The Butler (2013 Lee Daniels)

Will Haygood wrote an article for The Washington Post in 2008, 'A Butler Well Served By This Election', about the life of Eugene Allen as White House butler. Danny Strong then wrote a life story that begins in the cotton fields in 1926, introduces suspect neighbour Terrence Howerd and sons David Oleyowo and Elijah Kelley, using his struggle with the eldest as a representation of the conflicts felt within the black community over time.

Maria Carey is Eugene's mum, Oprah Winfrey his wife. Fellow White House staff: Cuba Gooding Jr and Lenny Kravitz. Presidents: Robin Williams, John Cusack, Alan Rickman, James Marsden and Liev Schreiber. Yaya Dacosta (The Nice Guys) is the Black Panther.

If anything Danny might have trimmed some of the non-essential plots like the randy neighbour and Oprah's drinking - but the film's two hours 11, not too long... The film could usefully have ended at the family barbecue with Obama's presidency in sight...

Daniels and Strong collaborated on long format drama Empire, with Terrence Howerd as a hip-hop mogul.

Shot by Andrew Dunn. Good make-up / hair by Debra Denson, Beverly Jo Pryor and Candace Neal (BAFTA nominated along with Oprah).