Amistad (1997)

***Amistad*** is a 1997 American historical drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the events in 1839 aboard the Spanish slave ship *La Amistad*, during which Mende tribesmen abducted for the slave trade managed to gain control of their captors' ship off the coast of Cuba, and the international legal battle that followed their capture by the *Washington*, a U.S. revenue cutter. The case was ultimately resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1841.

Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey starred, along with Djimon Hounsou in his breakout role as Cinqué; Pete Postlethwaite, Nigel Hawthorne, and newcomer Chiwetel Ejiofor appeared in supporting roles. David Franzoni's screenplay was based on the 1987 book *Mutiny on the Amistad: The Saga of a Slave Revolt and Its Impact on American Abolition, Law, and Diplomacy*, by professor Howard Jones.

The film received largely positive critical reviews and grossed over $58 million worldwide.

## Shooting

* Filming was from February 18th, 1997 - April 30th, 1997.

## Cast

* Morgan Freeman - Theodore Joadson
* Nigel Hawthorne - President Martin Van Buren
* Anthony Hopkins - John Quincy Adams
* Djimon Hounsou - Joseph Cinqué
* Matthew McConaughey - Roger Sherman Baldwin
* David Paymer - Secretary John Forsyth
* Pete Postlethwaite - William S. Holabird
* Stellan Skarsgård - Lewis Tappan
* Razaaq Adoti - Yamba
* Abu Bakaar Fofanah - Fala
* Anna Paquin - Queen Isabella II of Spain
* Tomas Milian - Ángel Calderón de la Barca y Belgrano
* Chiwetel Ejiofor - Ensign James Covey
* Derrick N. Ashong - Buakei
* Geno Silva - Jose Ruiz
* John Ortiz - Pedro Montes
* Ralph Brown - Lieutenant Thomas R. Gedney
* Darren E. Burrows - Lieutenant Richard W. Meade (as Darren Burrows)
* Allan Rich - Judge Andrew T. Judson
* Paul Guilfoyle - Attorney
* Peter Firth - Captain Charles Fitzgerald
* Xander Berkeley - Ledger Hammond
* Jeremy Northam - Judge Jeremy Coglin
* Arliss Howard - John C. Calhoun
* Austin Pendleton - Professor Josiah Willard Gibbs Sr.
* Daniel von Bargen - Warden Pendleton (as Daniel Von Bargen)
* Rusty Schwimmer - Mrs. Pendleton
* Pedro Armendáriz Jr. - General Espatero (as Pedro Armendariz)
* Frank T. Wells - Crier
* Michael Massee - Prison Guard
* Roy Cooper - Pickney
* Jake Weber - Mr. Wright
* Victor Rivers - Captain Ferrar
* Joseph Kosseh - Birmaja
* Steve Passewe - Cinque's In-Law
* Sherly Acosta Williams - Cinque's Wife
* Matt Sarles - Young Aide
* George Gerdes - Marshal
* Gerald R. Molen - Magistrate (as Jerry Molen)
* Kevin J. O'Connor - Missionary
* Robert Walsh - Guardsman
* Sean McGuirk - Courier
* Tony Owen - Farmer
* William Young - Businessman
* Michael Riley - British Officer
* León Singer - Don Pablo (as Leon Singer)
* Castulo Guerra - Spanish Priest
* Harry Groener - Tecora Captain
* Hawthorne James - Creole Cook
* Ingrid Walters - Woman Overboard with Baby
* Harry A. Blackmun - Associate Justice Joseph Story (as The Honorable Harry A. Blackmun)

### Amistad Africans

* Willie Amakye - Folowa
* Luc Assogba - Gbatui
* Mariah Campbell - Masery
* Habib Conteh - Bai
* Stephen Conteh - Morlai
* Monguehy Fanzy - Fabanna
* Jimmy Fotso - Kwong
* Adekunle Ilori - Kahei
* Sheriff Kargbo - Almamy
* Saye Lah - Kessebe
* Sylvestre Massaquoi - Santigiie
* Samson Odede - Kpona
* Chike Okpala - Sorie
* Willie Onafesso - Jina
* Samuel Pieh - Suuleh
* Lansana Sawi - Morlu
* Abu Sidique - Tsukama
* El Hadj Malik Sow - Golabu
* Lamine Thiam - Mahmud
* Curtis Shields - Bassie
* Carlos Spivey - Chike
* Charles Udoma - Kessebe
* Andrew L. Josiah - Tamba
* Tony Onafesso - Baa
* Peter Mansaray - Kapr
* Clarence Mobley - Kenei
* Brian Macon - Yauai
* Edward Appiah - Followolo
* Denver Dowridge - Kpau
* Paul Mwakutuya - Sessi
* Rory Burton - Vakina
* Samuel Orekhio - Fawni
* Omo Lara Tosin - Kula
* Ransford Thomas - Alkali
* Juliette Darko - Teme
* Isaac Mayanja - Sanpha
* Charlean Isata Bangalie - Margru
* Roosevelt Flenoury - Njaooni
* M.S. Kaleiwo - Kaleiwo
* Tesfay Yohannes
* George Kamara
* Abdul-Fatai Balogun
* Yaya Sissoko
* Amadou Traore
* Marlon Francis
* Bundu Kamara
* James Moses
* Daniel Reid
* Seydou Coulibaly
* Lawal Tajudeen
* Lester Mombelly
* Ibrahim Sesay
* Jeremy Shelton
* Andrew Shoemo
* Prince Coke
* Ahmed Bangura
* Bernard Singleton
* Desere Mondon
* Baboucar Jobe

**Rest of cast listed alphabetically:**

* Christopher Annino - Blacksmith (uncredited)
* John D. Bair - Senator (uncredited)
* Susan Bergeron - Tyler Speech Attendee (uncredited)
* Paul Berlier - Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited)
* Eric Bruno Borgman - First Jury Juror (uncredited)
* Luis Cabrera - Spanish Guard (uncredited)
* Craig Calman - Abolitionist (uncredited)
* KimStacy Carter - Tecora Slave (uncredited)
* Lisa Cavanaugh - Prostitute (uncredited)
* Leonard Clifton - Slave (uncredited)
* Al Conti - Defense Attorney (uncredited)
* Alex Daunis - Clerk of Supreme Court (uncredited)
* Nino Del Padre - Court Witness (uncredited)
* Johnny Egan - Judge Coglin (voice) (uncredited)
* Anita Elsbree - Singing Puritan Missionary (uncredited)
* Chris Fagan - Villager (uncredited)
* Lawrence Gaughan - Spaniard (uncredited)
* Morgan Hobart - Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
* Nick King - Villager (uncredited)
* Tommy Lynch - Slave Trader (uncredited)
* Luis Muñoz - Spanish Slave Guard (uncredited)
* Ungenita Prevost - Tecora Slave (uncredited)
* Russell J. Ramos - Statesman (uncredited)
* Glendon Rich - Slave / Abolitionist (uncredited)
* Kevin M. Simon - Abolitionist (uncredited)
* Daniel Sutton - Union Soldier (uncredited)
* John H. Tobin - Supreme Court Reporter (uncredited)
* Harrison Young - Congressman (uncredited)