From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: 'Fantastic. One of the Best Sports Movies I've Seen' - Larry King

From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: 'Fantastic. One of the Best Sports Movies I've Seen' - Larry King

INSPIRED BY THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO WIN THE HEISMAN TROPHY COMES THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY THE EXPRESS

JANUARY 20, 2009 OWN IT ON DVD AND BLU-RAY(TM) HI-DEF FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- OVERVIEW: Witness the journey of how one determined player and his dedicated coach changed the game of football forever. Starring Dennis Quaid and based on the inspirational true story of an American hero who beat the odds to become the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, The Express will have you cheering over and over again.

The Express will also be available On Demand starting January 20, 2009. NBCU's VOD and PPV offerings are available through major cable providers, as well as direct broadcast satellite (DBS), telco providers and online platforms. Offerings are also available in HD in select markets. For more details about NBC Universal's VOD and PPV offerings, visit www.universalvod.net.

   BONUS FEATURES:   --  DELETED SCENES WITH OPTIONAL COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR GARY FLEDER   --  MAKING OF THE EXPRESS: Director Gary Fleder, 2nd Unit Director Alan       Graf, Production Designer Nelson Coates Cinematographer Kramer       Morganthau along with cast Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown and Charles Dutton       discuss how they created the look of this film set in 1959.   --  MAKING HISTORY: THE STORY OF ERNIE DAVIS:  Director Gary Fleder,       actors Rob Brown, Charles Dutton, and football hall of fame legend Jim       Brown discuss the impact of Ernie Davis's life on and off the field       during the civil rights movement in the late 1950's.   --  INSIDE THE PLAYBOOK: SHOOTING THE FOOTBALL GAMES:  Through graphics       and audio commentary, Director Gary Fleder and 2nd Unit Director Alan       Graf will break down three plays from the film from a variety of       different angles that they shot to show the progression from start to       finished film.   --  FROM HOLLYWOOD TO SYRACUSE: THE LEGACY OF ERNIE DAVIS   --  FEATURE COMMENTARY With Director Gary Fleder    BONUS FEATURES (EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY(TM)):   --  BD-LIVE FEATURES: Access the BD-Live Center through your       internet-connected player for even more great content and features!       --  MY SCENES SHARING: Bookmark your favorite scenes then share with           your friends.       --  DOWNLOAD CENTER: Access additional content, the latest trailers,           and so much more!   --  50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1959 SYRACUSE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Utilizing       rare archival footage and through interviews with players, coaches and       fans, discover how Ernie Davis and his team won Syracuse University       their only football national championship in 1959.   

SYNOPSIS: The Express follows the inspirational life of college football hero Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Following his draft by the NFL, tragedy struck the star athlete and he was never able to take the professional field. But his tale would forever change the face of professional sports. Raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country, Davis overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to become an unstoppable running back for the Syracuse Orangemen. Under the guidance of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid)--a hard-nosed surrogate father with an obsession for winning a national championship--Davis would develop from an impressive high-school athlete into a legend. While everyone agreed Ernie Davis was a miracle player, few thought this quiet young man would become an icon for the burgeoning civil rights movement dividing America in the early 1960s. Refusing to play by the unspoken racist rules of the day, Davis broke through one barrier after another to alter the way fans looked at men of his color. Though leukemia struck the player a terrible blow in the prime of his life, his spirit soared when most would crumble. Forcing his bull-headed coach to re-examine a life lived in color-based privilege, Davis would join the ranks of black pioneers who inspired a movement that smashed barriers on and off the playing field.

   TECHNICAL INFORMATION   Street Date:  January 20, 2008   Copyright:  2008 Universal Studios Home Entertainment   Selection Number: 61103050   Price: $29.98 SRP   Running time:  2 Hours 10 Minutes   Layers:  Dual layer   Aspect Ratio:  Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1  

Rating: PG for thematic content, violence and language involving racism, and brief sensuality.

   Languages/Subtitles:  English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles   Sound:  Dolby Digital 5.1    TECHNICAL INFORMATION - BLU-RAY(TM):   Selection Number: 61106128   Price:  $39.98 SRP   Running Time: 2 Hours 10 Minutes   Layers:  BD-50   Aspect Ratio:  Widescreen 2.40:1   Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles   Sound: DTS HD Master Audio 5.1, DTS Surround 5.1    CAST AND FILMMAKERS  

Cast: Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Omar Benson Miller, Nelsan Ellis, Charles S. Dutton

   Directed By: Gary Felder   Written By: Charles Leavitt   Based on the "Book": Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express by: Robert Gallagher   Produced By: John Davis   Executive Producers: Derek Dauchy, Arne L. Schmidt, Ryan Kavanaugh   Director of Photography: Kramer Morgenthau, ASC   Production Designer: Nelson Coates   Edited By: William Steinkamp, ACE and Padraic McKinley   Casting By: Deborah Aquila, CSA, Tricia Wood, CSA, Jennifer Smith, CSA   Music by: Mark Isham   Music Supervisors: Peter Afterman and Margaret Yen    www.theexpressmovie.com    For artwork, please log on to our website at www.ushepublicity.com   

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

   CONTACTS: Universal Studios Home Entertainment    Evan Fong   Vice President, Publicity   (818) 777-5540   Evan.Fong@nbcuni.com    Scott Lyons   Manager, Print Publicity   (818) 777-0523   Scott.Lyons@nbcuni.com    Kelly Castell   Manager, Broadcast Publicity   (818) 777-0549   Kelly.Castell@nbcuni.com    Nicole Canizales   Manager, Online Publicity   (818) 777-0115   Nicole.Canizales@nbcuni.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Evan Fong, Vice President, Publicity, +1-818-777-5540,
Evan.Fong@nbcuni.com, or Scott Lyons, Manager, Print Publicity,
+1-818-777-0523, Scott.Lyons@nbcuni.com, or Kelly Castell, Manager, Broadcast
Publicity, +1-818-777-0549, Kelly.Castell@nbcuni.com, or Nicole Canizales,
Manager, Online Publicity, +1-818-777-0115, Nicole.Canizales@nbcuni.com, all
of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Web Site: http://www.theexpressmovie.com/
http://www.universalstudios.com/
http://www.universalvod.net/
http://www.ushepublicity.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment