The Apostle (1997)

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

Director:

Robert Duvall

Writer:

Robert Duvall

Stars:

Robert Duvall, Todd Allen, Paul Bagget

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 13 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Todd Allen	...	Horace
Paul Bagget	...	Tag Team Preacher #3 (as Brother Paul Bagget)
Lenore Banks	...	Female Sonny Supporter
John Beasley	...	Brother Blackwell
Mary Lynette Braxton	...	Mother Blackwell
Brett Brock	...	Helper
Christopher Canady	...	Sister Johnson's Twin
Christian Canady	...	Sister Johnson's Twin
June Carter Cash	...	Mrs. Dewey Sr.
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	...	Civic Auditorium Preacher (as Prophet Carl D. Cook)
Naomi Craig	...	Scripture Reader
Wayne Dehart	...	Liquor Store Preacher

Storyline

Eulis 'Sonny' Dewey is a preacher from Texas living a happy life with his beautiful wife Jessie. Suddenly his stable world crumbles: Jessie is having an affair with young minister Horace. Sonny gets enraged and hits Horace with a softball bat, putting him into a coma. After that he leaves town, takes a new name, 'Apostle E.F.' and goes to Louisiana. There he starts to work as a mechanic for local radio station owner Elmo, and Elmo lets him preach on the radio. E.F. starts to preach everywhere: on the radio, on the streets, and with his new friend, Reverend Blackwell he starts a campaign to renovate an old church.

---

Plot Keywords:

southern gothic | preacher | louisiana | texas | minister | 

---

Taglines:

Lust, Obsession, Revenge... Redemption

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Apostel!

Filming Locations:

Collin County, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$40,969, 21 December 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$20,733,485, 14 June 1998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Butcher's Run Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After seeing the film, Marlon Brando wrote Robert Duvall a heartfelt letter congratulating him on making such a moving film.

---

Goofs

When the Apostle E.F. is kneeling with the troublemaker in front of the bulldozer.

---

Quotes

Sonny: You're going to Heaven. I'm going to jail and you're going to Heaven.

---

Crazy Credits

During the end credits there is a scene showing Sonny (Robert Duvall) preaching to the prisoners during out-of-prison work.

---

Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Amistad/Titanic/Good Will Hunting/The Apostle (1997)

---

Soundtracks

Shine On
Written and Performed by Dolly Parton

User Reviews

SUPERB!

Superior acting and a plot based on realism make this a classic movie of actual southern life ... a life that I experienced as a child and adolescent. Duvall's evangelist portrayal is not only convincing but eerie in the way it so fully represents many southern ministers of the gospel ... be they true believers or be they charlatans. I can't help but wonder if the cast was comprised of local folks ... or at least folks reared in the south ... rather than professional actors. They all did an excellent job contributing to the realism of this movie. I almost always enjoy a movie that "tells it like it is" ... and sofar, this is one of the most enjoyable I have ever seen.