The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to st... Read allThe story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.
- Won 2 Oscars
- 53 wins & 55 nominations total
- Mary Ann Fisher
- (as Aunjanue Ellis)
- Gossie McGee
- (as Terrence Dashon Howard)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRay Charles died of liver failure on June 10, 2004, after filming had ended. He was able to sit through the first edit of this movie before his death.
- GoofsThe scene where Charles is met by a group of protesters outside the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Georgia is a fabrication. Charles canceled his appearance after receiving a telegram from students at a local black college. The promoter successfully sued Charles for breach of contract, but he was never banned from the state of Georgia. When the Georgia state legislature honored Ray Charles in 1979, they didn't apologized for banning him because he was never banned. In the commentary, it is stated that this event actually happened, but those who looked into Georgia's legislature found no record that he was banned, just sued, and later they adopted as their state song "Georgia" - by Ray Charles.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Aretha Robinson: Always remember your promise to me. Never let nobody or nothing turn you into no cripple.
- Crazy creditsRay Charles is survived by 12 children, 21 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.
- Alternate versionsUniversal Pictures Oscar Edition contains Extended Cut of the film.
- SoundtracksWhat'd I Say
Written by Ray Charles
Performed by Ray Charles
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing
Jamie Foxx has become one of the premiere actors in Hollywood as is clearly shown in Ray and he should get an Oscar for this role, it is unprecedented. In fact, everyone who worked on this film should receive accolades. I really liked Kerry Washington who played the exceptional wife...Ray Charles obviously married well. Regina King is a fine actress as well as the extraordinary Sharon Warren who plays a struggling young mother.
In all honesty, I'd say this whole project was providentially arranged. The entire cast was perfect, great screenplay and awesome settings...major props to the director Taylor Hackford and crew for doing such a splendid job in bringing the life of Ray Charles to the screen so flawlessly. This is my picture of the year, certainly one of the best biographical films ever made.
- terryraywilliams
- Nov 23, 2004
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Unchain My Heart: The Ray Charles Story
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $40,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $75,331,600
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $20,039,730
- Oct 31, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $123,971,376
- Runtime2 hours 32 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1