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.
Storyline Marshall, Texas, described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last city to surrender after the Civil War," is home to Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. The team of four, which includes a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience.
Writers: Robert Eisele, Robert Eisele
Cast: 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
Taglines:
When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.
Opening Weekend: $3,604,000
(USA)
(23 December 2007)
(1164 Screens)
Gross: $30,226,144
(USA)
(13 April 2008)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The film features both Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker, as well as a young actor named Denzel Whitaker.
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
James Farmer Jr., in the last speech, argues that the fact that blacks were being lynching in the south was a reason that civil disobedience was an accurate answer to unjust laws. However, there was never a law stating that lynching was legal, so the lynchings that occurred were a form of civil disobedience by whites opposing pro-African-American laws that were passed. His argument was therefore a regressive one.
Quotes: Melvin B. Tolson:
Who is the judge? Samantha/
Henry Lowe/
James Farmer Jr./
Hamilton Burgess:
The judge is God. Melvin B. Tolson:
Why is he God? Samantha/
Henry Lowe/
James Farmer Jr./
Hamilton Burgess:
Because he decides who wins or loses. Not my opponeent. Melvin B. Tolson:
Who is your opponent? Samantha/
Henry Lowe/
James Farmer Jr./
Hamilton Burgess:
He does not exist. Melvin B. Tolson:
Why does he not exist? Samantha/
Henry Lowe/
James Farmer Jr./
Hamilton Burgess:
Because he is a mere dissenting voice of the truth I speak!
User Review
Exceptional Film, Extremely Talented Cast
Rating: 10/10
Although "The Great Debaters" does not open until Christmas, I had the
good fortune of seeing it at a preview -- and I can recommend it
without reservation. It is a great story, based on real events that
most of us never heard of, about a debating team from Wiley College, a
small black institution in rural Texas, that performs extraordinary
feats because the kids are good and the team is taught by Mel Tolson, a
real person, acted by Denzel Washington, who also directs. Forest
Whitaker, like Washington an academy award winner, plays James Farmer
Sr., the school president and the father of one of the debaters, James
Farmer Jr. (yes, that James Farmer Jr.). The participation in this
enterprise of Washington, Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and the Weinstein
brothers should draw crowds (provided the film isn't cursed by being
described as "uplifting," though it is). The revelation in this film
are the performances of the three principal debaters: Jurnee Smollett
as Samatha Booke (with an "e", as she proclaims when she tries out for
the debate team), Nate Parker as Henry Lowe (also with an "e" as he
announces in response to Samantha's declaration) and Denzel Whitaker as
James Farmer Jr. (It's an amusing coincidence, but he is unrelated
either to Denzel Washington or to Forrest Whitaker.) You may have seen
Jurnee Smollett earlier in her career when she was a "cute kid" and a
promising actress. This film could be her portal to stardom. In
addition to being a gorgeous young woman, she's also an accomplished
actress, ready for bigger parts in the future. You'll also be impressed
with her colleagues, people whose names you may never have heard. You
don't have to be black to find this film engrossing; I'm not. All you
need to be is (a) a human being and (b) someone who appreciates a good
movie. I hope it makes a ton of money at the box office but it is,
above all, a quality film. It just happens to be about a difficult
period in American history, the rural South in the 1930's. It just
happens to be inspirational and uplifting and all that good, boring
stuff that cause your eyes to roll when that's how the critics describe
it. But it's better than uplifting. It's GOOD and it's REAL.
0