The Great Debaters (2007)

Biography, Denzel Washington, Drama, General Film

Director: Denzel Washington

Writer(s): Robert Eisele (screenplay, story), Jeffrey Porro (story), Tony Scherman (American Legacy article that inspired the film)

Starring: Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Forest Whitaker, Gina Ravera, John Heard, Kimberly Elise, Devyn A. Tyler, Trenton McClain Boyd, Ritchie Montgomery, Jackson Walker, Tim Parati, Robert X. Golphin, Justice Leak, Glen Powell, Brad Watkins, Brian Smiar, Damien Leake, Voltaire Sterling, Stephen Rider, Gordon Danniels, Donny Boaz, Samuel Elliott Whisnant, Bonnie Johnson, Charissa Allen, Michael Beasley, Gary Mattis, George Wilson, Fahnlohnee R. Harris, Harold Evans, J.D. Evermore, Sharon Jones, Kelvin Payton, Southey Blanton, Michael Mattison, Jeff Braun, Milton R. Gipson, Frank Ridley, Jeremiah Kissel, Jack Radosta, Marcus Lyle Brown, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Dom Flemons, Justin Robinson, Rhiannon Giddens, Ahmad Powell, Michael C. ‘Mike’ Allen, Razmig Arabian, Kevin Beard, Ellen Becker-Gray, Chad Boldini, Matthew N. Bourgeois, Crystal Brown-Tatum, Gio Castellano, Thomas Cataloni, Benjamin Crocker, Michael DeMello, Roger Dillingham Jr., Sal DiMino, Curtis Eames, Chaz Echols, Brian D. Evans, Benjamin Fisher, Jaishon Fisher, Jamai Fisher, Steve Flynn, Hugh Guiney, Hevin Hampton, Joel B. Hayden, Patrick Mel Hayes, Kenneth Lecompte, Jimmy Lee Jr., Aqua Lee, Christopher J. Long, Robert Masiello, Josh McBride, Paul McGillicuddy, Alex Milne, Tarek Moussa, Jason Mulcahy, Ed O’Keefe, Nefertara Ozella, Giovanni Pantaleo, Cory Patt, James Paul, Jeannie Perrin, Todd Poudrier, Cyndy Powell, Breon Pugh, Alan Resnic, Robert M. Saunders, Cory Reed Smith, Scott Sousa, Heath Stewart, Bill Stinchcomb, Ruth Mahala Sullivan, Charles Sutherland, Ian Wallace, Mario Wanza, Donald Warnock, Mike Wendt, Russell Woron-Simons, Adam Zalt

Synopsis: 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.

Release Date: December 25, 2007 (USA) | Length: 126 min | Genre: Biography, Drama | MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality.