The Great Debaters
Brief Synopsis
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Professor Melvin Tolson, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach, uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political views. In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson's debate team receives a groundbreaking invitation to debate Harvard University 's championship team.
Cast & Crew
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Denzel Washington
Director
Denzel Washington
Forest Whitaker
Kimberly Elise
Jurnee Smollett-bell
Gina Ravera
Film Details
Also Known As
Great Debaters
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Historical
Period
Release Date
2007
Distribution Company
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS INC. (MGM ); MGM Distribution Company
Location
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
2h 7m
Synopsis
Professor Melvin Tolson, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach, uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political views. In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson's debate team receives a groundbreaking invitation to debate Harvard University 's championship team.
Director
Denzel Washington
Director
Cast
Denzel Washington
Forest Whitaker
Kimberly Elise
Jurnee Smollett-bell
Gina Ravera
Southey Blanton
Voltaire Rico Sterling
Michael Beasley
Jeremiah Kissel
John Heard
Harold Evans
Milton R Gipson
Samuel Elliotte Whisnant
Charissa Allen
J.d. Evermore
Jack Radosta
Justin Robinson
Donny Boaz
Ahmad Powell
Stephen Rider
Marcus Lyle Brown
Brian Smiar
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Denzel Whitaker
Jermaine Williams
Jackson Walker
Gordon Danniels
Tommy Samona
Lead Man
Damien Leake
Ritchie Montgomery
Kelvin Payton
Rhiannon Giddens
Bonnie Johnson
Gary Mathis
Michael Mattison
Devyn A. Tyler
Frank Ridley
Fahnlohnee R Harris
Glen Powell
Dominiques Flemons
Jeff Braun
Nate Parker
Sharon Lee Jones
Trenton Mcclain Boyd
Brad Watkins
George Wilson
Justice Leak
Tim Parati
Robert X Golphin
Crew
Philip Abeyta
Electrician
Tarik Naim Alherimi
Rigging Electrician
Molly Allen
Coproducer
Dean Allison
Foreman
Belinda Anderson
Hair Stylist
Bob Anderson
Coordinator
Dan Anderson
Production Assistant
Gayle Anderson
Wardrobe Assistant
Marian Anderson
Song Performer
Natalia Anderson
Production Secretary
Matiki Anoff
Makeup
Annette Ansley
Driver
Johnny B Antwine
Driver
Tim Antwine
Stunts
Kami Asgar
Supervising Sound Editor
James Babineaux
Best Boy Electric
Chris P Bacon
Original Score
Natalie Ballesteros
Casting Assistant
Dave Balsley
Driver
John Bankson
Property Master
Yvonne Bastidos
Set Costumer
Bob Bates
Lighting Technician
Kevin Beard
Stunts
Stephen F. Beasley
Rigging Gaffer
Bobby Beckles
Stunts
Maya Beiser
Soloist
Richard Benavidez
Driver
Patrick Bensimmon
Camera Assistant
David Berger
Music Producer
David Berger
Song Performer
Howard Berger
Special Makeup Effects
Christine Bergren
Music
Sean Bernard
Painter
C Alan Berry
Props
Stephanetta Bingley
Assistant
Todd Black
Producer
Jenna Block
Assistant
Anneliese Boies
Special Makeup Effects
David Bomba
Production Designer
Giovanni Bommarito
Grip
Mark La Bonge
Steadicam Operator
Bryan Booth
Electrician
Alex Borys
Assistant Location Manager
George R Bott
Assistant Director
Robert Bowden
Gang Boss
Andrea Bowman
Hair Stylist
Karen Brady
Location Scout
Richard Branca
Post-Production Sound
Gregg Brazzel
Stunts
Rob Brazzel
Recording Engineer
John Breinholt
Editor
Dillon Jim Breithaupt
Art Department
Jack Bricker
Special Makeup Effects
Geraud Brisson
Editor
Helen Britten
Assistant Set Decorator
Toby Michael Bronson
Costumer
Natalie Brown
Dga Trainee
Nikki Brown
Makeup Artist
Rob Brown
Assistant
Kathy Brunswick
Construction
Eddie Burcham
On-Set Dresser
Hugh Burns
Music
Willie Burton
Sound Mixer
Unjoo Byars
Titles
Antonio Caetano Santos
Office Production Assistant
Anita Cannella
Foley Artist
Adrian Cannon
Driver
Alison Cannon
Production Accountant
Kate Carlin
Adr Voice Casting
Bret Carroll
Driver
Trae Carter
Office Production Assistant
Gina Cassidy
Grip
Patrick Cassidy
Set Decorator
Chris Cera
Modelmaker
Denise Chamian
Casting
Dorian Cheah
Sound Designer
Larry M. Cherry
Hair Stylist
Scott Childers
Foreman
Tom Christopher
Gang Boss
Andrew Clapp
Rigging Gaffer
Megan Coates
Wardrobe Assistant
Shaun Cobbs
Stand-In
Chris Coggins
Assistant
Xiomara Comrie
Assistant Camera
David Crockett
Unit Production Manager
David Crockett
Executive Producer
Ian Crockett
Post-Production Coordinator
Gino Crognale
Puppeteer
Brent Dahlin
Driver
Diane Davis
Medic
Rick Davis
Transportation Captain
Sharen Davis
Costume Designer
Mike Deak
Puppeteer
Christina Decharles
Assistant Location Manager
Eddie Delana
Recording Engineer
Alton Delmore
Song Performer
Rabon Delmore
Song
Angela Demo
Casting Associate
John Devay
Driver
Alex Diaz
Puppeteer
Renee Dodson
Costumer
James Donahue
Transportation Captain
Robert M Donaldson
Location Scout
Michael Dressel
Foley Editor
Steve Driggers
Driver
Kim Drummond
Adr Supervisor
Juan Echanarria
Driver
Jeff Edwards
Special Effects
Thom Ehle
Sound
Bob Eisele
Story By
Bob Eisele
Screenplay
Duke Ellington
Song
Monte Emery
Driver
Jack English
Gaffer
Tom Epperson
Other
Gino Falla
Accounting Assistant
Kevin Fleming
Gang Boss
Horton Foote
Other
R. Scott Forster
Construction Coordinator
Kate Forte
Producer
Andree Fortier
Costumer
Geoff Foster
Score Recording
Donny Fowler
Grip
Melody Fowler
Associate Producer
Phil K Frost
Driver
Patrick Fuhrman
On-Set Dresser
Carl Fullerton
Makeup
Dan Furst
Video Assist/Playback
Lex Geddings
Stunts
Joe Giles
Modelmaker
Shellie Gillespie
Art Department Coordinator
Valerie Gladstone
Hair Stylist
Susanna Glattly
Painter
Dave Glavin
Driver
Brian Goehring
Modelmaker
Karen Golden
Script Supervisor
Peter Golub
Music Composer
Julia Gombert
Wardrobe
Christopher Gray
Extras Agent/Coordinator
Latoya Green
Makeup Artist
Gavin Greenaway
Original Music
John Gregorio
Driver
Isobel Griffiths
Original Music
Dianne Grigsby
Consultant
Hodge Grigsby
Production Assistant
Gregory G. Hale
Assistant Director
Raine Hall
Location Scout
Scott G G Haller
Adr/Dialogue Editor
Jason Halley
Production Assistant
Joseph M Hancock
Driver
Mitzi Haralson
Set Costumer
Charles Harrington
Location Assistant
Chad Harris
On-Set Dresser
Terry Harris
Production Assistant
Kali Rashad Harrison
Assistant Director
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Song Performer
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Song
Dana Kay Hart
Costume Supervisor
Steve Hartman
Special Effects
Brendan Harvey
Office Production Assistant
Thirl Haston
Stunts
Stephen Hayes
Music
Dan Haygood
Stand-In
Ren Heeralal
Costumer
David Heffler
Production Assistant
Jerry Henery
Construction Coordinator
Jim Henry
Stunts
Mo Henry
Negative Cutter
David Hickey
Accountant
Whitney Hicks
Stand-In
Alexandra Hill
Song
Dan Hines
Driver
Teenie Hodges
Song Performer
Dave Holden
Original Score
Grady Holder
Modelmaker
Claude Hopkins
Song
Jamie Horwitz
Accounting Assistant
James Newton Howard
Music Composer
Janice Hudson
Hair Stylist
Steven Huerstel
Sound
Darryl Humber
Dolly Grip
Bonnie Huntsinger
Music Arranger
David Huntsinger
Music Arranger
David Huntsinger
Song
Joel Iwataki
Music Scoring Mixer
Charles Jackson
Song
Papa Charlie Jackson
Song Performer
Jd Jacoby
On-Set Dresser
Nancy James
Craft Service
John R Jenson
Art Director
Phillip Joffrion
On-Set Dresser
Nicki Johnson
Assistant Production Coordinator
Carey Jones
Special Effects
Mindy Jones
Accountant
Sharon Jones
Music Arranger
Sharon Jones
Song Performer
Christian Juneau
Extras Casting Assistant
Amy Kane
Foley Artist
Todd Kasow
Music Editor
Anaya Kellogg
Wardrobe Assistant
Film Details
Also Known As
Great Debaters
MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Historical
Period
Release Date
2007
Distribution Company
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS INC. (MGM ); MGM Distribution Company
Location
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
2h 7m
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Co-winner of the 2007 Bvlgari Award for NBR Freedom of Expression by the National Board of Review (NBR).
Released in United States Winter December 25, 2007
Released in United States on Video May 13, 2008
Based on the article "The Great Debaters" by Tony Scherman; published in the Spring 1997 issue of American Legacy Magazine.
Previously set up at Miramax.
Released in United States Winter December 25, 2007
Released in United States on Video May 13, 2008
