The Great Debaters
Directed by- Denzel Washington
Written by -Jeffrey Porro &Robert Eisele
Cast
- Denzel Washington as Melvin B. Tolson
- Forest Whitaker as James L. Farmer, Sr.
- Denzel Whitaker as James L. Farmer, Jr.
- Jurnee Smollett as Samantha Booke
- Nate Parker as Henry Lowe
Summary- An outspoken Wiley College professor who boldly challenged the
discriminatory Jim Crow laws of the 1930s, Tolson's recognizes that his young
debate students possess the spark of a new generation. Convinced that they
could invoke great change if given the confidence and tools needed to do so,
the tireless educator implores his students to take responsibility for the
future while furtively attempting to protect them from his clandestine role as
an organizer for the Southern Tenant Farmers Union. Chief among Tolson's
promising young students is a 14-year-old prodigy named James Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker). Farmer's father, James Sr. (Forest Whitaker), is a renowned scholar and an important presence in the
emerging student's life. Yet despite his formidable reputation, James Sr. has
not yet learned how to truly harness the power of knowledge through action and
assertion. James Jr. has seen the raving effects of racism all around him, and
longs to live in a future where no one must be in fear simply because of the
color of their skin. Other talented debaters on Tolson's team include fiercely
independent student Henry Lowe (Nate Parker), and Samantha Brooke (Jurnee Smollett) -- the first ever female ever to join the Wiley College
debate team. While most educators may not have recognized the remarkable
potential of assembling such a disparate team, Tolson's unique vision truly set
him apart from the pack as the team begins to experience a series of
consecutive victories on their road to challenging Harvard at the National
Championships.
Filming locations-
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Mansfield, Louisiana, USA
Palestine, Texas (Texas State railroad)
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Wiley College
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Mansfield, Louisiana, USA
Palestine, Texas (Texas State railroad)
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Wiley College