
The Great Debaters (2007)
7.2|25 Dec, 2007|126 min
When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.
7.2|25 Dec, 2007|126 min
Released
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.
Language
Budget$15,000,000
Revenue $30,226,144
English
Budget$15,000,000
Revenue $30,226,144
Keywords
biography
Casts

Denzel Whitaker
James Farmer Jr.

Denzel Washington
Melvin B. Tolson

Nate Parker
Henry Lowe

Jurnee Smollett
Samantha Booke

Forest Whitaker
Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Kimberly Elise
Pearl Farmer

Jermaine Williams
Hamilton Burgess

Gina Ravera
Ruth Tolson

John Heard
Sheriff Dozier

Devyn A. Tyler
Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd
Nathaniel Farmer

Ritchie Montgomery
Deputy

Jackson Walker
Pig Owner

Tim Parati
Pig Farmer

Robert X. Golphin
Dunbar Reed

Justice Leak
Harland Osbourne

Glen Powell
Harvard Debater #1
Brad Watkins
Harvard Debater #2

Brian Smiar
Harvard Dean

Damien Leake
Wilson
Voltaire Sterling
Paul Quinn Debater #1

Stephen Rider
Paul Quinn Debater #2

Gordon Danniels
Paul Quinn Debate Judge

Donny Boaz
Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Samuel Elliott Whisnant
Oklahoma City College Debater #2

Bonnie Johnson
Dr. Jennings

Charissa Allen
Benita

Michael Beasley
Trudell
Gary Mathis
Enormous Man

George Wilson
Samuel

Fahnlohnee R. Harris
Clementine

Harold Evans
William Taylor

J.D. Evermore
Captain Wainwright
Sharon Jones
Lila
Kelvin Payton
Joseph
Southey Blanton
White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison
White Sharecropper #1
Jeff Braun
White Sharecropper #2
Milton R. Gipson
Prairie View Professor

Frank Ridley
Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel
Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate

Jack Radosta
White Man at Lynching
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Juke Joint Musician #1

Dom Flemons
Juke Joint Musician #2
Justin Robinson
Juke Joint Musician #3

Rhiannon Giddens
Juke Joint Musician #4
Ahmad Powell
Fisk Professor

Marcus Lyle Brown
Howard Debater #1
Gary Mattis
Enormous Man

Kevin Beard
Klansman at Lynching (uncredited)
Crews

Denzel Washington
Director
Robert Eisele
Writer
Jeffrey Porro
Story
Molly Allen
Co-Producer

Todd Black
Producer
David Crockett
Executive Producer
Kate Forte
Producer
Melody Fowler
Associate Producer

Joe Roth
Producer
Valeria Scoon
Associate Producer

Bob Weinstein
Executive Producer

Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producer

Oprah Winfrey
Producer
John Breinholt
Editorial Coordinator

Hughes Winborne
Editor
Austin Anderson
Animal Coordinator
Patrick Tendai Pfupajena
Production Assistant

Denise Chamian
Casting
David J. Bomba
Production Design
John R. Jensen
Art Direction
Patrick Cassidy
Set Decoration

Sharen Davis
Costume Design
Karen Golden
Script Supervisor

Jono Oliver
First Assistant Director
Greg Hale
Second Assistant Director
Steven Ritzi
Stunt Coordinator

Kevin Beard
Stunts

Bobby Beckles
Stunts

Gregg Brazzel
Stunts

Lex D. Geddings
Stunts
Thirl Haston
Stunts

Jim Henry
Stunts

Eric Norris
Stunts
Stephen A. Pope
Stunt Coordinator
Robert Powell
Stunt Double

Russell Towery
Stunts
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Stunts
Joe Nin Williams
Stunts
G. Marq Roswell
Music Supervisor
David Crockett
Unit Production Manager
John Breinholt
Co-Editor
Valerie Bleth Sharp
Production Supervisor
Brian McNulty
Post Production Supervisor
Rob Simons
Assistant Art Director
Mark La Bonge
"A" Camera Operator
Mark La Bonge
Steadicam Operator
Pamela Rittelmeyer
"B" Camera Operator
Pamela Rittelmeyer
First Assistant "A" Camera
Xiomara Comrie
Second Assistant "A" Camera
Xiomara Comrie
First Assistant "A" Camera
Sean J. O'Shea
First Assistant "B" Camera
Tiffani L. Stephenson
Camera Loader
Gary Tolbert
Aerial Director of Photography
Dana Kay Hart
Costume Supervisor
Jodie Stern
Assistant Costume Designer
Diah Wymont
Assistant Costume Designer
Frank Perry Rose
Costumer
Riki Lin Sabusawa
Key Costumer
Yvonne Bastidos
Set Costumer
Mitzi Haralson
Set Costumer
Giselle Spence
Seamstress
Frances Jacques-LeCompte
Seamstress
Carl Fullerton
Makeup Department Head
Matiki Anoff
Key Makeup Artist
Denise Pugh-Ruiz
Assistant Makeup Artist
Linda Lazar
Makeup Artist
LaToya Henderson
Makeup Artist
Nikki I Brown
Makeup Artist
Kenneth Walker
Hair Department Head
Larry M. Cherry
Hairstylist
Belinda Anderson
Key Hair Stylist
Valerie Gladstone-Appel
Assistant Hairstylist
Andrea Young
Hairstylist
Andrea Bowman
Hairstylist
Janice Hudson
Hairstylist

Willie D. Burton
Sound Mixer
Gary A. Theard
Boom Operator
Jeff Valeri
Production Coordinator
Nicki Johnson
Assistant Production Coordinator
Natalia Anderson
Production Secretary
Cid Swank
Unit Publicist
David Lee
Still Photographer
Alison Cannon
Production Accountant
Anne Scott
First Assistant Accountant
Frederick Shear
Assistant Accountant
Jamie Horwitz
Assistant Accountant
David Hickey
Payroll Accountant
Kali R. Harrison
Second Second Assistant Director
George Bott
Additional Second Assistant Director
Jack English
Gaffer
James Babineaux
Best Boy Electric
Stephen Beasley
Rigging Gaffer
C. Alan Rawlins Sr.
Key Grip
Riko Schatke
Best Boy Grip
Ted Sapp
Key Rigging Grip
Jacob Ross
Best Boy Grip
Darryl Humber
Dolly Grip
Kei Rowan-Young
Location Manager
Alex Borys
Assistant Location Manager
Christina DeCharles
Assistant Location Manager

Angela Demo
Casting Associate

Natalie Ballesteros
Casting Assistant
Christopher Gray
Extras Casting
Christian Juneau
Extras Casting Assistant
John Bankson
Property Master
Virle S. Reid
Assistant Property Master
C. Alan Berry
Props
Tommy Samona
Leadman
Helen Britten
Assistant Set Decoration
Gary Damian Thomas
Storyboard Artist
Shellie Gillespie
Art Department Coordinator
Dillon Jim Breithaupt
Art Department Assistant
Jack Lynch
Special Effects Supervisor
Jeffery D. Woodrel
Special Effects Coordinator
Geraud Brisson
Additional Editor
Ian Crockett
Post Production Coordinator
Tateum Kohut
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Greg Orloff
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Rick Kline
Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Kami Asgar
Supervising Sound Editor
Sean McCormack
Supervising Sound Editor
Kim Drummond
ADR Supervisor
Jonathan Klein
Foley Supervisor
Scott G.G. Haller
Dialogue Editor
Erin Oakley
ADR Editor
Dorian Cheah
Sound Designer
Jon Wakeham
Sound Effects Editor
John Marquis
Sound Effects Editor
Herwig Maurer
Sound Effects Editor
Tim Tuchrello
Sound Effects Editor
Michael Dressel
Foley Editor
Amy Kane
Foley Artist
Elizabeth Rainey
Foley Artist
Anita Cannella
Foley Artist
Carmine Rubino
Foley Mixer
Jacob Riehle
First Assistant Sound Editor
Eryne Prine
Assistant Sound Editor
Todd Kasow
Music Editor
Barbara McDermott
Music Editor
Fred Peck III
Sound Recordist
Brian Smith
ADR Mixer
Howard London
ADR Mixer

Greg Nicotero
Special Effects Makeup Artist

Howard Berger
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Jerry G. Henery
Construction Coordinator
Dean Allison
Construction Foreman
Scott Childers
Construction Foreman
James Passanante
Paint Coordinator
Larry Misselhorn
Greensman
Ryan Misselhorn
Greensman
Nannette Palmer
Set Medic
Ted Moser
Transportation Coordinator
Richard A. Davis
Transportation Captain
Justin Nance
Transportation Co-Captain
Lois Yaroshefsky
Studio Teacher

James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer

Philippe Rousselot
Director of Photography
Peter Golub
Original Music Composer
Backdrops & Posters












