He was inducted into the college football hall of fame in 1979, and was the subject of the 2008 universal pictures film the express. His articles have appeared in baseball digest, the washington post, the redskins report, and other publications. The express tells the story of ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the coveted heismann trophy for general excellence in college football. Dennis quaid, rob brown, omar benson miller, aunjanue ellis, clancy brown, darrin dewitt henson, saul. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by charles leavitt from a book titled ernie davis. The express is the story of ernie davis, the 1961 heisman trophy winning running back from syracuse. The ernie davis story, directed by gary fleder and based on the nonfiction book the elmira express.
The express, a film chronicling davis brief but impactful life, reintroduces davis to the world this week. 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. It is based on the life of syracuse university football player ernie davis, the first african american to win the heisman trophy. The elmira express, the story of a heisman trophy winner, by robert c. When a description is based on a true story it means not everything is necessarily true. Justin jones, happily collecting soda bottles along the towns railroad tracks. Rob brown plays ernie davis, while dennis quaid lends a supporting role as coach ben schwartzwalder. Gallagher, began production in april 2007 and was released on october 10, 2008. A multisport high school star in elmira, new york, davis went on to syracuse university. He led his college football team to an undefeated season and a national championship. Robert gallagher did an amazing job illustrating ernie davis life story. He left his legacy behind as he was the first african american to win the heisman trophy, the most glorified award in college football.
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. It follows davis life from his early youth in elmira, new york, in the 1940s and 50s. Express yourself the ernie davis story the bible and culture. The gridiron action is vividly and excitingly rendered as is a superb supporting cast, most notably omar benson miller as daviss wisecracking teammate. 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. There are elements of truth in the cotton bowl segment, which accounted for three pages in the elmira express, robert c. He works for the fairfax county public library in virginia. 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. With rob brown, dennis quaid, clancy brown, darrin dewitt henson. Based on the incredible true story, the express follows the inspirational life of college football hero ernie davis rob brown, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. Beyond ernie davis story, the express also explores the relationship between davis and his coach, schwartzwalder. Soon, they are confronted by a gang of white boys approximately 1015 hurling racial epithets and threatening to beat them up if they young ernie and young will do not give up their bags of soda bottles.
Oct 09, 2008 in the express, a sturdy new biopic of legendary syracuse running back ernie davis, the real contest is waged against racism. 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. An enduring story of a true scholarathlete, the express is a touching, impeccably researched, deeply personal portrait of ernie davis, and a vivid look at sport in america at the dawn of the civil rights era. This quiz will challenge how much you know with some simple questions and other difficult ones that many people may not know. In the express, a sturdy new biopic of legendary syracuse running back ernie davis, the real contest is waged against racism. The elmira express, the story of a heisman trophy winner by robert c. The story of a heisman trophy winner was written by robert c.
Davis spent part of his boyhood years in uniontown, pa, where he lived with his grandparents until relocating to elmira to permanently live with his mother and stepfather. The premise of the express is based on the true story of ernie davis, the charismatic athlete who became the first african american to win the heisman trophy. Do you know the real legend of ernie davis or just the well known facts about his life. Universal pictures made a film the express on the same book which began production on april. It helps us to realize that there is much more beyond the sports aspect of this magnificent individual. Gallagher, is said to be the basis of the film, although friends like. If you dont know a thing about davis, i wont spoil the plot for you here. A drama based on the life of college football hero ernie davis, the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. Shaquille oneal and his phoenix suns teammates rent a theater at carousel center to.
The ernie davis story ist ein us amerikanisches sportlerdrama aus dem jahr 2008. Free academy, davis was a highschool allamerican in football and basketball. The only fulllength biography of davis, ernie davis. Better known as the elmira express, ernie was the first black heisman trophy winner back in 1961 for syracuse university. The express 2008 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Oct 10, 2008 there are elements of truth in the cotton bowl segment, which accounted for three pages in the elmira express, robert c. Ernie davis was a star athlete at syracuse university and the first african american to win the heisman trophy. Gary fleders the express, which hits theaters next month, is really two compelling movies in one. The stiffness comes in part from the script, by charles leavitt, which is.
Its a great history lesson, offering kids a look at the reallife exploits of ernie davis, the trailblazing syracuse university running back who in 1961 became the first africanamerican to win the heisman trophy. At times the express couldnt decide whether it was telling a story of racial tensions, a general inspirational sports film or the tragic biography of ernie davis. The story is inspiring and there are lessons to be learned along the way. The 2008 universal pictures film the express, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis.
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 express is more or less a biography of davis, played by rob brown in a likable if somewhat stiff performance. Ernie davis was born on this date in 1939 in new salem, pennsylvania. An enduring story of a true scholarathlete, the express is a touching, impeccably researched, deeply personal portrait of ernie davis, and a vivid look at. The elmira express, ernie davis african american registry. Free academy, davis was a highschool allamerican in. 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 formula is basic and durable, and when you hitch it to a good story, you can hardly fail.
This movie, starring rob brown and dennis quaid, portrays how life was back in the 60s with racial prejudice against black football players as they traveled. Dennis quaid plays a coach in the story of ernie davis. 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. A drama based on the life of college football hero ernie davis, the first. The express the ernie davis story trailer hd youtube. The players are also upset about the portrayal of su coach ben schwartzwalder.
Dennis quaid plays a coach in the story of ernie davis the. Witness the inspirational true story of a real american hero. Kennedy to eulogize him as an outstanding man of great character. He was drafted by the cleveland browns, but never played a down in the nfl because he was diagnosed with leukemia soon after. Gallaghers biography of davis that is the alleged basis for the film but. He was an african american college football player and the first black man to win the heisman trophy. 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 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 ernie davis story when it was rereleased with the movie. Sep 02, 2008 in battling his illness, davis showed great dignity and courage, inspired the nation, and moved president john f.
The ernie davis story is a movie about the star running back, ernie davis, and how discrimination and racism wouldnt stop him. Sending off the film in a monologue which encapsulates his entire story, lead character ernie davis rob brown concedes to the fact that he doesnt quite know how to end his story. Oct 10, 2008 the express is more or less a biography of davis, played by rob brown in a likable if somewhat stiff performance. In america in the late 1950s and early 60s, one young man became a symbol for a country grappling to move. It is directed by gary fleder, produced by john davis, and based on the screenplay by charles leavitt. Not long before he died he had won the heisman, and met jfk who wanted to congratulate him for his courage. The express original motion picture soundtrack mark isham. Oct 08, 2008 ernie davis is the subject of the movie the express, which opens on friday.
Both titles are appropriate for reading in conjunction with seeing the movie and using this curriculum. While coach schwartzwalder was after davis talent and what he could bring to the team, there is still a barrier between them. T he story begins with a young ernie davis justin martin and a young will davis jr. A motion picture biography, the express, directed by gary fleder and based on the nonfiction book the elmira express. Gallagher, helped keep davis memory alive by exposing new generations of. Ernie davis succeeded at every venue, a threesport standout in high school, a twotime allamerican halfback at syracuse. The express movie guide 2008 the ernie davis story tpt. The ernie davis story, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis. The ernie davis story is an american sports film directed by gary fleder released by universal pictures on october 10, 2008. Gallagher which was originally published on june 1st, 1999. Steve wyche discusses the express eddie george on making of the. Universal pictures made a film the express on the same book which began production on april, 2007 and was released on october 10th, 2008.
Davis was seen as a hero and a man of true character while facing racism and discrimination o. The express is involving and inspiring in the way a good movie about sports almost always is. The ernie davis story encompasses his short twenty three years of life, ending in 1963. Ernie davis was an allamerican on the football gridiron and a man of integrity off the field. The life story ernie davis, the first black player to win the heisman trophy, whose nfl career was cut short by leukemia. Davis rushed for 2,386 yards and scored 220 points for the orangemen. Based on the reallife story of college football hero ernie davis, the express will remind some moviegoers of the hearttugging brians song. 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. The ernie davis story, which was turned into a major motion picture. Gallagher is an extremely inspiring and motivating book. A multisport high school star in elmira, new york, davis went on to syracuse university, where as a. The ernie davis story is a 2008 american sports film produced by john davis and directed by gary fleder. This is a wonderful story about the late, great, ernie davis. Apr 14, 2019 the 2008 universal pictures film the express, based on the nonfiction book ernie davis.
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