Drama

The Butler

- One quiet voice can ignite a revolution.

A look at the life of Cecil Gaines, who served eight presidents as the White House's head butler from 1952 to 1986, and had a unique front-row seat as political and racial history was made.

Release Date : 2013-08-16

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Follow Through ProductionsSalamander PicturesLaura Ziskin ProductionsLee Daniels EntertainmentPam Williams ProductionsWindy Hill Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Lee Daniels' The Butler

Cast

Character Name : Cecil Gaines

Original Name : Forest Whitaker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gloria Gaines

Original Name : Oprah Winfrey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Louis Gaines

Original Name : David Oyelowo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard Nixon

Original Name : John Cusack

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nancy Reagan

Original Name : Jane Fonda

Gender : Female

Character Name : Carter Wilson

Original Name : Cuba Gooding Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hattie Pearl

Original Name : Mariah Carey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Howard

Original Name : Terrence Howard

Gender : Male

Character Name : James Holloway

Original Name : Lenny Kravitz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cecil Gaines (15)

Original Name : Aml Ameen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cecil Gaines (8)

Original Name : Michael Rainey Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : John F. Kennedy

Original Name : James Marsden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thomas Westfall

Original Name : Alex Pettyfer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Annabeth Westfall

Original Name : Vanessa Redgrave

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ronald Reagan

Original Name : Alan Rickman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lyndon B. Johnson

Original Name : Liev Schreiber

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dwight Eisenhower

Original Name : Robin Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carol Hammie

Original Name : Yaya DaCosta

Gender : Female

Character Name : Earl Gaines

Original Name : David Banner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Freddie Fallows

Original Name : Colman Domingo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Martin Luther King Jr.

Original Name : Nelsan Ellis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Senator Kassebaum

Original Name : Nealla Gordon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charlie Gaines (15-18)

Original Name : Elijah Kelley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jackie Kennedy

Original Name : Minka Kelly

Gender : Female

Character Name : Gina

Original Name : Adriane Lenox

Gender : Female

Character Name : Eldridge Huggins

Original Name : Mo McRae

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lorraine

Original Name : Pernell Walker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rev. James Lawson

Original Name : Jesse Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maynard

Original Name : Clarence Williams III

Gender : Male

Character Name : Abraham

Original Name : LaJessie Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Jenkins

Original Name : John P. Fertitta

Gender : Male

Character Name : R.D. Warner

Original Name : Jim Gleason

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charlie Gaines (10)

Original Name : Isaac White

Gender : Male

Character Name : White Usher

Original Name : Joe Chrest

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elroy

Original Name : Tyson Ford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sherman Adams

Original Name : James DuMont

Gender : Male

Character Name : Herbert Brownell

Original Name : Robert Aberdeen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Olivia

Original Name : Olivia Washington

Gender : Female

Character Name : Woolworth Diner Patron #1

Original Name : Margaret M. Owens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woolworth Diner Patron #2

Original Name : Eric Ducote

Gender : Male

Character Name : Caroline Kennedy

Original Name : Chloe Barach

Gender : Male

Character Name : Freedom Bus Journalist

Original Name : Danny Strong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Freedom Bus Rider

Original Name : Clara Hopkins Daniels

Gender : Male

Character Name : Helen Holloway

Original Name : Dana Gourrier

Gender : Female

Character Name : Malcolm X Goer

Original Name : Shirley Pugh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pastor

Original Name : Bill Newman

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Ehrlichman

Original Name : Colin Walker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bob Haldeman

Original Name : Alex Manette

Gender : Male

Character Name : Senator Robertson

Original Name : Rusty Robertson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Admiral Rochon

Original Name : Stephen Rider

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sophie Wilson (uncredited)

Original Name : Tarra Riggs

Gender : Female

Character Name : Foxy (uncredited)

Original Name : Xosha Roquemore

Gender : Female

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-04-15

We begin with some brutality at the hands of a character (Alex Pettyfer) who believes that the negroes on their cotton plantation are, quite literally, worthless. He rapes a woman then murders her husband when he raises a very mild objection! His mother (Vanessa Redgrave) takes a liking to their now orphaned boy and promotes him from the fields to be their houseboy. Learning how to keep his head down and to play the game, he quickly succeeds and ends up working in the White House. His period there (ending in the Reagan administration) allows for an interesting conduit to depict the evolution of the American civil rights movement, of changing (and not) attitudes and it gives a little insight into how the Oval Office and it's occupants might work. The supporting cast list is impressive, but with the exception of Oprah Winfrey (his wife "Gloria") most have but fleeting appearances as the story moves along. Their own life is not without heartache and troubles - one of their sons is determined to do what he can to fight for their freedom from oppression, an activity done at considerable peril to him and those around him. The narrative also, gently, exposes discrimination across the board - from salaries and promotion opportunities, to segregated seating at a milk bar, as well as nodding, tragically, to the war in Vietnam. Perhaps it is the gentle way in which it illustrates the prevalent racism that is most potent. It allows us to evolve with him, sometimes slowly, sometimes shockingly and that is to the credit of Whitaker who exudes a decency that is hard not to admire. The production is well paced with a complimentary soundtrack that is well worth a look.

v4lapq4m

@v4lapq4m

2023-05-30

I was in a mood for a Robin Williams movie. I hadn't heard of this one and it was streaming free. While Williams had only a small role as Eisenhower this movie was amazimg: thought provoking and tear jerking. Probably not the best for a 5:30 a.m. Saturday, bu this is going on my DVD to purchase list. Following a man(Whittaker) from his childhood on a plantation, to running away from home, getting a job as a house boy in a fancy DC hotel, to butlering for seven different presidents, though Carter and Ford don't make an appearance. It's a family tale, falling in love witn a maid from the hotel(Whimphry), raising two boys, onein politics, from MLK to the BPP to congress, all against daddy's wishes, and one "good boy" who joins the army for what he believes in. I only heard of Whitaker from Young Rock, but he was great.Makeup was wonderful keeping up with aging. Oprah was a great mama, loving her boys, pleasing her man, and a lonely house wife while he worked long hours at the Whitehouse contributing to struggles with alcohol and adultury. One of the best dramad I have seen in years.