United States / Dec 11, 2007 / PG-13 / Los Angeles, California
When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.
2h 6min
Overall average
5.0/10
Trailer
Videos
Plot
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.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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| 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) |
Genres
Drama
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Great Debaters |
| Original language | English (EN) |
| Spoken languages | English |
| Production countries | United States of America |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Marshall Production, The Weinstein Company, Harpo Films |
| Release date | 25 dicembre 2007 |
| Executive producer | Harvey Weinstein, David Crockett, Bob Weinstein |
| Production | Melody Fowler, Molly Allen, Joe Roth, Valeria Scoon, Kate Forte, Todd Black, Oprah Winfrey |
| Writer | Jeffrey Porro, Robert Eisele |
| Casting | Denise Chamian |
| Editing | Hughes Winborne, John Breinholt, Geraud Brisson |
| Cinematography | Philippe Rousselot, Sean J. O'Shea, Jacob Ross, Darryl Humber, David Lee, Gary Tolbert, C. Alan Rawlins Sr., Riko Schatke, Xiomara Comrie, Tiffani L. Stephenson, Mark La Bonge, Pamela Rittelmeyer |
| Assistant directors | Greg Hale, Jono Oliver, Denzel Washington, Karen Golden, Kali R. Harrison, George Bott |
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| Lighting | Stephen Beasley, Jack English, Ted Sapp, James Babineaux |
| Camera operators | Mark La Bonge, Sean J. O'Shea, Jacob Ross, Darryl Humber, David Lee, Gary Tolbert, C. Alan Rawlins Sr., Riko Schatke, Xiomara Comrie, Tiffani L. Stephenson, Pamela Rittelmeyer, Philippe Rousselot |
| Additional photography | Sean J. O'Shea, Jacob Ross, Darryl Humber, David Lee, Gary Tolbert, C. Alan Rawlins Sr., Riko Schatke, Xiomara Comrie, Tiffani L. Stephenson, Mark La Bonge, Pamela Rittelmeyer, Philippe Rousselot |
| Production design | |
| Art direction | |
| Set decoration | |
| Special effects | Jack Lynch |
| Visual effects | Jack Lynch |
| Stunts | Robert Powell, Eric Norris, Gerard 'Gus' Williams, Joe Nin Williams, Bobby Beckles, Gregg Brazzel, Thirl Haston, Steven Ritzi, Russell Towery, Lex D. Geddings, Kevin Beard, Jim Henry, Stephen A. Pope |
| Music | |
| Sound | |
| Costume design | |
| Makeup | |
| Hairstyling | |
| Budget | 15.000.000 € |
| Revenue | 30.226.144 € |
Release dates
Premiere
Poland / Feb 21, 2013 / Afro-Ameryka Film Festival
Theatrical release
Canada / Dec 25, 2007 / 14A
Czechia / Dec 27, 2007 / 15+
United States / Dec 27, 2007 / PG-13
Brazil / Jan 25, 2008
Show more (3)Show less
Greece / Mar 15, 2008 / 13
Romania / May 06, 2011
Portugal / Jan 09, 2012
Digital
South Korea / Dec 12, 2022 / 15
Physical media
Australia / May 13, 2008 / DVD
Italy / May 13, 2008 / DVD
Netherlands / Oct 27, 2009 / 12 / DVD
Sweden / Dec 02, 2009 / 11 / DVD
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Norway / Dec 09, 2009 / 15 / DVD
South Africa / Aug 22, 2011 / DVD
United Arab Emirates / Aug 22, 2011 / DVD
Germany / Nov 07, 2011 / 12 / DVD
Egypt / Oct 20, 2022 / DVD
TV
Japan / Jul 16, 2011
Poland / Mar 17, 2016
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