‘The Express’ sparks fond memories for Star editor
By ROBERT W. BUTLER
The Kansas City Star
The upcoming film “The Express” — about legendary Syracuse running back Ernie Davis — holds special importance for Helen T. Gray, The Star’s religion editor.
She and Davis — the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy — were dating and had talked about marriage when Davis became ill during his first season with the Cleveland Browns. He was diagnosed with leukemia and died in May 1963 after a year of treatment. He never got to play in an NFL game.
Gray, who was Helen Gott back when she attended Syracuse University, was not involved in the making of the film (filmmakers changed her character’s name to “Sarah”), but she saw an advance screening of “The Express” last week (it opens Oct. 10). The Star’s movies editor, Robert W. Butler, spoke with Gray about her time at Syracuse with Davis.
Robert W. Butler: This is funny. … I’ve worked with you for more than 30 years and until we saw this movie together I didn’t even realize your history with Ernie Davis. Why is that?
Helen Gray: Well, I’m a private person. I don’t go around talking about myself. Very few of my friends here in Kansas City even know about that part of my life. Anyway, I came to Kansas City and started a new life, marrying and having a child. You don’t go around talking about your past boyfriends.
Sitting in the theater waiting for this movie to begin — what were you thinking?
I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how I would react to seeing it all over again. Even though it’s been 45 years, it was an important part of my life and I didn’t know how emotional I would get.
I’m getting emotional now just talking about it.
And I wondered how I’d react if the movie ended with a death scene. I was not with Ernie when he died. I didn’t want to see him dying.
And how did you feel coming out of the movie?
I thought it was a good movie, incredibly uplifting.
It has a good message. I didn’t leave the movie depressed and bummed out and sad. I left inspired. And I’m hoping other people who see the movie feel the same way. It’s inspiring even for people who don’t care about sports.
There have been so many people who wanted to do scripts about Ernie over the years, and I haven’t cooperated with any of them. I didn’t have too much faith because they always claimed the movie would be “based on a true story.”
But this one came out of the blue. I had heard it was in the works but was caught off guard a few months later when I saw the preview while watching another movie. When I saw the actress who was playing me, I turned to my friend and said, “That’s me.” She was shocked. She’s a huge sports fan, and I’d never told her about Ernie.
What did you think of Rob Brown, the young actor who plays Ernie?
I think he did a really great job — a good combination of manliness and gentlemanliness.
There are a couple of scenes where Ernie loses it. He gets in a fight with a teammate and he confronts the coach in front of the team. Does that strike you as the real deal?
No. I felt the actor did a good job of acting it, and he was following the script. But that was Hollywood making things more dramatic.
Ernie was not confrontational. If he had a disagreement, he’d stand up for himself. But I think he would have talked things out with the coach in private. I don’t think he’d have confronted the coach in front of the team in that manner.
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To reach Robert W. Butler, send e-mail to bbutler@kcstar.com.
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