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 an historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.
Drama
The Weinstein Company, Harpo Films, Marshall Production
Denzel Washington as Melvin B. Tolson, Nate Parker as Henry Lowe, Forest Whitaker as Dr. James Farmer Sr., Denzel Whitaker as James Farmer Jr., Kimberly Elise as Pearl Farmer, Jermaine Williams as Hamilton Burgess, Gina Ravera as Ruth Tolson, John Heard as Sheriff Dozier, Devyn A. Tyler as Helen Farmer, Trenton McClain Boyd as Nathaniel Farmer, Ritchie Montgomery as Deputy, Jackson Walker as Pig Owner, Tim Parati as Pig Farmer, Robert X. Golphin as Dunbar Reed, Justice Leak as Harland Osbourne, Glen Powell as Harvard Debater #1, Brad Watkins as Harvard Debater #2, Brian Smiar as Harvard Dean, Damien Leake as Wilson, Voltaire Sterling as Paul Quinn Debater #1, Stephen Rider as Paul Quinn Debater #2, Gordon Danniels as Paul Quinn Debate Judge, Donny Boaz as Oklahoma City College Debater #1, Samuel Elliott Whisnant as Oklahoma City College Debater #2, Bonnie Johnson as Dr. Jennings, Charissa Allen as Benita, Michael Beasley as Trudell, Gary Mathis as Enormous Man, Georges Wilson as Samuel, Fahnlohnee R. Harris as Clementine, Harold Evans as William Taylor, J.D. Evermore as Captain Wainwright, Sharon Jones as Lila, Kelvin Payton as Joseph, Southey Blanton as White Labor Organizer, Michael Mattison as White Sharecropper #1, Jeff Braun as White Sharecropper #2, Milton R. Gipson as Prairie View Professor, Frank Ridley as Security Guard, Jeremiah Kissel as Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate, Jack Radosta as White Man at Lynching, Alvin Youngblood Hart as Juke Joint Musician #1, Dom Flemons as Juke Joint Musician #2, Justin Robinson as Juke Joint Musician #3, Rhiannon Giddens as Juke Joint Musician #4, Ahmad Powell as Fisk Professor, Marcus Lyle Brown as Howard Debater #1, Jurnee Smollett as Samantha Booke, Gary Mattis as Enormous Man