The Great Debaters

When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.

Duration: 126 min
Release date: 2007-12-25
IMDB

The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.

Drama

The Great Debaters

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The Great Debaters

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Casting arrow_drop_down

Denzel Whitaker
Denzel Whitaker
as James Farmer Jr.
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
as Melvin B. Tolson
Nate Parker
Nate Parker
as Henry Lowe
Jurnee Smollett
Jurnee Smollett
as Samantha Booke
Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker
as Dr. James Farmer Sr.
Kimberly Elise
Kimberly Elise
as Pearl Farmer
Jermaine Williams
Jermaine Williams
as Hamilton Burgess
Gina Ravera
Gina Ravera
as Ruth Tolson
John Heard
John Heard
as Sheriff Dozier
Devyn A. Tyler
Devyn A. Tyler
as Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd
Trenton McClain Boyd
as Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery
Ritchie Montgomery
as Deputy
Jackson Walker
Jackson Walker
as Pig Owner
Tim Parati
Tim Parati
as Pig Farmer
Robert X. Golphin
Robert X. Golphin
as Dunbar Reed
Justice Leak
Justice Leak
as Harland Osbourne
Glen Powell
Glen Powell
as Harvard Debater #1
Brad Watkins
Brad Watkins
as Harvard Debater #2
Brian Smiar
Brian Smiar
as Harvard Dean
Damien Leake
Damien Leake
as Wilson
Voltaire Sterling
Voltaire Sterling
as Paul Quinn Debater #1
Stephen Rider
Stephen Rider
as Paul Quinn Debater #2
Gordon Danniels
Gordon Danniels
as Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz
Donny Boaz
as Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Samuel Elliott Whisnant
Samuel Elliott Whisnant
as Oklahoma City College Debater #2
Bonnie Johnson
Bonnie Johnson
as Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen
Charissa Allen
as Benita
Michael Beasley
Michael Beasley
as Trudell
Gary Mathis
Gary Mathis
as Enormous Man
George Wilson
George Wilson
as Samuel
Fahnlohnee R. Harris
Fahnlohnee R. Harris
as Clementine
Harold Evans
Harold Evans
as William Taylor
J.D. Evermore
J.D. Evermore
as Captain Wainwright
Sharon Jones
Sharon Jones
as Lila
Kelvin Payton
Kelvin Payton
as Joseph
Southey Blanton
Southey Blanton
as White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison
Michael Mattison
as White Sharecropper #1
Jeff Braun
Jeff Braun
as White Sharecropper #2
Milton R. Gipson
Milton R. Gipson
as Prairie View Professor
Frank Ridley
Frank Ridley
as Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel
Jeremiah Kissel
as Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate
Jack Radosta
Jack Radosta
as White Man at Lynching
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Alvin Youngblood Hart
as Juke Joint Musician #1
Dom Flemons
Dom Flemons
as Juke Joint Musician #2
Justin Robinson
Justin Robinson
as Juke Joint Musician #3
Rhiannon Giddens
Rhiannon Giddens
as Juke Joint Musician #4
Ahmad Powell
Ahmad Powell
as Fisk Professor
Marcus Lyle Brown
Marcus Lyle Brown
as Howard Debater #1
Gary Mattis
Gary Mattis
as Enormous Man
Kevin Beard
Kevin Beard
as Klansman at Lynching (uncredited)
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Crew arrow_drop_down

Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
Director
Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producer
David Crockett
David Crockett
Executive Producer
Melody Fowler
Melody Fowler
Associate Producer
Jeffrey Porro
Jeffrey Porro
Story
Molly Allen
Molly Allen
Co-Producer
Bob Weinstein
Bob Weinstein
Executive Producer
Joe Roth
Joe Roth
Producer
Valeria Scoon
Valeria Scoon
Associate Producer
Kate Forte
Kate Forte
Producer
Todd Black
Todd Black
Producer
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Producer
John Breinholt
John Breinholt
Editorial Coordinator
Hughes Winborne
Hughes Winborne
Editor
Austin Anderson
Austin Anderson
Animal Coordinator
Patrick Tendai Pfupajena
Patrick Tendai Pfupajena
Production Assistant
Denise Chamian
Denise Chamian
Casting
Karen Golden
Karen Golden
Script Supervisor
Patrick Cassidy
Patrick Cassidy
Set Decoration
John R. Jensen
John R. Jensen
Art Direction
Sharen Davis
Sharen Davis
Costume Design
David J. Bomba
David J. Bomba
Production Design
Greg Hale
Greg Hale
Second Assistant Director
Robert Powell
Robert Powell
Stunt Double
Eric Norris
Eric Norris
Stunts
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Stunts
Joe Nin Williams
Joe Nin Williams
Stunts
Bobby Beckles
Bobby Beckles
Stunts
Gregg Brazzel
Gregg Brazzel
Stunts
Thirl Haston
Thirl Haston
Stunts
Jono Oliver
Jono Oliver
First Assistant Director
Steven Ritzi
Steven Ritzi
Stunt Coordinator
Russell Towery
Russell Towery
Stunts
Lex D. Geddings
Lex D. Geddings
Stunts
Kevin Beard
Kevin Beard
Stunts
Jim Henry
Jim Henry
Stunts
Stephen A. Pope
Stephen A. Pope
Stunt Coordinator
Sean J. O'Shea
Sean J. O'Shea
First Assistant "B" Camera
Frank Perry Rose
Frank Perry Rose
Costumer
Belinda Anderson
Belinda Anderson
Key Hair Stylist
Jeff Valeri
Jeff Valeri
Production Coordinator
Jacob Ross
Jacob Ross
Best Boy Grip
Darryl Humber
Darryl Humber
Dolly Grip
Helen Britten
Helen Britten
Assistant Set Decoration
Shellie Gillespie
Shellie Gillespie
Art Department Coordinator
Dillon Jim Breithaupt
Dillon Jim Breithaupt
Art Department Assistant
Tateum Kohut
Tateum Kohut
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
LaToya Henderson
LaToya Henderson
Makeup Artist
Frederick Shear
Frederick Shear
Assistant Accountant
Kali R. Harrison
Kali R. Harrison
Second Second Assistant Director
Stephen Beasley
Stephen Beasley
Rigging Gaffer
G. Marq Roswell
G. Marq Roswell
Music Supervisor
Frances Jacques-LeCompte
Frances Jacques-LeCompte
Seamstress
Brian McNulty
Brian McNulty
Post Production Supervisor
Jodie Stern
Jodie Stern
Assistant Costume Designer
Giselle Spence
Giselle Spence
Seamstress
Valerie Gladstone-Appel
Valerie Gladstone-Appel
Assistant Hairstylist
Andrea Bowman
Andrea Bowman
Hairstylist
Cid Swank
Cid Swank
Unit Publicist
David Lee
David Lee
Still Photographer
Jack English
Jack English
Gaffer
Christopher Gray
Christopher Gray
Extras Casting
Geraud Brisson
Geraud Brisson
Additional Editor
Greg Orloff
Greg Orloff
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Rob Simons
Rob Simons
Assistant Art Director
Gary Tolbert
Gary Tolbert
Aerial Director of Photography
Gary A. Theard
Gary A. Theard
Boom Operator
C. Alan Rawlins Sr.
C. Alan Rawlins Sr.
Key Grip
Ian Crockett
Ian Crockett
Post Production Coordinator
Nikki I Brown
Nikki I Brown
Makeup Artist
Andrea Young
Andrea Young
Hairstylist
Riko Schatke
Riko Schatke
Best Boy Grip
Angela Demo
Angela Demo
Casting Associate
Virle S. Reid
Virle S. Reid
Assistant Property Master
Gary Damian Thomas
Gary Damian Thomas
Storyboard Artist
Xiomara Comrie
Xiomara Comrie
First Assistant "A" Camera
David Hickey
David Hickey
Payroll Accountant
Ted Sapp
Ted Sapp
Key Rigging Grip
Rick Kline
Rick Kline
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Xiomara Comrie
Xiomara Comrie
Second Assistant "A" Camera
Tiffani L. Stephenson
Tiffani L. Stephenson
Camera Loader
Diah Wymont
Diah Wymont
Assistant Costume Designer
Nicki Johnson
Nicki Johnson
Assistant Production Coordinator
Alison Cannon
Alison Cannon
Production Accountant
Christian Juneau
Christian Juneau
Extras Casting Assistant
Mark La Bonge
Mark La Bonge
"A" Camera Operator
Carl Fullerton
Carl Fullerton
Makeup Department Head
Linda Lazar
Linda Lazar
Makeup Artist
Kei Rowan-Young
Kei Rowan-Young
Location Manager
Tommy Samona
Tommy Samona
Leadman
Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
Special Effects Supervisor
John Breinholt
John Breinholt
Co-Editor
Riki Lin Sabusawa
Riki Lin Sabusawa
Key Costumer
Willie D. Burton
Willie D. Burton
Sound Mixer
Natalia Anderson
Natalia Anderson
Production Secretary
George Bott
George Bott
Additional Second Assistant Director
Christina DeCharles
Christina DeCharles
Assistant Location Manager
Pamela Rittelmeyer
Pamela Rittelmeyer
"B" Camera Operator
Matiki Anoff
Matiki Anoff
Key Makeup Artist
C. Alan Berry
C. Alan Berry
Props
David Crockett
David Crockett
Unit Production Manager
Pamela Rittelmeyer
Pamela Rittelmeyer
First Assistant "A" Camera
Kenneth Walker
Kenneth Walker
Hair Department Head
Valerie Bleth Sharp
Valerie Bleth Sharp
Production Supervisor
Yvonne Bastidos
Yvonne Bastidos
Set Costumer
Larry M. Cherry
Larry M. Cherry
Hairstylist
Anne Scott
Anne Scott
First Assistant Accountant
Jamie Horwitz
Jamie Horwitz
Assistant Accountant
John Bankson
John Bankson
Property Master
Mark La Bonge
Mark La Bonge
Steadicam Operator
Janice Hudson
Janice Hudson
Hairstylist
James Babineaux
James Babineaux
Best Boy Electric
Natalie Ballesteros
Natalie Ballesteros
Casting Assistant
Denise Pugh-Ruiz
Denise Pugh-Ruiz
Assistant Makeup Artist
Dana Kay Hart
Dana Kay Hart
Costume Supervisor
Mitzi Haralson
Mitzi Haralson
Set Costumer
Alex Borys
Alex Borys
Assistant Location Manager
Jeffery D. Woodrel
Jeffery D. Woodrel
Special Effects Coordinator
Kim Drummond
Kim Drummond
ADR Supervisor
Howard London
Howard London
ADR Mixer
Nannette Palmer
Nannette Palmer
Set Medic
John Marquis
John Marquis
Sound Effects Editor
Jerry G. Henery
Jerry G. Henery
Construction Coordinator
Ryan Misselhorn
Ryan Misselhorn
Greensman
Dorian Cheah
Dorian Cheah
Sound Designer
Howard Berger
Howard Berger
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Ted Moser
Ted Moser
Transportation Coordinator
Lois Yaroshefsky
Lois Yaroshefsky
Studio Teacher
Kami Asgar
Kami Asgar
Supervising Sound Editor
Todd Kasow
Todd Kasow
Music Editor
Jonathan Klein
Jonathan Klein
Foley Supervisor
Barbara McDermott
Barbara McDermott
Music Editor
Greg Nicotero
Greg Nicotero
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Justin Nance
Justin Nance
Transportation Co-Captain
Tim Tuchrello
Tim Tuchrello
Sound Effects Editor
Amy Kane
Amy Kane
Foley Artist
Fred Peck III
Fred Peck III
Sound Recordist
Scott Childers
Scott Childers
Construction Foreman
Elizabeth Rainey
Elizabeth Rainey
Foley Artist
Eryne Prine
Eryne Prine
Assistant Sound Editor
Brian Smith
Brian Smith
ADR Mixer
Richard A. Davis
Richard A. Davis
Transportation Captain
Erin Oakley
Erin Oakley
ADR Editor
Jon Wakeham
Jon Wakeham
Sound Effects Editor
Herwig Maurer
Herwig Maurer
Sound Effects Editor
Anita Cannella
Anita Cannella
Foley Artist
Carmine Rubino
Carmine Rubino
Foley Mixer
Jacob Riehle
Jacob Riehle
First Assistant Sound Editor
Dean Allison
Dean Allison
Construction Foreman
Scott G.G. Haller
Scott G.G. Haller
Dialogue Editor
Michael Dressel
Michael Dressel
Foley Editor
Sean McCormack
Sean McCormack
Supervising Sound Editor
Larry Misselhorn
Larry Misselhorn
Greensman
James Passanante
James Passanante
Paint Coordinator
Philippe Rousselot
Philippe Rousselot
Director of Photography
Peter Golub
Peter Golub
Original Music Composer
James Newton Howard
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
Robert Eisele
Robert Eisele
Story
Robert Eisele
Robert Eisele
Screenplay
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