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The Great Debaters > Credits and Details
Directed by
Denzel Washington Denzel Washington  
Written by
Robert Eisele Robert Eisele ... screenplay / story
Jeffrey Porro Jeffrey Porro ... story
Tony Scherman Tony Scherman ... inspired by the American Legacy article
Cast
Denzel Washington Denzel Washington ... Melvin B. Tolson
Nate Parker Nate Parker ... Henry Lowe
Jurnee Smollett Jurnee Smollett ... Samantha Booke
Denzel Whitaker Denzel Whitaker ... James Farmer Jr.
Jermaine Williams Jermaine Williams ... Hamilton Burgess
Forest Whitaker Forest Whitaker ... Dr. James Farmer Sr.
Gina Ravera Gina Ravera ... Ruth Tolson
John Heard John Heard ... Sheriff Dozier
Kimberly Elise Kimberly Elise ... Pearl Farmer
Devyn A. Tyler Devyn A. Tyler ... Helen Farmer (as Devyn Tyler)
Trenton McClain Boyd Trenton McClain Boyd ... Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery Ritchie Montgomery ... Deputy
Jackson Walker Jackson Walker ... Pig Owner
Tim Parati Tim Parati ... Pig Farmer
Robert X. Golphin Robert X. Golphin ... Dunbar Reed
Justice Leak Justice Leak ... Harland Osbourne
Glen Powell Glen Powell ... Harvard Debater #1 (as Glen Powell Jr.)
Brad Watkins Brad Watkins ... Harvard Debater #2
Brian Smiar Brian Smiar ... Harvard Dean
Damien Leake Damien Leake ... Wilson
Voltaire Sterling Voltaire Sterling ... Paul Quinn Debater #1 (as Voltaire Rico Sterling)
Stephen Rider Stephen Rider ... Paul Quinn Debater #2
Gordon Danniels Gordon Danniels ... Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz Donny Boaz ... Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Samuel Elliott Whisnant Samuel Elliott Whisnant ... Oklahoma City College Debater #2 (as Sam Whisnant)
Bonnie Johnson Bonnie Johnson ... Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen Charissa Allen ... Benita
Michael Beasley Michael Beasley ... Trudell
Gary Mattis Gary Mattis ... Enormous Man (as Gary Mathis)
George Wilson George Wilson ... Samuel
Fahnlohnee R. Harris Fahnlohnee R. Harris ... Clementine (as Fahnlohnee Harris)
Harold Evans Harold Evans ... William Taylor (as Harold X. Evans)
JD Evermore JD Evermore ... Captain Wainwright (as J.D. Evermore)
Sharon Jones Sharon Jones ... Lila
Kelvin Payton Kelvin Payton ... Joseph
Southey Blanton Southey Blanton ... White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison Michael Mattison ... White Sharecropper #1
Jeff Braun Jeff Braun ... White Sharecropper #2
Milton R. Gipson Milton R. Gipson ... Prairie View Professor
Frank Ridley Frank Ridley ... Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel Jeremiah Kissel ... Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate
Jack Radosta Jack Radosta ... White Man at Lynching
Marcus Lyle Brown Marcus Lyle Brown ... Howard Debater #1
Alvin Youngblood Hart Alvin Youngblood Hart ... Juke Joint Musician #1 (as Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart)
Dom Flemons Dom Flemons ... Juke Joint Musician #2 (as Dominique Flemons)
Justin Robinson Justin Robinson ... Juke Joint Musician #3
Rhiannon Giddens Rhiannon Giddens ... Juke Joint Musician #4
Ahmad Powell Ahmad Powell ... Fisk Professor
Uncredited Cast
Michael C. 'Mike' Allen Michael C. 'Mike' Allen ... Deputy Texas Ranger
Razmig Arabian Razmig Arabian ... Harvard Student
Kevin Beard Kevin Beard ... Klansman at Lynching
Ellen Becker-Gray Ellen Becker-Gray ... Faculty at Harvard Debate
Chad Boldini Chad Boldini ... Harvard Debate Attendee
Matthew N. Bourgeois Matthew N. Bourgeois ... Harvard Scholar
Crystal Brown-Tatum Crystal Brown-Tatum ... Female Teacher / Dance Chaperone
Gio Castellano Gio Castellano ... Harvard Debate Attendee
Thomas Cataloni Thomas Cataloni ... Sailor
Ashley Cerrone Ashley Cerrone ... Harvard Student
Michael DeMello Michael DeMello ... Debate Observer
Roger Dillingham Jr. Roger Dillingham Jr. ... Upscale Traveler
Sal DiMino Sal DiMino ... Reporter
Tommy Jay Dwyer Tommy Jay Dwyer ... Harvard Student
Curtis Eames Curtis Eames ... Reporter
Chaz Echols Chaz Echols ... Wiley College Student
Brian D. Evans Brian D. Evans ... Harvard Student
Ben Fisher Ben Fisher ... Harvard Student
Jaishon Fisher Jaishon Fisher ... Newspaper Boy
Jamai Fisher Jamai Fisher ... Kid at Train Station
Steve Flynn Steve Flynn ... Harvard Dean
Hugh Guiney Hugh Guiney ... Harvard Student
Hevin Hampton Hevin Hampton ... Bar Patron
Joel B. Hayden Joel B. Hayden ... Harvard Professor
Patrick Mel Hayes Patrick Mel Hayes ... Harvard Alumni
Benjamin Healy Benjamin Healy ... Harvard Student
Zan Jabara Zan Jabara ... Harvard Student
Chris Kosiavelon Chris Kosiavelon ... Harvard Student
Kenneth Lecompte Kenneth Lecompte ... Share Cropper and Grocer
Jimmy Lee Jr. Jimmy Lee Jr. ... Lyncher
Aqua Lee Aqua Lee ... Juke Joint Couple
Christopher J. Long Christopher J. Long ... Harvard Student
Michael M Luzzi Michael M Luzzi ... Reporter
Robert Masiello Robert Masiello ... Harvard Alumni
Josh McBride Josh McBride ... Harvard Student
Paul McGillicuddy Paul McGillicuddy ... Harvard Debate Attendee
Alex Milne Alex Milne ... Shoe Shine Boy
Tarek Moussa Tarek Moussa ... Harvard Student
Jason Mulcahy Jason Mulcahy ... Harvard Student
Ed O'Keefe Ed O'Keefe ... Harvard Scholar
Nefertara Ozella Nefertara Ozella ... Extra
Giovanni Pantaleo Giovanni Pantaleo ... Havard Student
Cory Patt Cory Patt ... Wiley Student
James Paul James Paul ... Riot Starter
Jeannie Perrin Jeannie Perrin ... Lynching Participant
Todd Poudrier Todd Poudrier ... Radio Tech
Cyndy Powell Cyndy Powell ... Harvard debate audience
Breon Pugh Breon Pugh ... Wiley Debater
Alan Resnic Alan Resnic ... Harvard Scholar
Robert M. Saunders Robert M. Saunders ... Harvard Student
Cory Reed Smith Cory Reed Smith ... Harvard Debate Attendee
Scott Sousa Scott Sousa ... Harvard Student
Michael Stanton Michael Stanton ... Harvard Professor
Heath Stewart Heath Stewart ... Reserve Harvard Debater
Bill Stinchcomb Bill Stinchcomb ... Lynch Mob
Charles Sutherland Charles Sutherland ... Man at Train Station
Ian Wallace Ian Wallace ... Harvard Student
Mario Wanza Mario Wanza ... Wiley Student
Donald Warnock Donald Warnock ... The Chief Harvard Judge
Mike Wendt Mike Wendt ... Havard Student
Russell Woron-Simons Russell Woron-Simons ... Harvard Debate Attendee
Adam Zalt Adam Zalt ... Harvard Student / Navy Sailor
Produced by
Molly Allen Molly Allen ... co-producer
Todd Black Todd Black ... producer
David Crockett David Crockett ... executive producer
Kate Forte Kate Forte ... producer
Melody Fowler Melody Fowler ... associate producer: Harpo Films
Joe Roth Joe Roth ... producer
Valerie Scoon Valerie Scoon ... associate producer: Harpo Films
Bob Weinstein Bob Weinstein ... executive producer
Harvey Weinstein Harvey Weinstein ... executive producer
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey ... producer
Original Music by
Peter Golub Peter Golub  
James Newton Howard James Newton Howard  
Special Effects by
Chris Cera Chris Cera ... special effects moldmaker
Jeff Edwards Jeff Edwards ... special effects artist
Joe Giles Joe Giles ... special effects moldmaker
Brian Goehring Brian Goehring ... special effects moldmaker
Steve Hartman Steve Hartman ... special effects artist
Grady Holder Grady Holder ... special effects moldmaker
Carey Jones Carey Jones ... special effects artist
James Leonard James Leonard ... special effects moldmaker
Jack Lynch Jack Lynch ... special effects supervisor
Tony Matijevich Tony Matijevich ... special effects artist
Christina Prestia Christina Prestia ... special effects artist
Caleb Schneider Caleb Schneider ... special effects artist
Andy Schoneberg Andy Schoneberg ... special effects sculptor
Shannon Shea Shannon Shea ... special effects shop foreman
Lino Stavole Lino Stavole ... special effects moldmaker
A.J. Venuto A.J. Venuto ... special effects moldmaker
David Wogh David Wogh ... special effects mechanic
Jeffery D. Woodrel Jeffery D. Woodrel ... special effects coordinator
Javier Zepeda Javier Zepeda ... special effects sculptor
Bob Trevino Bob Trevino ... special effects technician
Visual Effects by
Ryan Laney Ryan Laney ... visual effects
Brian McNulty Brian McNulty ... visual effects producer
Thomas Mathai Thomas Mathai ... data manager
Stunts
Austin Anderson Austin Anderson ... horse trainer
TD Antwine TD Antwine ... stunts
Kevin Beard Kevin Beard ... stunts
Bobby Beckles Bobby Beckles ... stunts
Gregg Brazzel Gregg Brazzel ... stunts
Lex D. Geddings Lex D. Geddings ... stunts
Thirl Haston Thirl Haston ... stunts
Jim Henry Jim Henry ... stunts
Jack Little Jack Little ... stunts
Eric Norris Eric Norris ... stunts
Stephen A. Pope Stephen A. Pope ... stunt coordinator
Robert Powell Robert Powell ... stunt double: Tolson
Steven Ritzi Steven Ritzi ... stunt coordinator
Russell Towery Russell Towery ... stunts
Guss Williams Guss Williams ... stunts
Joe Nin Williams Joe Nin Williams ... stunts
Thanks
Thomas Freeman Thomas Freeman ... thanks
Clarice P. Lowe Clarice P. Lowe ... thanks
J. Marie McCleary J. Marie McCleary ... thanks
Melvin B. Tolson Jr. Melvin B. Tolson Jr. ... thanks
Henrietta Wells Henrietta Wells ... thanks
Additional Info
Premiere: December 11, 2007
Theatrical Release: December 25, 2007
DVD Release: May 13, 2008
Country: United States
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
Websites: IMDb Wikipedia
Ratings
SkullJoy

6.2 / 10

IMDb

7.5 / 10

Metacritic

65 / 100

Production Companies
Harpo Films
Marshall Production
Roth Films
The Weinstein Company
Distributors
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
  (2007) (United States) (theatrical)
The Weinstein Company
  (2007) (United States)
Filming Locations
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Louisiana, USA
Mansfield Studios, Mansfield, Louisiana, USA
  (soundstage)
Mansfield, Louisiana, USA
Marshall, Texas, USA
Massachusetts, USA
Palestine, Texas, USA
  (Texas State railroad)
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Texas, USA
USA
Wiley College - 711 Wiley Avenue, Marshall, Texas, USA
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