The Ernest Green Story
The Ernest Green Story is a 1993 American made-for-television biographical film which follows the true story of Ernest Green (Morris Chestnut) and eight other African-American high-school students (dubbed the "Little Rock Nine") as they embark on their historic journey to integrate Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. The film was developed and executive produced by Carol Ann Abrams.[1] Much of the movie was filmed on location at Central High School.
| The Ernest Green Story | |
|---|---|
 Movie cover | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Lawrence Roman |
| Directed by | Eric Laneuville |
| Starring | Morris Chestnut Monica Calhoun Ossie Davis Ruby Dee Omar Gooding Gary Grubbs James Harper Tina Lifford CCH Pounder |
| Music by | Mason Daring |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Carol Abrams Adrienne Levin |
| Producer(s) | Jean Higgins |
| Production location(s) | Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Cinematography | Félix Enríquez Alcalá |
| Editor(s) | Jeff Freeman |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Walt Disney Television |
| Distributor | Buena Vista Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | Disney Channel |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release |
|
The film had its world premiere at Little Rock Central High School, with an introduction by President-Elect of the United States Bill Clinton.[1] It aired on the Disney Channel on January 17, 1993. Later that year, A.M.L. Productions and the Disney Channel received a Peabody Award for presenting "a story which reminds adults and teaches children about the courageous steps taken toward the elimination of discrimination in American society".[1][2]
Cast
- Morris Chestnut as Ernest Green
- Robert Alexander as Lionel
- Katherine Bernhardt as Mrs. Gaines
- Sarah Boss as Rhonda
- Avery Brooks as Rev. Lawson
- Monica Calhoun as Minnijean Brown
- Missy Crider as Charlene Talbot
- Ossie Davis as Grandfather
- Ruby Dee as Mrs. Lydia Wilson
- Brandon Eells as Physics Student
- Latrice Butts as Student
- Omar Gooding as Marcus
- Gary Grubbs as Mr. Loomis
- James Harper as Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus
- John Hickman as Mr. Prior
- Harry Hood as TV Reporter
- Mark W. Johnson as Emmett Moody
- Francis Kemp as Grace Lorch
- Lisa Lax as Woman #1
- Jerry Leggio as Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Wilson Mann
- Dennis Letts as Georgia Governor Marvin Griffin
- Tina Lifford as Mrs. Green
- Anitra Lovelace as Gloria Ray
- Suli McCullough as Terrence Roberts
- Brian Stokes Mitchell as Thurgood Marshall
- Moses Peace as Minnijean's Father
- CCH Pounder as Daisy Bates
- Jason Pratt as Scott Green
- Lisa Marie Russell as Elizabeth Eckford
- Tommy Sanders as Smiley
- Sean Serino as Carlotta Walls
- Jacqueline Ann Shaw as Thelma Mothershed
- Sonny Shroyer as Coach Snell
- Toya Stokes as Melba Pattillo
- Tim Taylor as Newspaper Reporter
- Tico Wells as Jefferson Thomas
- John Boyd West as Starkey
- Narrated by Ernest Green
Notes
- The original version of the movie includes gospel singer Mahalia Jackson's well-known rendition of the song, Take My Hand, Precious Lord. A subsequent version replaces the song with the hymn, It Is Well with My Soul.
References
- "Carol Ann Abrams dies, Producer, author was mother of J. J. Abrams". Variety. 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- Peabody Awards website Accessed February 1, 2009.