The Apostle (1997)

Director:

Robert Duvall

Writer (WGA):

Robert Duvall (written by)

Release Date:

30 January 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Lust, Obsession, Revenge... Redemption

Plot:

After his happy life spins out of control, a preacher from Texas changes his name, goes to Louisiana and starts preaching on the radio.

Plot Keywords:

Preacher | Texas | Louisiana | Church | Minister

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Robert Duvall	...	Euliss 'Sonny' Dewey - The Apostle E.F.
Farrah Fawcett	...	Jessie Dewey
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Troublemaker
June Carter Cash	...	Mrs. 'Momma' Dewey Sr.
Miranda Richardson	...	Toosie
Todd Allen	...	Horace
Paul Bagget	...	Tag Team Preacher #3 (as Brother Paul Bagget)
Lenore Banks	...	Female Sonny Supporter
John Beasley	...	Brother C. Charles Blackwell
Mary Lynette Braxton	...	Mother Blackwell
Brett Brock	...	Helper
Christopher Canady	...	Sister Johnson's Twin
Christian Canady	...	Sister Johnson's Twin
Elizabeth Chisolm	...	Singer
William Atlas Cole	...	Bayou Man (as Brother William Atlas Cole)
Frank Collins Jr.	...	Soloist #4 (as Reverend Frank Collins Jr.)
Carl D. Cook	...	Preacher (as Prophet Carl D. Cook)
Naomi Craig	...	Scripture Reader
Wayne Dehart	...	Liquor Store Preacher
Rick Dial	...	Elmo
Jan Fawcett	...	Needy Receiver #2
Jim Gleason	...	Young Priest (as James Ivey Gleason)
Walton Goggins	...	Sam
Chili Graham	...	Tag Team Preacher #5 (as Reverend Chili Graham)
Stuart Greer	...	Texas State Trooper
Bobby Green	...	Tag Team Preacher #1 (as Reverend Bobby Green)
John E. Hawkins	...	Sonny Supporter #1
Hunter Hayes	...	Child Accordionist
Daniel Hickman	...	Flashback Preacher (as Reverend Daniel Hickman)
Emery Hopkins	...	Virgil
Brenda B. Jackson	...	Faith Healer #2
Jewell Jernigan	...	Sister Jewell (as Sister Jewell Jernigan)
Charles Johnson	...	Tag Team Preacher #2 (as Reverend Charles Johnson)
Julie Johnson	...	Baptism Soloist
Vera Kemp	...	Faith Healer #1
Joseph Lindsey	...	Soloist #1
Sharon K. London	...	Church Woman
Zelma Loyd	...	Sister Johnson
Fernie E. McMillan	...	Doctor
Jimmie J. Meaux	...	Church Member #2
L. Christian Mixon	...	The Bodyguard
Richard Nance	...	Church Man #2
Douglas Perry	...	Louisiana State Trooper
Harold Potier Sr.	...	Coronet George
Kevin Rankin	...	Young Man in Car
Pat Ratliff	...	Accident Witness
Jay Robicheaux	...	Sonny at 12 Years Old
Terence Rosemore	...	Man Saying Amen (as Terrence Rosemore)
Billy Joe Shaver	...	Joe
Joyce Jolivet Starks	...	Sister Delilah
Christina Stojanovich	...	Jessie Jr.
Nicholas Stojanovich	...	Bobbie
Ronnie Stutes	...	Needy Receiver
Ruby Francis Terry	...	Soloist Choir Director
Graham Timbes	...	Church Man #1
Reverend Jesse Walkrop	...	Sonny Supporter #2
James B. Towry	...	Nosey Neighbor
Renee Victor	...	Latin Translator
Steve White	...	Tag Team Teacher #4 (as Reverend Steve White)
Fay Winn	...	Tag Team Preacher #6 (as Sister Fay Winn)
Melete Woods	...	Soloist #3
Margaret Oliver Coleman	...	Texas Choir Member
Sharon Denise Dickerson	...	Texas Choir Member
Erica Lynn Duncan	...	Texas Choir Member
Sondra Jackson Green	...	Texas Choir Member
David Henderson	...	Texas Choir Member
Parla J. Johnson	...	Texas Choir Member
Donna Siddiqui	...	Texas Choir Member
Tami Boaz Skelton	...	Texas Choir Member
Rachel V. Stevenson	...	Texas Choir Member
Gretchen Louise Watts	...	Texas Choir Member
Jerry H. Skelton	...	Organist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Gammon	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Duvall

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert Duvall		(written by)

Produced by
Steven Brown	....	co-producer
Rob Carliner	....	producer
Robert Duvall	....	executive producer
Ed Johnston	....	associate producer

Original Music by
David Mansfield

Cinematography by
Barry Markowitz

Film Editing by
Stephen Mack

Casting by
Ed Johnston
Renee Rousselot

Production Design by
Linda Burton
Thomas A. Walsh		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Irfan Akdag

Set Decoration by
Dea Jensen
Lori Johnson

Costume Design by
Doug Hall		(as Douglas Hall)

Makeup Department
Alicia Allain	....	key hair stylist (as Alicia Dollard)
Lilly Benyair-Gart	....	key makeup artist (as Lily Gart)
Allison Gordin	....	key makeup artist
Mela Murphy	....	hair stylist: Ms. Fawcett
Mela Murphy	....	makeup artist: Ms. Fawcett

Production Management
Taylor M. Favale	....	unit production manager (as Taylor Favale)
Sharre Jacoby	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melissa Cummins Lorenz	....	second second assistant director
Louis Shaw Milito	....	first assistant director
Chad Rosen	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Nathan Boniske	....	property assistant
Gert Broekema	....	property assistant
Bill Darrow	....	carpenter
Tom Davis	....	scenic artist
Deborah Dawson	....	set dresser
James Dupuy	....	construction foreman
Jean-Paul Guirard	....	swing
Jon Jenkins	....	swing
Huey Mitchell	....	carpenter
Nan Parati	....	scenic artist
John Patterson	....	construction coordinator (as John N. Patterson)
Kenneth R. Rector	....	lead man (as Ken-E-Ray Rector)
Ben Schoen	....	typesetting
Shelly Stoll	....	art department coordinator (as Shelly C. Stoll)
Alexandra Tager	....	on-set dresser
Samuel J. Tell	....	property master

Sound Department
Steve C. Aaron	....	sound mixer
Mark Berger	....	supervising sound re-recordist
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist (as Leslie Bloome)
Loren Byer	....	machine room operator
Frank Canonica	....	machine room supervisor
Tobin Davis	....	assistant sound editor (as Tobin John DeLacca Davis)
Yin Dodd	....	assistant sound editor
Malcolm Fife	....	sound effects editor
Grant Foerster	....	machine room operator
Steve Fontano	....	foley mixer (as Steven Fontano)
Anna Geyer	....	machine room operator
Stephen Hart	....	foley mixer
R. Frank Kincel II	....	cable person
Kyrsten Mate	....	sound effects editor (as Kyrsten Mate Comoglio)
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Casey Nutt	....	apprentice sound editor
John Nutt	....	supervising sound editor
David Parker	....	sound recordist
Randy Pease	....	boom operator
Frank Rinella	....	foley mixer
Brian Ruberg	....	adr services
Jeff Whittle	....	transfer supervisor

Visual Effects by
Jeff Hutchison	....	optical supervisor

Stunts
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunt double: Mr. Duvall
Ethan Jensen	....	stunt coordinator
Ethan Jensen	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Gordon Ard	....	grip
Ehab Assal	....	second assistant camera (as Ehab Asal)
Paul D. Beard	....	electrician
Samone Bennett	....	video playback operator
Taylor David	....	electrician (as David Taylor)
Todd Davis	....	grip
Darrin Dickerson	....	electrician
Michael Dunson	....	dolly grip (as Mike Dunson)
Scott Fawley	....	best boy (as Scott S. Fawley)
Rocky Ford	....	electrician (as Rocky 'Rockman' Ford)
Nick Franco	....	second assistant camera
Randy Gallagher	....	grip
Tom Grunke	....	key grip
Dennis Haden	....	electrician (as Dennis Noy Haden)
Jerry Holway	....	Steadicam operator: "b" camera
Kevin Long	....	electrician
Barry Markowitz	....	camera operator
Van Redin	....	still photographer
Stephen Ritchey	....	grip
Steven Search	....	first assistant camera
Bear E. Smith	....	best boy
John Wagner	....	gaffer
Steven Lynn Walker	....	grip
Shane Weaver	....	camera loader
Don W. Wegner	....	grip
Michael Applebaum	....	camera operator: "c" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Toni Cobb Brock	....	extras casting assistant
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Jami Rudofsky	....	casting assistant
Lisa W. Suire	....	extras casting assistant
Tanya Sullivan	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Meredith McLaughlin	....	costumer
Ángela Núñez	....	costumer (as Angela Nuñez)
Lisa Parmet	....	wardrobe supervisor
Susan Thomas	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Janie Bargaron	....	cutter
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Glenn Suffern	....	negative cutter
Fulvio Valsangiacomo	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music supervisor
Dan Gellert	....	score engineer
David Mansfield	....	musical score performer
Sharon Smith	....	music editor
Elizabeth Wendel	....	associate music supervisor
Eli Wilson	....	choir director: children's choir
Margaret Yen	....	assistant to music supervisor

Transportation Department
James Cedotal	....	driver
Mark Evans	....	driver: van
Rooster Layton	....	driver
Israel Martin	....	driver
Mark Meaux	....	driver
Sonny Messina	....	driver
L. Christian Mixon	....	driver
Linda Mixon	....	driver: cast (as Linda Nitsch)
Lawrence Morgan	....	transportation coordinator
Luke Morris	....	driver
Christie Nezat	....	driver
Nick W. Pastrano	....	driver: honeywagon (as Nick Pastrano)
David 'Pete' Peterson	....	driver
Fred Pope Jr.	....	driver: production van
Albert J. Sparks Jr.	....	driver
Bobby Williamson	....	driver
Aaron Wince	....	transportation captain (as Aaron C. Wince)

Other crew
Christi Alexander	....	assistant production coordinator
Stacey Ballentine	....	assistant production accountant
Carol Banker	....	script supervisor
Janie Bargaron	....	fitter
Eric Barker	....	film runner
Joel Timothy Bible	....	set teacher (as Joel T. Bible)
Leslie Bourque	....	production assistant
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach
Stephanie Dupuy	....	location coordinator (as Stephanie Samuel Dupuy)
Stephanie Dupuy	....	location scout (as Stephanie Samuel Dupuy)
Andrew Evans	....	production assistant
Jan Fawcett	....	stand-in: Ms. Fawcett
Greg Guirard	....	location assistant
Michael Hackney	....	utility stand-in
Judy Harrington	....	stand-in: Mrs. Carter Cash
Ashley Haspel	....	location assistant
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach
Shelby Hyman	....	production assistant
Nancy G. James	....	craft service (as Nancy James)
Rick Kahn	....	transfer operator
Shelly Kujawa	....	set medic
Rhonda Byers Lee	....	craft service
Virginia McCollam	....	location manager
Virginia McCollam	....	location scout
Mamie Mitchell	....	script supervisor (as Maime Mitchell)
Adam Prince	....	assistant production coordinator
Natasha Sanchez	....	production assistant
Ronnie Stutes	....	stand-in: Mr. Duvall (as Ronald Stutes)
Desiree Varni	....	production accountant (as Desirée Killian)
J.R. Von Schondorf	....	production assistant (as Edwin VonSchondorf)
Onni Vosdoganes	....	production coordinator
Charles White	....	stand-in: Mr. Shaver
Peter Wilson	....	location manager
Ted Kantrow	....	caterer (uncredited)

Thanks
Michelle Archer	....	special thanks
Kerry Boutte	....	special thanks
Sharon Boutte	....	special thanks
Lee Clardy	....	special thanks
Michael Dyckman	....	special thanks
Friema Grylack	....	special thanks
Joel Jacobson	....	special thanks
Jewell Jernigan	....	special thanks (as Sister Jewell Jernigan)
Countess Mar	....	special thanks
Rob McEntegart	....	special thanks
Michael McNamara	....	special thanks
Tim Metcalf	....	special thanks
Walter Murch	....	special thanks
Gerard Sellars	....	special thanks
Irwin Tenenbaum	....	special thanks
Helen Williams	....	gratitude and thanks
Isham Williams	....	in memoriam (as Reverend Isham Williams)

Production Companies

• Butcher's Run Films

Distributors

• United International Pictures (UIP) (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (video)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• New Films International
• October Films
• United International Pictures (UIP) (France)

Other Companies

• Apostle Church Choir  group performers
• Avatar Studios  music mixer
• Charles W. Anders Security Services  security
• Choir at Sonny's Temple  group performers
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  telecine transfers
• Fountain of the Living Word Church of Dallas, Texas Choir  group performers
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• Lafayette Children's Choir  group performers
• Location Catering Service  catering
• Nina Saxon Film Design  titles
• Paramount Pictures Production Services  grip equipment
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound mixing
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound post-production services
• Scarlet Letters  typesetting
• Sunbeam Choir  group performers
• The SW Louisiana Mass Choir  group performers
• Todd-AO Studios  adr services
• Victor Duncan  lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and a related scene of violence

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby SR

Certification:

UK:12 | Australia:PG | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Iceland:L | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35500)

Filming Locations:

Collin County, Texas, USA

Company:

Butcher's Run Films

Trivia:

The lines of the radio owner during the scene where Billy Bob Thornton is talked out of bulldozing the church were improvised.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the bulldozer scene (Chapter 30), Troublemaker has stood up after praying. People are scattered around him. The shot changes immediately to where these same people are standing in a defined circle holding hands singing around him for a few seconds, then it reverts back to the first shot where the people are scattered around him. (1:47:02 through 1:47:16).

Quotes:

[Sonny sees his momma laying on the floor]
Sonny:Mama, I can't take you with me now, so get on back in your chair. Now i know you've died on me and gone on home to heavan so i hope you can still hear me. Now, you be good while i'm gone and i'll call you tonight okay? I can't take you with me now. Alright? Eh? Eh, Mama?
[as hes going out the door]
Sonny:Hug St. Peters neck for me would ya? Bye Mama, kiss an angel for me. Gotta hit the road Mama, i gotta work! Gotta go to work!

Movie Connections:

Featured in If We Picked the Winners (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

There Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down)

Amen!

The Apostle is a gripping film on a most unpromising subject matter. The film has none of the obvious flash of movies such as Elmer Gantry and The Rainmaker which covered some of the same territory. The Apostle is based on straightforward storytelling, great character development and nice, gentle pacing - but with a strong kick.

Robert Duvall, one of the best actors of the last thirty years, gives a powerful performance as the preacher driven by his inner demons - and gods. Over the years, we've seen preachers played by actors ranging from Burt Lancaster to Steve Martin but Robert Duvall comes up with a truly individual and original interpretation. What makes the character Sonny stand out is that he is so real! Ranging from his most charismatic (doing a Joe Dolan impersonation?) to his most personal, one feels that Sonny (the apostle EF) is real, believes what he is doing is real and is confident in his destiny - no matter how odd or quirky he appears at times.

The film is character driven with a good sprinkling of incidents throughout. Story points introduced early on and developed before half way give the film a strong feel of The Fugitive, the TV series - laid back, story based but with the undercurrent of "a ticking bomb under the table" (Alfred Hitchcock).

Minor quibbles: Miranda Richardson's character is a little too young for Robert Duvall's. June Carter Cash, both the actress and the character, seem under utilised. And at times it is possible to see the joins. The version I saw on video appears to be shorter than that shown originally in the US cinema. This pruning may account for some of these minor points.

Overall, The Apostle is highly recommended. Filmgoers without a strong interest in religious matters should find the characters, their treatment and the landscape in which they operate fascinating. Most people of a religious disposition should have little difficulty with the film as a film though they may not always like what they see from a religious viewpoint. 8.75.

Amen!