Oct. 10, 2008
This is Not a Documentary; West Virginians, Texans Alike Upset Regarding Racial Incidents in 'The Express'
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – When “We Are Marshall” premiered --- and in the weeks prior --- criticism surfaced regarding the authenticity of the story based on the recovery of the Marshall football program from the 1970 plane crash. Many of the issues could be chalked up to the art form itself, but the “true story” reference brought comparison to documentary fact gathering standards.
Long time fans, members of the 1971 “Young Thundering Herd” and some characters with real-life counterparts found fault. From a player's perspective, it was the modification of the game winning pass over Xavier. Others criticized the composite cheerleader (Kate Mara) character and the dramatic protest against temporarily ending the football program that culminated with the “We Are … Marshall” chant interrupting a Board of Governors meeting.
Warner Bros., director McG, nor the producers promised a documentary. In fact, their zeal for authenticity and accuracy resulted in a breach of contract/copyright violation federal suit by the makers of “Ashes to Glory.”
However, those familiar with the negotiations in portraying the historic crash and next season victory indicated that the Hollywood people delivered on what they promised, including respect for the 75 victims who died in the plane crash at Tri-State Airport. Survivor families did not want visuals of the actual crash. That’s why you hear “almost home” then the screen fragments and goes to black.
The State of West Virginia has battled more than its share of cinematic stereotypes. Specifically, the (I apologize to anyone offended) gun totin’ , holler livin’ , coal minin’ head of the household with his barefoot and pregnant inbred clan of intelligence lacking psychotic offspring living off the land and the occasional misdirected tourist (i.e. “Wrong Turn”).
Now comes, “The Express,” based on the life of Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. Set during the racial strife and civil rights struggles of the late 50s and early 60s, “The Express” concentrates on the gridiron while the racial prejudice issues inconveniently surface, prompting Davis to tell his coach he demonstrates his ire on the field.
Two scenes, in particular, have bristled not simply West Virginia folks but Texans too.
When the Syracuse Orangeman play the rival West Virginia Mountaineers, the game is overshadowed by the home team’s reaction to three African-Americans on the team. Syracuse receives a chorus of boos, tossed bottles, curses and racial epithets as they take the Morgantown, WV field.
My haphazard guess is that the screenwriter (Charles Leavitt) scored an F in American History since 1860. Otherwise, he would have known that West Virginia separated from the South before the Civil War. On watching the film, my rationality bell rang wondering whether Morgantown in the early 60s reflected that strong of a hatred for African-Americans. You do not automatically question the drama as this story is set during a time when segregation ruled. There’s even a scene where on the Syracuse campus Davis stares too long at a blonde resulting in a stern reminder from his coach to keep in touch with his girlfriend back in Elmira.
Show business authority icon Variety wrote in its review that the WVU scenes portray a “level of racist vitriol pouring out of the stands that is a topical reminder of America’s racial heart of darkness.”
Despite that comment reflecting the racial atmosphere of the country, the moviemakers did not get it right when they set this clash of ideals in Morgantown. A little research shows that the 1959 game was played in Syracuse.
Dick Easterly, the quarterback of the 1959 Syracuse team, told the Charleston Daily Mail, “I don’t blame people in West Virginia for being disturbed. The scene is completely fictitious.”
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, who briefly played for the Mountaineers in 1965-1966, has demanded “the producers be held accountable,” but he’s about as likely to get an apology from Universal Pictures as the screaming and steaming Hindus who complained about Mike Myers summer film, “The Love Guru,” which faded from sight without the need for religious picketing.
The Daily Mail quoted the Governor as stating that in his years as a player and fan of the Mountaineers , he did not see West Virginia fans throw garbage or shout epithets at players. “I mean there’s no truth to it,” Manchin said. “I am outraged.”
Still, the state’s film office in February 2008 received a call from a Pittsburgh casting director early this year asking for extras to play “inbred people” for a scene in a “West Virginia holler.” Those comments resulted in the casting director receiving a hasty exit stage left. A glimpse at www.imdb.com reveals that a 2009 movie starring Julianne More, Jonathan Meyers and Michael Graves (as Holler Man) , a horror/thriller written by Michael (“Jack Frost,” “Identity”) Cooney and directed by two Swedes --- Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein --- with prior credits of “Disco Kung Fu” and “Sprung” have “Shelter” in post-production.
West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd released a statement that “some in the filmmaking industry have decided that perpetuating stereotypes and insulting generations of West Virginians means cash at the box office."
Returning to the inventions from “The Express,” the climatic Cotton Bowl scenario in Texas was also made up, according to John Brown, the man who served as the basis for Davis’ roommate and friend “J.B.” In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Brown said that while watching he had to keep repeating to himself , “This is not a documentary, this is not a documentary.”
The film has Davis ordered to soak his injured leg during the second half of the Cotton Bowl game. In fact, per the film, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) feared a riot in some instances if Davis took the ball over the goal line.
Based on the Chronicle’s interview with Brown, the dramatic 87-yard touchdown occurred in the first half of the Cotton Bowl national championship game, not at the start of the second half. Davis played throughout too.
Based on the Chronicle’s research, the bench clearing brawl splattered with racial overtones did occur. On screen, the fight begins after a Texas player shouts a racial slur at J.B. The real life Brown declined to comment on that incident; the player who uttered the slur passed away in 1998.
Other discrepancies --- Syracuse did not travel to Texas by bus (they took a plane); the African-American players were not placed on cots in a pigsty behind the kitchen of the lavish Dallas hotel; and, the team does not opt out of the awards ceremony in favor of a BBQ pit. But, according to Brown, the three African-American players were taken by the NAACP to a separate party once the awards were handed out.
Ironically, the Chronicle article and interview opens, perhaps, another Mountain State can of worms, too. It seems the gruff former Army trooper coach played by Quaid originally hailed from guess where? West Virginia, said Brown in the interview. “[Ben] may have been a bigot; he was from West Virginia and at that time people assimilated whatever their constituencies were. But he was never mean…”
Likely, the creative types in Hollywood would label bending the truth as an artistic compromise, dramatic license, or just the way the people who put up the money demanded.
Maybe.
No matter the reasons for integrating truth and fiction, Governor Manchin and others do have a point: Change "Based on a True Story." Label it, "based in part on the life of Ernie Davis or inspired by a true story."
Then again, jockeying true stories and reality has been a mechanism of entertainment ever since (for instance) the narrator opened “Dragnet” with “the story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.” I’m sure the two detectives did not solve all those cases in 30 minutes less time for commercials, so obviously lots of true facts had not been included.
Yet with the popularity of orchestrated reality shows and the ebbing of the air dirty laundry on Jerry Springer, a few words of cinematic wisdom I must impact --- call it editing or a diva tantrum, very little of what’s on any screen tells the full truth. Consider the gatekeepers who select what stories air within the minute confines of the evening news, or those struggling with fitting a complex journalistic report into a fraction of the needed newsprint.
But, I’m appreciative, like Brown, that Ernie Davis’ story made it to film. It’s inspiring, entertaining, and, yes, stirs up dark emotions that were once regarded as a “norm” rather than the often too taken for granted attitudes favoring diversity and equality.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
This is Not a Documentary; West Virginians, Texans Alike Upset Regarding Racial Incidents in 'The Express'
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Entertainment Editor
Huntington, WV (HNN) – When “We Are Marshall” premiered --- and in the weeks prior --- criticism surfaced regarding the authenticity of the story based on the recovery of the Marshall football program from the 1970 plane crash. Many of the issues could be chalked up to the art form itself, but the “true story” reference brought comparison to documentary fact gathering standards.
Long time fans, members of the 1971 “Young Thundering Herd” and some characters with real-life counterparts found fault. From a player's perspective, it was the modification of the game winning pass over Xavier. Others criticized the composite cheerleader (Kate Mara) character and the dramatic protest against temporarily ending the football program that culminated with the “We Are … Marshall” chant interrupting a Board of Governors meeting.
Warner Bros., director McG, nor the producers promised a documentary. In fact, their zeal for authenticity and accuracy resulted in a breach of contract/copyright violation federal suit by the makers of “Ashes to Glory.”
However, those familiar with the negotiations in portraying the historic crash and next season victory indicated that the Hollywood people delivered on what they promised, including respect for the 75 victims who died in the plane crash at Tri-State Airport. Survivor families did not want visuals of the actual crash. That’s why you hear “almost home” then the screen fragments and goes to black.
The State of West Virginia has battled more than its share of cinematic stereotypes. Specifically, the (I apologize to anyone offended) gun totin’ , holler livin’ , coal minin’ head of the household with his barefoot and pregnant inbred clan of intelligence lacking psychotic offspring living off the land and the occasional misdirected tourist (i.e. “Wrong Turn”).
Now comes, “The Express,” based on the life of Ernie Davis, the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. Set during the racial strife and civil rights struggles of the late 50s and early 60s, “The Express” concentrates on the gridiron while the racial prejudice issues inconveniently surface, prompting Davis to tell his coach he demonstrates his ire on the field.
Two scenes, in particular, have bristled not simply West Virginia folks but Texans too.
When the Syracuse Orangeman play the rival West Virginia Mountaineers, the game is overshadowed by the home team’s reaction to three African-Americans on the team. Syracuse receives a chorus of boos, tossed bottles, curses and racial epithets as they take the Morgantown, WV field.
My haphazard guess is that the screenwriter (Charles Leavitt) scored an F in American History since 1860. Otherwise, he would have known that West Virginia separated from the South before the Civil War. On watching the film, my rationality bell rang wondering whether Morgantown in the early 60s reflected that strong of a hatred for African-Americans. You do not automatically question the drama as this story is set during a time when segregation ruled. There’s even a scene where on the Syracuse campus Davis stares too long at a blonde resulting in a stern reminder from his coach to keep in touch with his girlfriend back in Elmira.
Show business authority icon Variety wrote in its review that the WVU scenes portray a “level of racist vitriol pouring out of the stands that is a topical reminder of America’s racial heart of darkness.”
Despite that comment reflecting the racial atmosphere of the country, the moviemakers did not get it right when they set this clash of ideals in Morgantown. A little research shows that the 1959 game was played in Syracuse.
Dick Easterly, the quarterback of the 1959 Syracuse team, told the Charleston Daily Mail, “I don’t blame people in West Virginia for being disturbed. The scene is completely fictitious.”
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, who briefly played for the Mountaineers in 1965-1966, has demanded “the producers be held accountable,” but he’s about as likely to get an apology from Universal Pictures as the screaming and steaming Hindus who complained about Mike Myers summer film, “The Love Guru,” which faded from sight without the need for religious picketing.
The Daily Mail quoted the Governor as stating that in his years as a player and fan of the Mountaineers , he did not see West Virginia fans throw garbage or shout epithets at players. “I mean there’s no truth to it,” Manchin said. “I am outraged.”
Still, the state’s film office in February 2008 received a call from a Pittsburgh casting director early this year asking for extras to play “inbred people” for a scene in a “West Virginia holler.” Those comments resulted in the casting director receiving a hasty exit stage left. A glimpse at www.imdb.com reveals that a 2009 movie starring Julianne More, Jonathan Meyers and Michael Graves (as Holler Man) , a horror/thriller written by Michael (“Jack Frost,” “Identity”) Cooney and directed by two Swedes --- Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein --- with prior credits of “Disco Kung Fu” and “Sprung” have “Shelter” in post-production.
West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd released a statement that “some in the filmmaking industry have decided that perpetuating stereotypes and insulting generations of West Virginians means cash at the box office."
Returning to the inventions from “The Express,” the climatic Cotton Bowl scenario in Texas was also made up, according to John Brown, the man who served as the basis for Davis’ roommate and friend “J.B.” In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Brown said that while watching he had to keep repeating to himself , “This is not a documentary, this is not a documentary.”
The film has Davis ordered to soak his injured leg during the second half of the Cotton Bowl game. In fact, per the film, Coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid) feared a riot in some instances if Davis took the ball over the goal line.
Based on the Chronicle’s interview with Brown, the dramatic 87-yard touchdown occurred in the first half of the Cotton Bowl national championship game, not at the start of the second half. Davis played throughout too.
Based on the Chronicle’s research, the bench clearing brawl splattered with racial overtones did occur. On screen, the fight begins after a Texas player shouts a racial slur at J.B. The real life Brown declined to comment on that incident; the player who uttered the slur passed away in 1998.
Other discrepancies --- Syracuse did not travel to Texas by bus (they took a plane); the African-American players were not placed on cots in a pigsty behind the kitchen of the lavish Dallas hotel; and, the team does not opt out of the awards ceremony in favor of a BBQ pit. But, according to Brown, the three African-American players were taken by the NAACP to a separate party once the awards were handed out.
Ironically, the Chronicle article and interview opens, perhaps, another Mountain State can of worms, too. It seems the gruff former Army trooper coach played by Quaid originally hailed from guess where? West Virginia, said Brown in the interview. “[Ben] may have been a bigot; he was from West Virginia and at that time people assimilated whatever their constituencies were. But he was never mean…”
Likely, the creative types in Hollywood would label bending the truth as an artistic compromise, dramatic license, or just the way the people who put up the money demanded.
Maybe.
No matter the reasons for integrating truth and fiction, Governor Manchin and others do have a point: Change "Based on a True Story." Label it, "based in part on the life of Ernie Davis or inspired by a true story."
Then again, jockeying true stories and reality has been a mechanism of entertainment ever since (for instance) the narrator opened “Dragnet” with “the story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.” I’m sure the two detectives did not solve all those cases in 30 minutes less time for commercials, so obviously lots of true facts had not been included.
Yet with the popularity of orchestrated reality shows and the ebbing of the air dirty laundry on Jerry Springer, a few words of cinematic wisdom I must impact --- call it editing or a diva tantrum, very little of what’s on any screen tells the full truth. Consider the gatekeepers who select what stories air within the minute confines of the evening news, or those struggling with fitting a complex journalistic report into a fraction of the needed newsprint.
But, I’m appreciative, like Brown, that Ernie Davis’ story made it to film. It’s inspiring, entertaining, and, yes, stirs up dark emotions that were once regarded as a “norm” rather than the often too taken for granted attitudes favoring diversity and equality.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
