Amistad (film)

"Well when I was an attorney, a long time ago, young man, I err...I realized after much trial and error, that in the courtroom, whoever tells the best story wins. In unlawyer-like fashion, I give you that scrap of wisdom free of charge."

"[to the Supreme Court] Your Honors, I derive much consolation from the fact that my colleague, Mr. Baldwin here, has argued the case in so able, and so complete a manner, as to leave me scarcely anything to say. However...why are we here? How is it that a simple, plain property issue should now find itself so ennobled as to be argued before the Supreme Court of the United States of America?"

"[to the Supreme Court] This is the most important case ever to come before this court. Because what it in fact concerns is the very nature of man."

"[to the Supreme Court] This man is black. We can all see that. But, can we also see as easily, that which is equally true? That he is the only true hero in this room. Now, if he were white, he wouldn't be standing before this court fighting for his life. If he were white and his enslavers were British, he wouldn't be standing, so heavy the weight of the medals and honors we would bestow upon him. Songs would be written about him. The great authors of our times would fill books about him. His story would be told and retold, in our classrooms. Our children, because we would make sure of it, would know his name as well as they know Patrick Henry's. Yet, if the South is right, what are we to do with that embarrassing, annoying document, the Declaration of Independence? What of its conceits? "All men created equal," "inalienable rights," "life, liberty," and so on and so forth? What on Earth are we to do with this? I have a modest suggestion. [tears papers in half]"

"[to the Supreme Court] Well, gentlemen, I must say I differ with the keen minds of the South and with our President, who apparently shares their views, offering that the natural state of mankind is instead - and I know this is a controversial idea - is freedom. Is freedom. And the proof is the length to which a man, woman or child will go to regain it once taken. He will break loose his chains. He will decimate his enemies. He will try and try and try, against all odds, against all prejudices, to get home."

"[to the Supreme Court] James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington...John Adams. We've long resisted asking you for guidance. Perhaps we have feared in doing so, we might acknowledge that our individuality, which we so, so revere, is not entirely our own. Perhaps we've feared an...an appeal to you might be taken for weakness. But, we've come to understand, finally, that this is not so. We understand now, we've been made to understand, and to embrace the understanding...that who we are is who we were. We desperately need your strength and wisdom to triumph over our fears, our prejudices, ourselves. Give us the courage to do what is right. And if it means civil war? Then let it come. And when it does, may it be, finally, the last battle of the American Revolution."

"In the case of the United States of America versus the Amistad Africans, it is the opinion of this Court that our treaty of 1795 with Spain, on which the prosecution has primarily based its arguments, is inapplicable. While it is clearly stipulated in Article 9 that, and I quote, "seized ships and cargo are to be returned entirely to their proprietary," the end of quote, it has not been shown to the Court's satisfaction that these particular Africans fit that description. We are then left with the alternative: that they are not slaves, and therefore, cannot be considered merchandise, but are rather free individuals with certain legal and moral rights, including the right to engage in insurrection against those who would deny them their freedom. And, therefore, over one dissent, it is the Court's judgment that the defendants are to be released from custody at once, and if they so choose, to be returned to their homes in Africa."

"Freedom is not given. It is our right at birth. But there are some moments when it must be taken."

"A true story."

"Morgan Freeman - Theodore Joadson"

"Nigel Hawthorne - Martin Van Buren"

"Anthony Hopkins - John Quincy Adams"

"Djimon Hounsou - Sengbe Pieh / Cinqué"

"Matthew McConaughey - Roger Sherman Baldwin"

"David Paymer - Secretary of State John Forsyth"

"Pete Postlethwaite - William S. Holabird"

"Stellan Skarsgård - Lewis Tappan"

"Razaaq Adoti - Yamba"

"Abu Bakaar Fofanah - Fala"

"Anna Paquin - Queen Isabella II"

"Tomas Milian - Calderon"

"Chiwetel Ejiofor - Ens. James Covey"

"Derrick Ashong - Buakei"

"Geno Silva - Ruiz"

"John Ortiz - Montes"

"Ralph Brown - Lieutenant Gedney"

"Darren E. Burrows - Lieutenant Meade"

"Allan Rich - Judge Juttson"

"Paul Guilfoyle - Attorney"

"Peter Firth - Captain Fitzgerald"

"Xander Berkeley - Hammond"

"Jeremy Northam - Judge Coglin"

"Arliss Howard - John C. Calhoun"

"Austin Pendleton - Professor Gibbs"

"Daniel von Bargen - Warden Pendleton"

"Rusty Schwimmer - Mrs. Pendleton"

"Pedro Armendáriz Jr. - General Espartero"

"Harry Blackmun - Justice Joseph Story"