Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Forest Whitaker | ... | Cecil Gaines | |
David Banner | ... | Earl Gaines | |
Michael Rainey Jr. | ... | Cecil Gaines (8) | |
LaJessie Smith | ... | Abraham | |
Mariah Carey | ... | Hattie Pearl | |
Alex Pettyfer | ... | Thomas Westfall | |
Vanessa Redgrave | ... | Annabeth Westfall | |
Aml Ameen | ... | Cecil Gaines (15) | |
Clarence Williams III | ... | Maynard | |
John P. Fertitta | ... | Mr. Jenkins (as John Fertitta) | |
Jim Gleason | ... | R.D. Warner | |
Oprah Winfrey | ... | Gloria Gaines | |
Isaac White | ... | Charlie Gaines (10) | |
David Oyelowo | ... | Louis Gaines | |
Joe Chrest | ... | White Usher |
Cecil Gaines was a sharecropper's son who grew up in the 1920s as a domestic servant for the white family who casually destroyed his. Eventually striking out on his own, Cecil becomes a hotel valet of such efficiency and discreteness in the 1950s that he becomes a butler in the White House itself. There, Cecil would serve numerous US Presidents over the decades as a passive witness of history with the American Civil Rights Movement gaining momentum even as his family has troubles of its own. As his wife, Gloria, struggles with her addictions and his defiant eldest son, Louis, strives for a just world, Cecil must decide whether he should take action in his own way. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
Go see this movie..It shook me to my core..As a white person I've never been more ashamed in my life..And saddened.. We are in the midst of racial struggle for equal rights right now..I sat in a packed theater with all white old people and you could've heard a pin drop.. It felt like a Forest Gump movie but with the racial history of our country as the topic.. and it was NOT a pretty picture. Thank you for doing this movie Lee, it is something we all need to see as Americans and we all have to face that we still have MAJOR racial bigotry. It must NOT be tolerated! I am white, 63 yrs old, born in Miami Fl and living in LA. Please go see this and then go about being an agent of change..we need to move on to better things and stamp out racism in America..it has NO place here..and we should all be ashamed of it's existence and allowing it to persist.. The cameos were priceless and OPRAH, (tho I am not a fan) was incredible!