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The Great Debaters

  • 20072007
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
59K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,933
3,132
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters (2007)
The Great Debaters Trailer
Play trailer2:32
1 Video
91 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance

A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harv... Read allA drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
59K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,933
3,132
  • Director
    • Denzel Washington
  • Writers
    • Robert Eisele(screenplay)
    • Jeffrey Porro(story)
    • Tony Scherman(inspired by the American Legacy article)
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Kimberly Elise
Top credits
  • Director
    • Denzel Washington
  • Writers
    • Robert Eisele(screenplay)
    • Jeffrey Porro(story)
    • Tony Scherman(inspired by the American Legacy article)
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Kimberly Elise
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 135User reviews
    • 108Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 wins & 10 nominations

    Videos1

    The Great Debaters
    Trailer 2:32
    The Great Debaters

    Photos91

    Denzel Washington, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, and Nate Parker in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Jurnee Smollett, Jermaine Williams, Denzel Whitaker, and Nate Parker in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Denzel Washington, Jurnee Smollett, and Denzel Whitaker in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, and Nate Parker in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, and Nate Parker in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Jurnee Smollett, Jermaine Williams, Denzel Whitaker, and Nate Parker in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Denzel Washington, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, and Nate Parker in The Great Debaters (2007)
    Jurnee Smollett, Jermaine Williams, Denzel Whitaker, and Nate Parker in The Great Debaters (2007)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Denzel Washington
    Denzel Washington
    • Melvin B. Tolsonas Melvin B. Tolson
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Dr. James Farmer Sr.as Dr. James Farmer Sr.
    Kimberly Elise
    Kimberly Elise
    • Pearl Farmeras Pearl Farmer
    Nate Parker
    Nate Parker
    • Henry Loweas Henry Lowe
    Jurnee Smollett
    Jurnee Smollett
    • Samantha Bookeas Samantha Booke
    Denzel Whitaker
    Denzel Whitaker
    • James Farmer Jr.as James Farmer Jr.
    Jermaine Williams
    Jermaine Williams
    • Hamilton Burgessas Hamilton Burgess
    Gina Ravera
    Gina Ravera
    • Ruth Tolsonas Ruth Tolson
    John Heard
    John Heard
    • Sheriff Dozieras Sheriff Dozier
    Devyn A. Tyler
    Devyn A. Tyler
    • Helen Farmeras Helen Farmer
    • (as Devyn Tyler)
    Trenton McClain Boyd
    • Nathaniel Farmeras Nathaniel Farmer
    Ritchie Montgomery
    Ritchie Montgomery
    • Deputyas Deputy
    Jackson Walker
    Jackson Walker
    • Pig Owneras Pig Owner
    Tim Parati
    Tim Parati
    • Pig Farmeras Pig Farmer
    Robert X. Golphin
    Robert X. Golphin
    • Dunbar Reedas Dunbar Reed
    Justice Leak
    Justice Leak
    • Harland Osbourneas Harland Osbourne
    Glen Powell
    Glen Powell
    • Harvard Debater #1as Harvard Debater #1
    • (as Glen Powell Jr.)
    Brad Watkins
    • Harvard Debater #2as Harvard Debater #2
    • Director
      • Denzel Washington
    • Writers
      • Robert Eisele(screenplay) (story)
      • Jeffrey Porro(story)
      • Tony Scherman(inspired by the American Legacy article)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    6.4
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    Storyline

    Edit
    Marshall, Texas, described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last city to surrender after the Civil War," is home to Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. The team of four, which includes a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    • student
    • debate
    • debate team
    • professor
    • black american
    • 183 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      On December 19, 2007, Denzel Washington announced a $1 million dollar gift to Wiley College, so they could re-establish their debate team.
    • Goofs
      When Samantha is participating in her first debate at Oklahoma City, she mentions World War I in her argument. In 1935, this war would have been referred to as the "Great War", since a World War II had not yet occurred.
    • Quotes

      James Farmer Jr.: In Texas they lynch Negroes. My teammates and I saw a man strung up by his neck and set on fire. We drove through a lynch mob, pressed our faces against the floorboard. I looked at my teammates. I saw the fear in their eyes and, worse, the shame. What was this Negro's crime that he should be hung without trial in a dark forest filled with fog. Was he a thief? Was he a killer? Or just a Negro? Was he a sharecropper? A preacher? Were his children waiting up for him? And who are we to just lie there and do nothing. No matter what he did, the mob was the criminal. But the law did nothing. Just left us wondering, "Why?" My opponent says nothing that erodes the rule of law can be moral. But there is no rule of law in the Jim Crow south. Not when Negroes are denied housing. Turned away from schools, hospitals. And not when we are lynched. St Augustine said, "An unjust law in no law at all.' Which means I have a right, even a duty to resist. With violence or civil disobedience. You should pray I choose the latter.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: National Treasure: Book of Secrets/P.S., I Love You/Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story/Charlie Wilson's War/The Great Debaters (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      My Soul is a Witness
      Performed by Alvin Youngblood Hart & Sharon Jones

      Produced by G. Marq Roswell

      Traditional

      Arranged by Alvin Youngblood Hart, Sharon Jones & G. Marq Roswell

    User reviews135

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Exceptional Film, Extremely Talented Cast
    Although "The Great Debaters" does not open until Christmas, I had the good fortune of seeing it at a preview -- and I can recommend it without reservation. It is a great story, based on real events that most of us never heard of, about a debating team from Wiley College, a small black institution in rural Texas, that performs extraordinary feats because the kids are good and the team is taught by Mel Tolson, a real person, acted by Denzel Washington, who also directs. Forest Whitaker, like Washington an academy award winner, plays James Farmer Sr., the school president and the father of one of the debaters, James Farmer Jr. (yes, that James Farmer Jr.). The participation in this enterprise of Washington, Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and the Weinstein brothers should draw crowds (provided the film isn't cursed by being described as "uplifting," though it is). The revelation in this film are the performances of the three principal debaters: Jurnee Smollett as Samatha Booke (with an "e", as she proclaims when she tries out for the debate team), Nate Parker as Henry Lowe (also with an "e" as he announces in response to Samantha's declaration) and Denzel Whitaker as James Farmer Jr. (It's an amusing coincidence, but he is unrelated either to Denzel Washington or to Forrest Whitaker.) You may have seen Jurnee Smollett earlier in her career when she was a "cute kid" and a promising actress. This film could be her portal to stardom. In addition to being a gorgeous young woman, she's also an accomplished actress, ready for bigger parts in the future. You'll also be impressed with her colleagues, people whose names you may never have heard. You don't have to be black to find this film engrossing; I'm not. All you need to be is (a) a human being and (b) someone who appreciates a good movie. I hope it makes a ton of money at the box office but it is, above all, a quality film. It just happens to be about a difficult period in American history, the rural South in the 1930's. It just happens to be inspirational and uplifting and all that good, boring stuff that cause your eyes to roll when that's how the critics describe it. But it's better than uplifting. It's GOOD and it's REAL.
    helpful•121
    35
    • gelman@attglobal.net
    • Dec 17, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 2007 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Muhteşem Münazaracılar
    • Filming locations
      • Wiley College - 711 Wiley Avenue, Marshall, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Harpo Films
      • Marshall Production
      • Roth Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $30,236,407
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,005,180
      • Dec 30, 2007
    • Gross worldwide
      • $30,271,556
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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