IMDb > The Great Debaters (2007)
The Great Debaters
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The Great Debaters (2007) More at IMDbPro »

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The Great Debaters (2007) -- The Great Debaters Trailer
The Great Debaters (2007) -- 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.
The Great Debaters (2007) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
The Great Debaters (2007) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)
The Great Debaters (2007) -- Moviesbox.us - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   12,492 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Denzel Washington
Writers (WGA):
Robert Eisele (screenplay)
Robert Eisele (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Great Debaters on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 December 2007 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama more
Tagline:
When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 8 nominations more
User Comments:
Great - if you don't mind fairy tales based on history more (94 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Denzel Washington ... Melvin B. Tolson

Nate Parker ... Henry Lowe

Jurnee Smollett ... Samantha Booke

Denzel Whitaker ... James Farmer Jr.
Jermaine Williams ... Hamilton Burgess

Forest Whitaker ... Dr. James Farmer Sr.
Gina Ravera ... Ruth Tolson

John Heard ... Sheriff Dozier

Kimberly Elise ... Pearl Farmer

Devyn A. Tyler ... Helen Farmer (as Devyn Tyler)

Trenton McClain Boyd ... Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery ... Deputy

Jackson Walker ... Pig Owner

Tim Parati ... Pig Farmer

Robert X. Golphin ... Dunbar Reed
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality.
Runtime:
126 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital
Certification:
USA:PG-13 (certificate #44005) | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12
Filming Locations:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA more
Company:
Harpo Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
On December 19, 2007, Denzel Washington announced a $1 million dollar donation to Wiley College so they could re-establish their debate team. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: 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. more
Quotes:
Dr. James Farmer, Sr.: [after Tolson is unjustly captured and imprisoned] Since you have no evidence, I suggest you let him go.
Sheriff Dozier: Are you threatening me, boy?
Dr. James Farmer, Sr.: No, sir. I wouldn't do that. But I cannot speak for those people outside.
[points toward the riotous mob gathered outside the sheriff's office]
more
Movie Connections:
References Men in White (1934) more
Soundtrack:
Run... Run / All Hid more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
10 out of 17 people found the following comment useful.
Great - if you don't mind fairy tales based on history, 14 January 2008
6/10
Author: jsorenson777 from Japan

The direction and acting are first rate but the story follows the Hollywood formula for success - with very good good guys and very bad bad guys and the ending we all want to see. Too bad they didn't take the risk and use the real story (and quite possibly the original screenplay). There is a smell of script doctors here.

Nonetheless the cast was brilliant and many scenes were compelling. The film is definitely worth watching. It is good fiction but not a proper history lesson, unless viewed as pay-back for similarly slanted stories from the other side.

The ending brings up Hemingway's line, "Wouldn't it be pretty to think so."

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (94 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Great Debaters (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Great movie, but large mistake made at the end... Metfan2987
The lynch scene rujivachirapong
These are the kind of black movies... Ozyre Cekda
Who wished Samantha got with James rather than Lowe? flavamack
They Never Debated Harvard jonathanlerner111
Anyone else notice a slightly Communist/Socialist slant to the film? g_wales
more

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