The Great Debaters 16 years old

When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.

The Great Debaters

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.

Credits

The Great Debaters Cast

Name Character
Forest Whitaker He was 46, now 63 years old as Dr. James Farmer Sr.
Glen Powell He was 19, now 36 years old as Harvard Debater #1
Denzel Washington He was 52, now 69 years old as Melvin B. Tolson
Gina Ravera She was 41, now 58 years old as Ruth Tolson
Jurnee Smollett She was 21, now 38 years old as Samantha Booke
John Heard He was 61, 71 years old when he died as Sheriff Dozier
Denzel Whitaker He was 17, now 34 years old as James Farmer Jr.
Tim Parati as Pig Farmer
Kimberly Elise She was 40, now 57 years old as Pearl Farmer
Nate Parker He was 28, now 45 years old as Henry Lowe
J.D. Evermore He was 39, now 56 years old as Captain Wainwright
Frank Ridley He was 110, 97 years old when he died as Security Guard
Marcus Lyle Brown He was 37, now 53 years old as Howard Debater #1
Michael Beasley He was 18, now 35 years old as Trudell
Damien Leake He was 55, now 72 years old as Wilson
Donny Boaz He was 27, now 44 years old as Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Georges Wilson He was 86, 88 years old when he died as Samuel
Rhiannon Giddens She was 30, now 47 years old as Juke Joint Musician #4
Jermaine Williams He was 24, now 41 years old as Hamilton Burgess
Fahnlohnee R. Harris as Clementine
Bonnie Johnson She was 62, now 79 years old as Dr. Jennings
Jackson Walker as Pig Owner
Michael Mattison as White Sharecropper #1
Stephen Rider He was 57, now 74 years old as Paul Quinn Debater #2
Ritchie Montgomery as Deputy
Dom Flemons He was 25, now 42 years old as Juke Joint Musician #2

The Great Debaters Crew

Name Department
David J. Bomba as Production Design. Art
Philippe Rousselot as Director of Photography. He was 62 (now 79) years old Camera
Denise Chamian as Casting. Production
John R. Jensen as Art Direction. Art
David Crockett as Executive Producer. He was 221 (49) years old when He died Production
Hughes Winborne as Editor. He was 7 (now 24) years old Editing
Todd Black as Producer. He was 47 (now 64) years old Production
Patrick Cassidy as Set Decoration. He was 45 (now 62) years old Art
Kate Forte as Producer. She was 54 (now 71) years old Production
James Newton Howard as Original Music Composer. He was 56 (now 73) years old Sound
Oprah Winfrey as Producer. She was 53 (now 70) years old Production
Sharen Davis as Costume Design. She was 50 (now 67) years old Costume & Make-Up
Joe Roth as Producer. He was 59 (now 76) years old Production
Robert Eisele as Writer. Writing
Peter Golub as Original Music Composer. Sound
The Great Debaters poster
The Great Debaters (16 years)

When the nation was in need, he inspired them to give us hope.

  • Release day: Thursday, December 27, 2007
  • Runtime: 126 minutes
  • Budget: 15000000.00
  • Revenue: 30226144.00