Get on the Bus (1996)

A disparate group of African-American men travel by bus to Washington, DC for the Million Man March.

Director:

Spike Lee

Writer:

Reggie Rock Bythewood

Stars:

Ossie Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Andre Braugher

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Belzer	...	Rick
De'aundre Bonds	...	Junior, aka 'Smooth'
Andre Braugher	...	Flip
Thomas Jefferson Byrd	...	Evan Thomas Sr.
Gabriel Casseus	...	Jamal
Albert Hall	...	Craig
Hill Harper	...	Xavier
Harry Lennix	...	Randall
Bernie Mac	...	Jay
Wendell Pierce	...	Wendell
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Gary
Isaiah Washington	...	Kyle
Steve White	...	Mike
Ossie Davis	...	Jeremiah
Charles S. Dutton	...	George

Storyline

Get on the Bus follows several Black men on a cross country bus trip to the Million Man March. On the bus are an eclectic set of characters including a laid off aircraft worker, a former Gang Banger, a Hollywood actor, a cop who is of mixed racial background, and a White bus driver, all make the trek discussing issues surrounding the march, manhood, religion, politics, and race.

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Plot Keywords:

road movie | bus | march | million man march | religion | 

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Taglines:

On October 16, 1996, the one year anniversary of the Million Man March, Spike Lee invites you to lift your head, raise your voice, and...get on the bus.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the movie is about the Million Man March, director Spike Lee couldn't attend the actual gathering because of an arthroscopic surgery on his knee to remove his patellar tendon three days before it, so he viewed it on CNN.

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Goofs

While driving from South Los Angeles to Washington DC, the bus takes the Pasadena Freeway north from downtown LA. This freeway ends in Pasadena and is not the way one would travel across the country. Furthermore, a bus of this size would not be permitted on this freeway.

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Quotes

Jeremiah: I think as we prepare to go on this journey; it might be appropriate to have a prayer.
[praying]
Jeremiah: Dear Lord, we ask you to...
Flip: [running onto the bus] Damn, I'm glad ya'll ain't left. I didn't think I was ever goin' to...
George: [angrily] Hey; CP Time, we tryin' to have a prayer here!

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Crazy Credits

Recumbent riders: Carol and Ken Lyon, who just happened to ride through the set on their Cross-Country Ramble from Ventura, CA, to Galveston, TX.

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Connections

References The Defiant Ones (1958)

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Soundtracks

Redemption Song
Written by Bob Marley
Published by Fifty-Six Hope Road Music, Ltd. and Odnil Music, Ltd.
Produced by Stevie Wonder
Performed by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder appears courtesy of Motown Records

User Reviews

One of Spike Lee's better films, if not his best

This was really one of those films which turned out to be a gem. I didn't care about the fact it was black-funded and had a virtually all black cast. The way I look at it, regardless of the racial signifying, it was a very strong film filled with symbols and depictions of black men that haven't been seen in other films. To me, Spike Lee should focus on the aspects of black life instead of showing the lines that separate.

Instead of making everything about racism, he should focus on the relationships which can exist and develop between people and diversity of the said individuals. The men all had different backgrounds; gay republicans, used car salesman, a UCLA film student, an older gentleman who actually experienced deep racism, an young Islamic man with a past, a father and son in the middle of a personal conflict and even the arrogant actor. Full of great performances, especially Ossie Davis, this film should have been the type of film Spike Lee would strive to make.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Get on the Bus

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,156,409, 20 October 1996

Gross USA:

$5,754,249

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,754,249

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, 15 Black Men, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1