranked sixth at the box office. Here, instead, is a much more standard Romantic view of the genius in … Yates said he and others were too stunned to comment afterward, and they did not want to spoil an otherwise joyous occasion. Of course, ever since Hollywood discovered sports movies, everything has been fair game to script revisions. I do not want to give much away, but if you like True Stories, a movie that moves along and sports you will love it. Discussion of terminal illness. Nor is there mention of any West Virginia ruckus in Robert C. Gallagher's 1999 book, "The Express: The Ernie Davis Story," on which the movie is based. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "That's the way they do things down here," the coach says. Parents: Set preferences and get age-appropriate recommendations with Common Sense Media Plus. Express… Schwartzwalder, played by actor Dennis Quaid, warns his team to stay helmeted, fearing they will be hit by beer bottles. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. We won't share this comment without your permission. Shark expert on real life impact THE MEG has swum to cinema screens, taking the end of summer blockbuster season by storm. "Regardless of how that movie was done, it brings back Ernie Davis. TV Shows . But "The Express" -- showing powerful images of a racially divided America in 1959 -- was always destined to generate far more debate than the usual popcorn movie. See the BACKLASH THE POST is the new critically acclaimed drama retelling the Washington Post’s coverage of the Pentagon Papers. "You won't find any dissent over what I've written," he said. Movies. Overall, the movie treats the coach kindly -- not mentioning later controversies, such as the 1970 walk-out by African-American athletes, which decimated the program. Thank you for your support. Shaquille O'Neal and his Phoenix Suns teammates rent a theater at Carousel Center to watch "The Express… In fact, the record showed that no attacks occurred -- at least, in Syracuse. Brown, an African-American, said he never experienced a regular season crowd or game like that during his time at SU. Powerful drama is so much more than a football movie. There are 18 songs in the movie The Express: The Ernie Davis Story. "Ben may have been a lot of things," Brown said. Express: Aisle to Glory, a 1998 comedy short film featuring Kal Penn; The Express: The Ernie Davis Story, a 2008 film starring Dennis Quaid; Music. All rights reserved (About Us). Er war ein erfolgreicher Sportler und der erste Afroamerikaner, der die begehrte "Heisman Trophy" gewinnen konnte. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. Brown said the coach deserves to remembered as he was -- not as a Hollywood formula. "He (Brown) talked me through the real stuff ... the times, what he went through as a player, what Ernie went through as a player," Fleder said. Family Life blogger Gina Chen writes that she feels a little duped by the movie, and wonders what Ernie Davis would say. Our ratings are based on child development best practices. It is not just inspirational, but a very entertaining movie overall. The Express (also known as The Express: The Ernie Davis Story) is a 2008 American sports film produced by John Davis and directed by Gary Fleder. Behind Davis, SU won 45-0, delivering the worst home defeat in West Virginia history. Even if you are not a big sports fan, the depth of the story and nature of the character will be enough. A character who has an athletic scholarship is reminded that, while football is nice, a college degree is even more important. The cruel and barbaric prison conditions depicted in the movie were accurate, he said, but they were hardly unique to that country. Subscribe to syracuse.com. Extensive on-field football action/violence, both within the context of fair play on the field and cheap shots after the whistle's blown. Former Syracuse University football players say there were racist incidents when SU played in the Cotton Bowl (above), but not in West Virginia, as shown in the film "The Express." ESCAPE FROM PRETORIA director Francis Annan has revealed exclusively to Express.co.uk how historically accurate the Daniel Radcliffe prison break movie is, plus some real-life Easter Eggs. See something that needs to be addressed? What constitutes PG these... First: If you don't want your kids to watch violence that is very real don't watch this with them. The formula is basic and durable, and when you hitch it to a good story, you can hardly fail. David McKenna and Nick Cassavetes adapted Bruce Porter's 1993 book Blow: How a Small Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellín Cocaine Cartel and Lost It All for the screenplay. The coach kept a strict honor code, and nobody ever overruled his edicts -- as Davis does several times in the movie. Quaid is also outstanding as Schwartzwalder, a man both cold and compassionate, focused on football and yet aware of the world outside it. No quotes approved yet for The Express. But while the cast was widely receiving praise for its efforts, tension brewed in the background. Hart Seely can be reached at hseely@syracuse.com and 470-2247. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. To Michael Oher, the true story of his life was very different than how the movie portrayed him. Are they a great way to explore history and human behavior, or an "easy out" for filmmakers thanks to their cliches and familiar moments? Among the players upset is tackle John Brown (No. Ernie Davis, the movie, has some detractors. It is, perhaps, not the best choice of all of her work. The movie featured a loaded cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Nick Saban and more. Here are ten things that Goodfellas changed from the real story. Arts, entertainment, and media Films. In the 2007 football movie "We Are Marshall," the retelling of the 1970 college program's resurrection after a plane crash contained so many distortions that critics demanded it not be called a "true story." At the Syracuse premiere of "The Express," Schwedes said, he and his comrades steeled themselves for inaccuracies. Writes Gallagher: "The tackle, expecting a violent response, became embarrassed and said, 'Ernie, I'm sorry.' Much is made of the lead character's position as a role model and inspiration during the racially divided '50s and '60s in America. Inspirational true story tackles race, football. He spent an hour with Jim Brown, the great running back who preceded Davis at SU, to discuss the movie. The quarterback is David Sarette. Families can talk about the film's historical depictions of race and civil rights. The film moves downfield as if on rails -- from early childhood to early success, from initial excitement to unexpected setbacks, all leading up to the big game and the tragic real-life events that followed. Directed by Gary Fleder, The Express is a little overlong and a little over-directed, but the fierce momentum of Davis' story keeps the film going through the slower moments, and the sincerity and sober thought that Fleder and screenwriter Charles Leavitt bring to the film shine through some of the overly flashy camera work and directorial choices. What a weird and wonderful movie might have been made about such a character! Not a single one is on the soundtrack album. "Because so many of the '59 members have called, e-mailed and written to me with their objections, I'm compelled to set the record straight," he writes. "Retard" is used as an insult. The Express. Not to take anything away from Ernie Davis great achievement the movie is very accurate to his winning the Heisman trophy. Three central characters didn't even exist. There's also a certain amount of violence -- including hard-hitting football action and also dirty tricks like a coach directing his players to hit an opponent at the site of an injury. The Express is an excellent movie based on a true story about the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. The film focuses on Davis' 1960 season, during which he not only led Syracuse to a national championship but also faced racism and hatred when Syracuse played in Southern states like West Virginia and Texas. "We as a team are truly appalled at the complete falsity of the portrayal of our coach," Yates wrote, in a letter to NBC sports host Bob Costas. The star rating reflects overall quality. The Orient Express was operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) and used steel coaches from the 1920s on (sleeping, restaurant and baggage cars). The 1959 team also quarrels with the portrayal of Schwartzwalder by Quaid, the movie's star. After receiving protests, Stone issued a public apology to the Syracuse police. No Shirley & Lee, no Frankie Miller, no Muddy Waters. Join now. Football players are pelted with trash, with the threat that an angry crowd may throw bottles. Extensive, constant, and strong racial language, including the "N" word, "spook," "negro," "black," and more; a football player says to the lead character: "I'm going to kick your black ass back to Africa." How accurate is Winchester in The Last Kingdom? That being said, there were certain aspects of the story that weren’t shown or just completely changed, most likely for dramatic purposes. How has it not? Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). The Last Kingdom fans would have noticed at the start of many scenes in the series, the name of the location appears onscreen. Ernie Davis, the man, won admirers everywhere. Yates said Schwartzwalder would never swear at a player, never drink alcohol in front of his team, never tolerate inequalities -- as Quaid's character does. Rising from the humblest of beginnings, Ernie Davis (Rob Brown) overcame impossible odds to become the first African-American to win college football’s greatest honor – the Heisman Trophy. We're updating our reviews to better highlight authentic stories and accurate, diverse representations. It follows Davis' life from his early youth in Elmira, New York, in the 1940s and '50s; raised by his grandparents, Davis' promise in high school turned into a scholarship offer from Syracuse under the direction of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid). Occasional strong language, including "ass," "s--t," and "hell." The teams did play in Morgantown, W.Va., on Oct. 22, 1960. Her strength, beside flawlessly plotted mysteries, has always been characters. The Meg movie: How accurate is The Meg? It had many curse words in it, including several instances of profanity with terms of deity. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. That fictional case bears an obvious resemblan… "It was very hard for those members of the '59 team in attendance at the premiere not to leave en masse, as we had done before, after the 1960 Cotton Bowl, because of the injustice to Ernie." There's also some salty tough-talk from a football coach and depictions of the segregation and racial divides in the American South in the '50s and '60s. The cast is also excellent, especially Brown; he manages to make Davis seem dignified but not dull, principled but never preachy -- and he completely sells the excellence of Davis' real-life athletics in the film's recreation of bygone games. About 12 later reviewed the letter before it was submitted. PG | 2h 10min | Biography, Drama, Sport | 10 October 2008 (USA) A drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the … "But it's very hard to be objective when you're being portrayed in a movie -- when you lived it." Though originally sentenced to a relatively mild four years, just two months before his release date, a superior court overturned the decision and sentenced him to 30 years. The record book shows Davis, a sophomore, had a breakout game in 1959 against the Mountaineers, rushing for 141 yards. Schwedes said the letter reflects the consensus of 39 ex-teammates who returned to Syracuse for the movie's world premiere Sept. 12. The Last Kingdom is an Anglo-Saxon series on Netflix, which is based on The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell. The symbols of the KKK and the Confederacy are seen on death threats. The movie sets the date of the game as Oct. 24, 1959. Davis smiled at the guy and asked what he was trying to do. We display the minimum age for which content is developmentally appropriate. The book does note one anecdote from the 1960 game: On Davis' first three runs, a Mountaineer linemen twisted his ankle in the pile-up. What's on TV & Streaming What's on TV & Streaming Top Rated Shows … Comments. Yates, who lives in Texas, said Quaid took too many artistic liberties with the former coach, to whom the team remains loyal. Because The Express is one those movies you don't want to know too much about before seeing it. Movie review: 'The Express' Peter Hartlaub, Chronicle Pop Culture Critic. Inspiring football drama brings history to 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 African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, in 1961. Blow is a 2001 American biographical crime film, directed by Ted Demme, about American cocaine smuggler George Jung. "When I left the movie, I had to say to myself, 'Remember, it's a movie,' " Brown said. I almost always agree with the Common Sense ages, but I did take my just turned 10 and almost 12 year old to see it. Some logos visible, like Pepsi, Budweiser, Woolworths, Time magazine, and Ritz; characters sing a Pepsi jingle. Later, as they digested the film, they decided to make a public statement, through Schwedes' letter. Though racial conflict at the 1960 Cotton Bowl game, in Texas, has been well-documented, West Virginia critics say the filmmakers seem to have picked their school arbitrarily to serve as the film's composite face of racism. TV Shows . I was shocked this movie had a PG rating. Some fistfights. "I think the movie is wanting in one way to disabuse us of the sense that Lincoln is this high-minded idealist who wouldn't stoop to using the machine to get votes. Menu. As such, it is also among the most adapted ones. 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