Is The Butler Based on a True Story? The Butler Plot, Cast and Trailer
by Nithya A
Updated Dec 06, 2023
Is The Butler Based on a True Story?
The Butler is inspired by the real-life experiences of Eugene Allen, an African-American man who worked as a butler in the White House for nearly three decades, spanning eight presidencies from 1952 to 1986. While the movie includes some fictionalized elements, it primarily captures the historical events and changes witnessed by Eugene during his tenure.
The film serves as a reflection on the experiences of African-American individuals and the impact of significant historical events on their lives and families. Eugene's life provides a unique perspective on both personal and political dimensions of the transformative era in the United States.
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The Butler
"The Butler," officially known as "Lee Daniels' The Butler," is a 2013 American historical drama film directed and co-produced by Lee Daniels, featuring a screenplay by Danny Strong. Inspired by Wil Haygood's Washington Post article, "A Butler Well Served by This Election," the movie loosely depicts the life of Eugene Allen, who served in the White House for many years. Forest Whitaker stars as Cecil Gaines, an African-American who witnesses significant political and social events during his 34-year tenure as a White House butler.
Released on August 16, 2013, by the Weinstein Company, the film received positive reviews for its cast but faced criticism for historical inaccuracies, particularly in the portrayal of President Reagan. Despite this, it was a commercial success, grossing over $177 million worldwide against a $30 million budget.
The Butler Cast
Forest Whitaker
Cecil Gaines (main character)
Michael Rainey Jr.
Young Cecil (age 7)
Aml Ameen
Young Cecil (age 18)
Oprah Winfrey
Gloria Gaines (Cecil's wife)
David Oyelowo
Louis Gaines (Cecil's elder son)
Elijah Kelley
Charlie Gaines (Cecil's younger son)
Alex Pettyfer
Thomas Westfall (plantation owner)
David Banner
Earl Gaines (Cecil's father)
Mariah Carey
Hattie Pearl (Cecil's mother)
Terrence Howard
Howard (Gaines' neighbor)
Adriane Lenox
Gina (Howard's wife)
Yaya DaCosta
Carol Hammie (Louis' girlfriend)
Vanessa Redgrave
Annabeth Westfall (plantation matron)
Clarence Williams III
Maynard (elderly mentor)
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Carter Wilson (White House head butler)
Lenny Kravitz
James Holloway (White House co-worker)
Colman Domingo
Freddie Fallows (White House maitre d')
Robin Williams
Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th President)
James DuMont
Sherman Adams (Eisenhower's Chief of Staff)
Robert Aberdeen
Herbert Brownell Jr. (Eisenhower's Attorney General)
James Marsden
John F. Kennedy (35th President)
Minka Kelly
Jackie Kennedy (First Lady)
Liev Schreiber
Lyndon B. Johnson (36th President)
John Cusack
Richard Nixon (37th President)
Alan Rickman
Ronald Reagan (40th President)
Jane Fonda
Nancy Reagan (First Lady)
Stephen Rider
Stephen W. Rochon (White House Chief Usher)
Nelsan Ellis
Martin Luther King Jr.
Jesse Williams
James Lawson (civil rights activist)
Danny Strong
Freedom Bus journalist (screenwriter
Actor
Character
The Butler Plot
The Butler is a 2013 American historical drama film directed by Lee Daniels. Loosely based on the real-life experiences of Eugene Allen, who worked in the White House for several decades, the film follows the life of Cecil Gaines, portrayed by Forest Whitaker. Cecil served as a butler at the White House and became a witness to significant political and social events during his 34-year tenure.
The film explores Cecil's private life, including his relationship with his wife, Gloria (Oprah Winfrey), and their two sons. It also delves into Cecil's interactions with historical figures such as Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan, among others. The narrative weaves together Cecil's personal journey with the broader context of the civil rights movement, offering a unique perspective on the historical transformations that occurred in the United States.
The Butler received positive reviews for its engaging storytelling, powerful performances, and its portrayal of the inner complexities of the civil-rights landscape. While some critics noted historical inaccuracies and moments of sentimentality, the film was widely praised for its emotional impact and the strong performances of its cast.
The Butler Review
The Butler received mostly positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it got a 72% rating based on 201 reviews, with an average score of 6.60/10. Critics praised the movie's emotional impact, despite some uneven storytelling. The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes states that the film, directed by Lee Daniels, is gut-wrenching and emotionally affecting, overcoming its narrative unevenness with strong performances from an all-star cast.
On Metacritic, the film earned a weighted average score of 65 from 47 reviews, indicating generally positive feedback. Audiences, as surveyed by CinemaScore, gave it an "A" grade on a scale from A to F.
Critics like Todd McCarthy found the film engaging, entertaining, and never dull, appreciating its contrivances and historical signposting. Richard Roeper praised Forest Whitaker's performance, calling it the best of his career. Rolling Stone also commended Whitaker for filling the film with potency and purpose through his reflective powerful understated performance.
Variety noted that Daniels effectively portrayed the inner complexities of the civil rights landscape. USA Today gave it three out of four stars, describing it as inspiring with fine performances, but critiqued the swelling musical score and melodramatic moments as calculated and undercutting the powerful story.
However, some critics, like Miles Davis of the New York Tribune, labeled the film as "Oscar bait," designed to attract Oscar nominations. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times was more negative, criticizing the film for hitting its points too squarely and comparing it to hitting with a 9-pound hammer. Some critics also drew comparisons between The Butler and the film "Forrest Gump."
President Barack Obama shared his thoughts on the film, expressing emotional sentiments about the butlers and a generation of talented individuals limited by Jim Crow and discrimination.
The Butler Trailer
Is The Butler Based on a True Story - FAQs
Yes, "The Butler" is loosely based on the real-life experiences of Eugene Allen, a man who worked as a butler in the White House for around three decades, serving during eight presidencies from 1952 to 1986.
While some characters are based on real historical figures, there are fictional elements, and certain events and interactions are dramatized for storytelling purposes.
The movie covers the presidencies of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan, among others.
"The Butler" was a commercial success, grossing over $177 million worldwide against a budget of $30 million. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the cast but some criticism regarding historical accuracy.
Eugene Allen's life serves as a lens through which the movie explores both personal and historical aspects, offering viewers an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of African-Americans during transformative periods in U.S. history.