Marshall

Director: Reginald Hudlin Reginald Hudlin

Overview

This historical drama depicts the early career of NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman), who would eventually become the first African-American Supreme Court justice. In 1940 Connecticut, Marshall defends a black chauffeur (Sterling K. Brown) who's accused of raping and trying to kill his white employer (Kate Hudson), and is aided in his efforts by his co-counsel, Sam Friedman (Josh Gad). Dan Stevens and James Cromwell co-star. Directed by Reginald Hudlin.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/09/2018
UPC:	0191329035986
Original Release:	2017
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	Universal Studios
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:59:00
Sales rank:	26,142

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Chadwick Boseman	Thurgood Marshall
Josh Gad	Sam Friedman
Kate Hudson	Eleanor Strubing
Dan Stevens	Loren Willis
Sterling K. Brown	Joseph Spell
James Cromwell	Judge Foster
Keesha Sharp	Buster Marshall
Roger Guenveur Smith	Walter White
Derrick Baskin	Ted Lancaster
Barrett Doss	Bertha Lancaster
Zanete Shadwick	Irene Lancaster
John Magaro	Irwin Freidman
Ahna O'Reilly	Mrs. Richmond
Jussie Smollett	Langston Hughes
Rozanda Thomas	Zora Neale Hurston,Zora Neale Hurston
Andra Day	Minton's Singer
Jeremy Bobb	John Strubling
Jeffrey DeMunn	Dr. Sayer
Brendan Burke	Captain Burke
Marina Squerciati	Stella Friedman
Sophia Bush	Jen at the Bar
Ed Jewett	Wright
Adriano Gatto	Bridgeport Court Clerk
Perris K. Fortson	Billy Lyons
Josie DiVincenzo	Ruthie
Dan Bittner	Smiling Racist
Edwin Lee Gibson	Bartender
Daniel Stewart Sherman	Officer McCoy
Christopher Mele	Insurance Court Judge
Jada Kay	NAACP Secretray
Lauren Friedman	Rose Steinberg
Michael Bernardi	Mr. Weisman
Michael Carey Miller	Sprague,Composer
Robert S. Bates	Thug at Bar
Chris Pera	Thug at YMCA
Don Gervasi	Reporter #1
Jeremy Kreuzer	Reporter #2
Michael Dugan	Reporter #3
Joseph Giambra	Farmer
Benjamin Sheeler	Ellis
Richard Lambert	Maitre 'D
Mark St. Syr	Langston's Boyfriend
Jonathan Scialabba	Prison Guard
Bob Bozek	Gilman
Lisa Christie	Betha, Willis' Secretary
Lisa Christie-Betha	Willis' Secretary
Irwin Gelman	Cantor
Kenneth Joseph Bolden	Algonquin Patron
Guy Tomassi	Algonquin Friend
Peter Johnson	Harlem Musician
Tracy Martin	Mississippi Father
Sybrina Fulton	Mississippi Mother
Benjamin Crump	Attorney Z. Alexander Looby
Alexander S. McBryde	Bartender/Patron

Technical Credits

Jacob Koskoff

Reginald Hudlin	Director,Producer
Jacob Koskoff	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Jonathan Sanger	Producer,Production Manager
Paula Wagner	Producer
Chris Bongirne	Executive Producer
Peter Luo	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Belton Lee	Executive Producer
Lai Pan	Executive Producer
Lili Sun	Executive Producer
John Capetta	Executive Producer
Hunter Ryan	Executive Producer,Executive Producer
Xu Yan	Executive Producer
Kevin Lamb	Executive Producer
Wang Jianchun	Executive Producer
Dong Jun	Executive Producer
Tom Ortenberg	Executive Producer
Antonio L. Arroyo	Sound Mixer
Christopher Trueman	Sound Mixer
Chris Barnes	Stunts
Chadwick Boseman	Producer
John Cappetta	Executive Producer
Brandon Powers	Executive Producer
Ellen S. Wander	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

This biopic chronicles one of the defining cases in the early career of Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court justice. The plot centers on Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) and Sam Friedman (Josh Gad), the latter a young Jewish lawyer who is handling criminal defense for the first time after previously specializing in low-profile insurance claims. Together, they boldly defend a black chauffeur named Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), who is accused of the rape and attempted murder of his white employer, Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson). The duo fight for justice while facing numerous obstacles, the most obvious of which is the racial prejudice that permeates the conservative town of Greenwich, CT, in the 1940s. When a biased judge prevents Marshall from playing an active role in defending Spell, Friedman is forced to take the lead in a trial he wanted nothing to do with initially. The film slowly develops this theme of preferring complacence vs. risking one's reputation, as Marshall carries out his duty through the voice of a timid and inexperienced lawyer whose conviction grows with each successive hearing. Friedman's captivating (if occasionally clumsy) performances, backed by Marshall's unyielding confidence, gradually expose the intolerance of their adversaries, until the inherent bigotry of the legal system becomes glaringly obvious as the final verdict is presented. While the shadow of racism bestows an ominous air to the story from its opening scene, the film as a whole is proportionately focused on prejudice of all kinds, including sexism and anti-Semitism. The two most pivotal breakthroughs in the argument for Spell's defense come from what could be seen as unlikely sources -- conversations between Marshall and women who are uninvolved with the legal proceedings. In this way, the film portrays ideas of truth and justice as aspects of the human condition that manifest themselves in personal relationships, rather than in the abstract rulings of a courtroom. The inner conflicts and societal pressures shared by all individuals become consistent factors in determining moral capacity, and we understand that telling a lie out of fear and self-preservation is a forgivable offense compared to sacrificing an innocent man's freedom in order to save another person's seemingly upstanding reputation. Although some aspects of the film may come off as formulaic and expected, such as the dramatic heroism pervading Marshall's character and his mission, this is not unwarranted considering the historical context. If there is an issue with his embellished theatrics and ardent personality traits, it is due to the lack of a proper introduction to Thurgood Marshall and his status as a legend and a trailblazer in the U.S. legal system. And if the racially charged narrative feels outdated, one has only to look at the current sociopolitical climate to realize that maybe now is the perfect time for a true story that seeks to address the toxic ideologies that are still very much present at every level of American culture. If nothing else, Marshall serves as a reminder that even victories you don't get to celebrate are still worth fighting for.