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The Great Debaters (2007)

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PG-13 | 2 hr 3 mins | Drama, Historical, Period | Released: 12/25/2007 |Box Office Total: $30.2M

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Synopsis:

Professor Melvin Tolson, a brilliant but volatile debate team coach, uses the power of words to shape a group of underdog students from a small African American college in the deep south into a historically elite debate team. A controversial figure, Professor Tolson challenged the social mores of the time and was under constant fire for his unconventional and ferocious teaching methods as well as his radical political views. In their pursuit for excellence, Tolson's debate team receives a groundbreaking invitation to debate Harvard University 's championship team.

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Full Cast & Crew

Theatrical Release
12/25/2007

Studio	Credit
The Weinstein Company	Studio
Director	Credit
Denzel Washington	Director
Cast	Credit
Denzel Washington	Melvin B Tolson
Forest Whitaker	James Farmer, Sr.
Jermaine Williams	Hamilton Burgess
J.D. Evermore	Captain Wainwright
John Heard	Sheriff Dozier
Kimberly Elise	Pearl Farmer
Nate Parker	Henry Lowe
Justice Leak	Harland Osbourne
Denzel Whitaker	James Farmer, Jr.
Gina Ravera	Ruth Tolson
Jurnee Smollett	Samantha Booke
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
Glen Powell Jr	Harvard Debater #1
Brad Watkins	Harvard Debater #2
Brian Smiar	Harvard Dean
Damien Leake	Wilson
Voltaire Rico Sterling	Paul Quinn Debater #1
Steven N Rider	Paul Quinn Debater #2
Gordon Daniels	Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz	Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Sam 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 X Evans	William Taylor
Sharon Lee 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
Marcus Lyle Brown	Howard Debater #1
Alvin Youngblood Hart	Juke Joint Musician #1
Dominiques Flemons	Juke Joint Musician #2
Justin Robinson	Juke Joint Musician #3
Rhiannon Giddens	Juke Joint Musician #4
Ahmad Powell	Fisk Professor
Production Credits	Credit
Melody Fowler	Associate Producer
Kate Forte	Producer
Bob Weinstein	Executive Producer
Molly Allen	Co-Producer
Harvey Weinstein	Executive Producer
Todd Black	Producer
Valerie Scoon	Associate Producer
Joe Roth	Producer
David Crockett	Executive Producer
Oprah Winfrey	Producer
Production Companies	Credit
Harpo Films	Production Company
Distribution Companies	Credit
Genius Products	Domestic Video Distributor
MGM Distribution Company	Domestic Theatrical Distributor
Locations
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Writer	Credit
Robert Eisele	Screenplay
Robert Eisele	Story By
Tony Scherman	Source Material
Jeffrey Porro	Story By
Suzan-Lori Parks	Screenplay
Horton Foote	Screenplay
Tom Epperson	Screenplay
Accounting	Credit
Gino Falla	Assistant Accountant
Alison Cannon	Production Accountant
David Hickey	Accountant - Payroll Accountant
Anne Scott	Assistant Accountant
Mindy Jones	Accountant - Accounting Clerk
Frederick Shear	Assistant Accountant
Jamie Horwitz	Assistant Accountant
Animal Training Handling	Credit
Tammy Peck	Animal Wrangler
Julian R Sylvester	Animal Wrangler - Wild Animal Wrangler
Art Department	Credit
Helen Britten	Assistant Set Decorator
Patrick T Cassidy	Set Decorator
David Bomba	Production Designer
Dillon Jim Breithaupt	Art Department - Art Department Assistant
John R Jenson	Art Director
Gary Thomas	Storyboard Artist
Tommy Samona	Leadman
Larry Misselhorn	Greensman - Greens Foreman
Michael Monckton	Sign Writer
Jim Passanante	Painter - Paint Supervisor
Javier Zepeda	Sculptor - Special Effects Sculptor
Paul Wilson	Scenic Artist - Scenic Foreman
Shellie Gillespie	Art Department Coordinator
Cory Parker	Gang Boss - Set Dressing Gang Boss
JD Jacoby	Set Dresser
Elizabeth Mire	Set Dresser - Set Dressing Buyer
John Morgan	Painter - Standby Painter
Andy Schoenberg	Sculptor - Special Effects Sculptor
Ryan Misselhorn	Greensman
Rob Simons	Art Director
Tom Christopher	Gang Boss - Set Dressing Gang Boss
Sean Bernard	Painter - Paint Foreman
William Nutt	Greensman - On Set Greensman
Patrick Fuhrman	Set Dresser - On Set Dresser
Steve A. Laks	Gang Boss
Susanna Glattly	Painter - Paint Foreman
Robert Bowden	Gang Boss
Eddie Burcham	Set Dresser
Kevin Fleming	Gang Boss - Paint Gangboss
Chad Harris	Set Dresser
Andree Lago	Painter - Paint Foreman
Azhriaz Vanashta	Gang Boss - Paint Gangboss
Phillip Joffrion	Set Dresser
Joey Kent	Set Dresser
Gordon Thomas	Set Dresser
Deborah R Norris	Set Dresser - Set Dressing Assistant
Casting	Credit
Denise Chamian	Casting
Christian Juneau	Extras Casting Assistant
Natalie Ballesteros	Casting Assistant
Tracy Kilpatrick	Location Casting
Christopher Gray	Extras Casting
Angela Demo	Casting Associate
Lamar Williams	Extras Casting Assistant
Selisa Sirls	Extras Casting - Extras Casting Associate
Carolyn Pickman	Casting
Craft Services	Credit
Nancy James	Craft Service
Brian Stuart	Craft Service - Craft Service Assistant
Arthur Welch	Craft Service - Craft Service Assistant
Film Camera	Credit
David Lee	Photography - Still Photographer
Tiffani Stephenson	Loader - Film Loader
Dan Furst	Video Assist/Playback - Video Assist
Lee Wimer	Color Timer
Gary Tolbert	Cinematographer - Aerial Cinematographer
Pamela Rittelmeyer	Camera Operator - A Camera First/B Camera Operator
Sean O'Shea	Camera Assistant - “B” Camera First Assistant
Yvan Lucas	Film Lab - Digital Intermediate Colorist
Philippe Rousselot	Director of Photography
Mark La Bonge	Steadicam Operator - A Camera/Steadicam Operator
Xiomara Comrie	Assistant Camera - A Camera Second/A Camera First
Frank Parrish	Camera Assistant
Tom Reiser	Film Lab - Digital Intermediate Colorist Assist
Chris Prejza	Film Lab - Digital Intermediate Producer
Myron Parran	Camera Assistant
Curtis Lindersmith	Film Lab - Digital Intermediate Editorial
Patrick Bensimmon	Camera Assistant
Music	Credit
James Newton Howard	Composer
Gavin Greenaway	Orchestrations - Orchestra Conductor
Alvin Youngblood Hart	Song Performer
Geoff Foster	Score Recording
Isobel Griffiths	Original Music - Orchestra Contractor
Joel Iwataki	Score Mixing
Sharon Jones	Music Arranger
Todd Kasow	Music Editor
G Marq Roswell	Music Supervisor
G Marq Roswell	Music Producer
John Parricelli	Music - Guitar
James Mundy	Song
maya beiser	Soloist - Cello Solo
Stuart Thomas	Original Score - Technical Score Advisor
Chris P Bacon	Original Score - Technical Score Advisor
Charlotte Matthews	Orchestrations - Assistant Orchestra Contractor
G Marq Roswell	Music Arranger
Sharon Jones	Song Performer
Barbara McDermott	Music Editor
Peter Golub	Composer
David Berger	Music Producer
Hugh Burns	Music - Guitar
Edward Ellington	Song
Christine Bergren	Music - Music Legal and Clearance
Manny Kurtz	Song
Rosemary Warren-Green	Orchestrations - Orchestra Leader
Kristen Wilkinson	Music Arranger
Dave Holden	Original Score - Technical Score Advisor
Marian Anderson	Song Performer
Pamela J Sollie	Original Score - Score Coordinator
Adam Swart	Music - Music Research
Larry Paxton	Music Arranger
Irving Mills	Song
David Berger	Song Performer
Rabon Delmore	Song
The Sultans of Swing	Song Performer
Billy Rivers	Music - Gospel Choir
david huntsinger	Music Arranger
Julia Newmann	Original Score - Score Assistant
Alexandra Hill	Song
Teenie Hodges	Song Performer
The Angelic Voices of Faith	Music - Gospel Choir
Bonnie Huntsinger	Music Arranger
The Delmore Brothers	Song Performer
Claude Hopkins	Song
Dr Larry Pannell	Music
Charles Lacy	Music
Bob Williams	Song
Alton Delmore	Song Performer
Stephen Hayes	Music
Art Tatum	Song
Art Tatum	Song Performer
Charles Jackson	Song
Grambling State University Marching Band	Song Performer
Alvin Youngblood Hart	Song
Papa Charlie Jackson	Song Performer
G Marq Roswell	Song
Nate Parker	Song Performer
Eric Lewis	Song Performer
Kristen Wilkinson	Song
david huntsinger	Song
Billy Rivers	Song Performer
The Angelic Voices of Faith	Song Performer
Physical Effects	Credit
Robert Powell	Stunt Double - Tolson Stunt Double
Steven T Ritzi	Stunt Coordinator
Greg Nicotero	Puppeteer
Tim Antwine	Stunts
Gino Crognale	Puppeteer
Kevin Beard	Stunts
Stephen Pope	Stunt Coordinator
Bobby Beckles	Stunts
Michael Deak	Puppeteer
Alex Diaz	Puppeteer
Gregg Brazzel	Stunts
Lex D Geddings	Stunts
Thirl Haston	Stunts
Jim Henry	Stunts
Jack Little	Stunts
Eric Norris	Stunts
Russell Towery	Stunts
Gus Williams	Stunts
Joe Williams	Stunts
Production Management	Credit
David Crockett	Unit Production Manager
Brian McNulty	Post-Production Supervisor
Natalie Brown	DGA Trainee
Ian Crockett	Post-Production Coordinator
Valerie Sharp	Production Supervisor
Alex Borys	Assistant Location Manager
Katrina Parsons	Assistant Production Coordinator
Raine Hall	Location Scout
Karen Golden	Script Supervisor
Gregory G Hale	Assistant Director
Charles Harrington	Location Assistant - Location Consultant
Jeff Valeri	Production Coordinator
Kei Rowan-Young	Location Manager
Jeff Valeri	Production Supervisor
Nicki Johnson	Assistant Production Coordinator
Jeff MacLean	Location Manager
Jono Oliver	Assistant Director
Josh Youman	Location Assistant
Christina Decharles	Assistant Location Manager
Phillip Messinger	Location Scout
Robert M Donaldson	Location Scout
Steven Oare	Assistant Location Manager
Eric Yellin	Assistant Director - Additional Key Second Assistant Director
Kali Harrison	Assistant Director
Karen Brady	Location Scout
George Bott	Assistant Director - Additional Second Assistant Director
Publicity	Credit
Cid Swank	Unit Publicist
Lisa Halliday	Publicity
Sound	Credit
Jeff Powell	Recording Engineer - Song Recording Engineer
Michael Dressel	Foley Editor
Kim Drummond	ADR Supervisor
Dorian Cheah	Sound Designer
Kate Carlin	ADR Voice Casting
Thom Ehle ('Coach')	Sound - Dolby Sound Consultant
Willie D Burton	Sound Mixer
Richard Branca	Post-Production Sound - Post Production Facilities
Kami Asgar	Supervising Sound Editor
Gary A Theard	Boom Operator
Carmine Rubino	Foley Mixer
Fred W Peck III	Sound Recordist - Sound Mix Recordist
Erin Oakley	ADR Editor
Scott G G Haller	ADR/Dialogue Editor - Dialogue Editor
Amy Kane	Foley Artist
Jon Wakeham	Sound Effects Editor
Jacob Riehle	Assistant Sound Editor
Tateum Kohut	Rerecording Mixer - Re-Recording Mixer
Brian Smith	ADR Mixer
Jonathan Klein	Foley - Foley Supervisor
Eryne Prine	Assistant Sound Editor
John Marquis	Sound Effects Editor
Julianne McCormack	Post-Production Sound - Post Production Facilities
Steven Huerstel	Sound - Cable Person
Howard London	ADR Mixer
Sean McCormack	Supervising Sound Editor
Greg Orloff	Rerecording Mixer
Elizabeth Rainey	Foley Artist
Roger Rhodes	Recording Engineer - Song Recording Engineer
Rick Kline	Rerecording Mixer
Herwig Maurer	Sound Effects Editor
Anita Cannella	Foley Artist
Oscar Zambrano	Recording Engineer - Song Recording Engineer
Rob Brazzel	Recording Engineer - Song Recording Engineer
Tim Tuchrello	Sound Effects Editor
Eddie Delana	Recording Engineer - Song Recording Engineer
Visual Effects	Credit
Brian McNulty	Visual Effects Producer
Chris Cera	Modelmaker - Special Effects Mold Maker
Jeffery Woodrel	Special Effects Coordinator
Jack Lynch	Special Effects Supervisor
Steve Hartman	Special Effects - Special Effects Art
Bruce Schluter	Titles - Title Designer
Shannon Shea	Special Effects Foreman - Special Effects Shop Foreman
Caleb Schneider	Special Effects - Special Effects Art
Unjoo Byars	Titles - Titles Producer
Joe Giles	Modelmaker - Special Effects Mold Maker
Brian Goehring	Modelmaker - Special Effects Mold Maker
Carey Jones	Special Effects - Special Effects Art
Anthony Matijavich	Special Effects - Special Effects Art
AJ Venuto	Modelmaker - Special Effects Mold Maker
Jim Leonard	Modelmaker - Special Effects Mold Maker
Chris Prestia	Special Effects - Special Effects Art
Lino Stavole	Modelmaker - Special Effects Mold Maker
David Wogh	Special Effects - Special Effects Mechanic
Grady Holder	Modelmaker - Special Effects Mold Maker
Jeff Edwards	Special Effects - Special Effects Mechanic
Wardrobe Hair Makeup	Credit
Yvonne Bastidos	Set Costumer
Sharen Davis	Costume Designer
Megan Coates	Wardrobe Assistant - Wardrobe Production Assistant
Gigi Spence	Seamstress Supervisor - Key Seamstress
Julia Gombert	Wardrobe - Wardrobe Textile Artist
Dana Kay Hart	Costume Supervisor
Carl Fullerton	Makeup - Department Head Makeup
Linda Lazar	Makeup Artist
Riki Sabusawa	Key Costumer
Kenneth Walker	Hair Stylist - Department Head Hairstylist
Gregory Nicotero	Special Makeup Effects - Special Effects Makeup
Frank Rose	Costumer
Jodie Stern	Assistant Costume Designer
Felipe Sanchez	Costume Illustrator
Toby Michael Bronson	Costumer
Diah Wymont	Assistant Costume Designer
Mitzi Haralson	Set Costumer
Frances Lecompte	Seamstress Supervisor - Seamstress
Anaya Kellogg	Wardrobe Assistant - Wardrobe Production Assistant
Howard Berger	Special Makeup Effects - Special Effects Makeup
Latoya Green	Makeup Artist
Matiki Anoff	Makeup
Larry Cherry	Hair Stylist - Co-Department Head/Hair Stylist
Renee Dodson	Costumer
Nikki Brown	Makeup Artist
Gayle Anderson	Wardrobe Assistant - Wardrobe Production Assistant
Anneliese Boies	Special Makeup Effects - Special Effects Hair
Denise Pugh-Ruiz	Makeup - First Assistant Makeup
Belinda Anderson	Hair Stylist
Valerie Gladstone	Hair Stylist - First Assistant Hairstylist
Kenneth Lecompte	Wardrobe Assistant - Wardrobe Production Assistant
Andree Fortier	Costumer
Jack Bricker	Special Makeup Effects - Special Effects Hair
Ren Heeralal	Costumer
Max Newman	Wardrobe Assistant - Wardrobe Production Assistant
Andrea Young	Hair Stylist
Krystle Lamoreaux	Costumer
Andrea Bowman	Hair Stylist
Janice Hudson	Hair Stylist
Meriwether Nichols	Costumer
Liz Staub	Costumer
Susan Thomas	Costumer
Lauren Wade	Costumer
Rachel Ann-Marie Walker	Costumer

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