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  The Sophisticated Gentleman

Lee Daniels' The Butler

8/10/2013

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While it’s been several months since I’ve been to a movie theatre, it’s been even longer since I’ve anticipated a movie’s release like that of director Lee Daniels’ The Butler. Based on the true story of White House butler, Eugene Allen, it tells the story of his thirty plus years of service (1952-1986) under eight U.S. Presidents. In this historical drama, the lead character, Cecil Gaines (played by the stately Forest Whitaker), during his illustrious tenure, witnesses major changes in America, both political and social: from a presidential assassination to civil rights marches on Washington. From the trailer, it seems as though it will reveal a rather accurate account of the dichotomy of a Black man's life during the most turbulent of times. A man having a foot in two worlds: Black and White. (Even working in The White House, once he stepped outside of 1600 Pennsylvannia Avenue, I'm certain that there was an ever present evil lurking about that society-at-large was always ready to visit upon him as a Black man in America.)
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The Gaines Family
This movie has everyone: Oprah Winfrey as Cecil’s wife, Gloria, James Marsden (John F. Kennedy), Alan Rickman (Ronald Reagan), Jane Fonda (Nancy Reagan), Liev Schreiber (Lyndon B. Johnson), Robin Williams (Dwight D. Eisenhower) and Melissa Leo (Mamie Eisenhower), who was nominated for an Academy Award for one of my all-time favorite films, Frozen River. With Lee Daniels (“Precious”) directing and screenplay by Danny Strong (HBO’s “Game Change”) The Butler is sure to serve up a wonderful helping of American history (both good and bad, I'm certain), this Friday, August 16, 2013. I greatly hope that it does not disappoint.

Sidenote: Earlier this week, there was a report that Oprah Winfrey was shopping (or trying to) at an upscale store in Zurich (she was in Switzerland for Tina Turner's wedding) and, after asking to see an expensive handbag, was told no because she could not afford it! (Now, that's funny.) In this film, Oprah plays a character whose prime was during a most tumultuous time in our nation; when racism did not hide behind closed doors, but often sat out on the front porch for a passerby to see and hear. Now, a half of a century later, even someone in her position is still experiencing the same ignorance her character (and her) would have expected to experience some 40, 50, 60 years ago. (And I thought Switzerland was known for being neutral?)
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Mrs. Annabeth Westfall & Cecil Gaines
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Cecil at 8 and Mrs. Annabeth Westfall (Michael Rainey, Jr. and Vanessa Redgrave)
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Cecil Gaines as a teenager (Aml Ameen)
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President Dwight D. Eisenhower (Robin Williams)
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President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Cecil (Robin Williams and Forest Whitaker)
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Jacqueline & President John F. Kennedy (Minka Kelly and James Marsden)
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President & Mrs. John F. Kennedy with daughter Caroline & newborn, John Jr., greeting the staff
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Cecil at work
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James Holloway (Lenny Kravitz)
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Nancy & President Ronald Reagan (Jane Fonda and Alan Rickman)
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Gloria Gaines (Oprah Winfrey)
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YaYa Alafia
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Louis Gaines and Gloria Gaines (David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey)
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Cecil and Carter Wilson (Forest Whitaker and Cuba Gooding, Jr.)
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Cecil Gaines at 15
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Maynard and Cecil (Clarence Williams III & Aml Ameen)
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Hattie Pearl (Mariah Carey)
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Howard and Gloria Gaines (Terrence Howard and Oprah Winfrey)
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Silhouette of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker)
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All images by Anne Marie Fox/The Weinstein Company 2013)
Video via IMDB

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    N.D. Harrington
    I was born in the country, but brought up in the big city, with hopes of always maintaining the charm, wit and character of a southern,      sophisticated
    gentleman. In my goal to live more  passionately & purposefully, here are just a few things  that  I've  learned and experienced along the way, making my journey more interesting, and more importantly, easier.
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