The Great Debaters (2007)
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A debate coach at a historically black college strives to place his team on equal footing with white universities during the Jim Crow era.
The story
Set in 1935 Texas, the film follows the efforts of debate coach Melvin B. Tolson at Wiley College, a historically black college. Amidst the era of Jim Crow laws and the constant risk of lynchings, Tolson works to place his team on equal footing with white institutions. The team faces significant racial social issues and day-to-day insults as they prepare for competition. The narrative highlights the determination of the students, including activist James Farmer and poet Samantha Booke, as they strive for academic recognition in a segregated society.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Based on a true story, the film depicts the efforts of debate coach Melvin B. Tolson at Wiley College in 1930s Texas. During the Great Depression, Tolson seeks to provide his students with opportunities equal to those of white students, despite the dangers of Jim Crow laws and lynch mobs. The team includes James Farmer, a 14-year-old activist, and Samantha Booke, the only female member. The students face constant racial insults but remain determined to succeed. The Wiley team eventually reaches a level of success where they debate a team from Harvard University. The film explores the social issues of the time, including the dialogue 'An unjust law is no law at all.' While the film depicts the team beating Harvard, historically the real Wiley team defeated the University of Southern California, though they were not allowed to officially call themselves champions because Black people were not admitted to the debate society until after World War II.
- First release year
- 2007
- Runtime (minutes)
- 126
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Denzel Washington
- Writers
- Robert Eisele · screenplay; Robert Eisele · story; Jeffrey Porro · story
- Cast and characters
- Denzel Washington; Forest Whitaker; Nate Parker; Jurnee Smollett; Denzel Whitaker; John Heard; Kimberly Elise; Gina Ravera; Jermaine Williams
- Genres
- historical drama; biographical drama
- Themes
- racial discrimination; education; determination; civil rights
- Tone and mood
- inspiring; serious
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; historical; drama; racism; education
- Source material / true-story basis
- a 1997 article for American Legacy by Tony Scherman
- Reception
- The film was released to positive critical reception, with some critics noting it played it safe or was intellectually empty, while others praised its inspiring message.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 65 · scale: 100 · review count: 32
- Awards and nominations
- Image Award · Outstanding Motion Picture · Won; Image Award · Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture · Won; Image Award · Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture · Won; Image Award · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture · Won; Golden Globe Award · Best Motion Picture – Drama · Nominated; Image Award · Outstanding Director in a Motion Picture · Nominated; Golden Reel Award · Best Music Sound Editing in a Feature Film · Nominated
- Production trivia
- Denzel Washington sent actors to Texas Southern University for a 'mini camp' on how to debate.; The film depicts the team beating Harvard, but they actually defeated the University of Southern California.; The release coincided with a nationally stepped-up effort by urban debate leagues to establish programs in inner-city schools.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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