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IMDbPro

The Great Debaters

  • 20072007
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
59K
YOUR RATING
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
  • 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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    Storyline

    Edit

    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
    8/10
    You do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do.
    This wasn't about my Texas, although I am familiar with many of the topics in this film. I have been to Marshall in my travels over most of the highways in Texas, I know about Paul Quinn College and Prairie View A & M University. This wasn't even about my Daddy's Texas, as he was just a small boy at the time. It was, however, my Grandfather's Texas. he typified the characters in this film.

    With Denzel Washington directing and acting, I expected an outstanding film. I was not prepared to be so emotionally taken in that I left the theater wiping tears from eyes. This was a powerful statement about the differences in American. Differences that were typified by Franklin Roosevelt's affirmative action program for whites - the New Deal; differences that would be repeated twenty years later after WWII when the whites again received affirmative action in the form of the GI Bill. Robert Eisele's story really brought home the pain and deprivation of being Black in America, and how some could overcome that deprivation with the right help, but could never overcome the pain.

    Besides Washington, there were outstanding performances by Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, and Denzel Whitaker, as a 14-year-old in college.

    Tears in my eyes, I will long remember this film as one of the best of the year and of many years.
    helpful•31
    10
    • lastliberal
    • Dec 26, 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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