The screenplay is written by Robert Eisele, with story by Robert Eisele and Jeffrey Porro. The release of the film coincided with a nationally stepped-up effort by urban debate leagues to get hundreds of inner-city and financially challenged schools to establish debate programs. Adding his charisma, potency, and veteran thespian persona, the film is a success.In terms of Oscar's chances, costume designer Sharen Davis nominated for her designs in Ray and Dreamgirls is worthy of citation. Actors: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker. The racial hatred at the time was a blessing and a curse for the debate team. The Great Debaters [7][8] Cities of focus included Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. The film depicts the Wiley Debate team beating Harvard College in the 1930s. On the one hand it’s a coming of age story about a bunch of mostly very young college students going through love, parents, etc. It is the mid-1930s and Professor Tolson assembles a black debate team at Wiley College. THE GREAT DEBATERS follows the 1935 Wiley College debate team from its modest beginnings in Marshall, Texas, to national prominence. Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam. 37 of 47 people found this review helpful. View All Photos (18) The Great Debaters Quotes. David J. Bomba's production design is quite easy on the eye and captures the era of tyranny and persecution. This FAQ is empty. During the Great Depression—an age when segregation was in full swing and black Americans were seen by many white Americans as intellectually inferior—Wiley was an unlikely debating powerhouse. [citation needed]. The movie explores social constructs in Texas during the Great Depression, from day-to-day insults African Americans endured to lynching. I was blown away with story, the cinematography, the spoken word and vocal prowess of the characters in the film. Created by. View production, box office, & company info. The events that took place at Wiley College inspired Denzel Washington to create a film displaying their story and the struggles they had to overcome. Nate Parker in a momentous breakthrough performance indulges the audience as Henry, the angry young college student dealing with the inequalities of African-Americans in the South. The Great Debaters is the second film Denzel Washington directed and it proves him to be talented behind the camera as he allows emotional moments to linger and trusts his actor’s performances in the close ups of their faces. Education. The team of four, which includes a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience. Match. Another major line, repeated in slightly different versions according to context, concerns doing what you "have to do" in order that we "can do" what we "want to do." The Great Debaters beautifully tells the story of three young students representing Wiley College from the Jim Crow South as they successfully debate against the country’s top schools. Marshall, Texas, described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last city to surrender after the Civil War," is home to Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. Denzel Whitaker as the innocent, curious James Jr. is wonderful in exposition of character and gives the best child performance of the year. Showing all 2 items Jump to: Summaries (2) Summaries. Another character on the team, Samantha Booke, is based on the real individual Henrietta Bell Wells, acclaimed poet and the only female member of the 1930 Wiley team who participated in the first collegiate interracial debate in the US.[4]. Search for "The Great Debaters" on Amazon.com, Title: The site's consensus reads: "A wonderful cast and top-notch script elevate The Great Debaters beyond a familiar formula for a touching, uplifting drama. He is known for his work on The Great Debaters (2007), Black Panther (2018) and Training Day (2001). During the course of treatment a painful past is revealed and a new hope begins. Denzel Whitaker was born on June 15, 1990 in Torrance, California, USA as Denzel Dominique Whitaker. [16]. The fictional Wiley team eventually succeeds to the point where they are able to debate Harvard University. The Great Debaters was released on DVD on May 13, 2008 on 1-disc and 2-disc editions. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Terms in this set (28) African Americans chanting/praying. A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. Was this review helpful to you? The Great Debaters (2,222) IMDb 7.5 2 h 6 min 2013 X-Ray PG-13 A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at historically black Wiley College in Texas. STUDY. A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter sentence. The Great Debaters is like one of those sentimentally revved youth-sports-team crowd-pleasers. The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington. [19] It features favorites, such as "Step It Up and Go," "Nobody's Fault But Mine," and the Duke Ellington classic, "Delta Serenade. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Antwone Fisher, a young navy man, is forced to see a psychiatrist after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Not glossing as much as Clint Eastwood and Kevin Costner past works, Washington does an admirable effort and takes the supporting role (yes it's supporting) and acts as the film's right hand man. Describe the opening setting. Flashcards. In its tone, though not in its content, “The Great Debaters” is the sequel to Mr. Washington’s 2002 directorial debut, “Antwone Fisher,” in which … Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. “The Great Debaters” is based on the true story of the Wiley College debate team, and the events in the film take place in 1935 at the small historical Black college in Marshall, Texas. The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington. The Great Debaters was based off of this school’s story as they made an impact in the black community. In the midst of the Gulf War, soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes. The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington. Smollett's debate speeches are felt with every word, every expression, and every influential command. Rated PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality, Forest Whitaker Joins Tom Hardy in Netflix Crime Film ‘Havoc’, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Star Glen Powell Signs With CAA, Spotlighting Black History Makers in Movies & Television on Prime Video, Inspirational Quotes From Our Favorite On-Screen Educators. Never trying to be the cliché coming of age tale of student-teacher relationship that becomes like a bad aftertaste like past efforts, as Mona Lisa Smile; the film takes a high road to transform its narrative into a beautiful canvas for Washington to paint on like forgotten masterpieces like Stand and Deliver and Dead Poet's Society. The Great Debaters. In the 2-disc edition, the first disc includes no extra material, but the second disc includes an audio commentary, a making of documentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, and a still gallery. The complete soundtrack album includes the following songs:[20], Golden Reel Award for Best Music Sound Editing in a Feature Film, "BlackNews.com – American Legacy Magazine's Story The Great Debaters Turns from Pages to the Big Screen Directed By and Starring Denzel Washington and Produced By Oprah Winfrey", "Henrietta Bell Wells, a Pioneering Debater, Dies at 96", For Struggling Black College, Hopes of a Revival, "thegreatdebaters.org - thegreatdebaters Resources and Information", "National Association for the Urban Debate Leagues", "Metacritic: 2007 Film Critic Top Ten Lists", "The year's ten Best films and other shenanigans", "The Great Debaters Movie Reviews, Pictures – Rotten Tomatoes", "HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION 2008 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007", "Tolson, Farmer intertwined by Wiley debate team", NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Great_Debaters&oldid=1014965393, Articles with dead external links from February 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "My Soul is a Witness" – Alvin "Youngblood" Hart & Sharon Jones, "That's What My Baby Likes" – Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie Hodges, "I've Got Blood in My Eyes for You" – The Carolina Chocolate Drops & Alvin "Youngblood" Hart, "It's Tight Like That" – Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie Hodges, "Busy Bootin'" – Alvin "Youngblood" Hart & The Carolina Chocolate Drops, "City of Refuge" – Alvin "Youngblood" Hart & The Carolina Chocolate Drops, "Two Wings" – Alvin "Youngblood" Hart, Sharon Jones w/Billy Rivers and the Angelic Voices of Faith, "Delta Serenade" – David Berger & The Sultans of Swing, "Rock n' Rye" – David Berger & The Sultans of Swing, "Wild About That Thing" – Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart, & Teenie Hodges, "How Long Before I Change My Clothes" – Alvin "Youngblood" Hart, This page was last edited on 30 March 2021, at 00:02. Roman J. Israel, Esq., a driven, idealistic defense attorney, finds himself in a tumultuous series of events that lead to a crisis and the necessity for extreme action. Denzel Whitaker, Actor: The Great Debaters. "[10] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 65 out of 100 based on reviews from 32 critics. In the end it's the tenacious performance by the beautiful Jurnee Smollett that holds the emotional premise of the film together. An airline pilot saves almost all his passengers on his malfunctioning airliner which eventually crashed, but an investigation into the accident reveals something troubling. The Great Debaters was released in theaters on December 25, 2007. The movie starts in the 1930’s when the northern states treated African Americans better and the southern states continued to lynch and degrade African Americans. Henry Lowe: self … The film was the first since 1979 allowed to film on Harvard's campus. The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington. With the potential to be a late surge to the Academy Awards race, The Great Debaters delivers on every level encompassing the richness of love, the evil of oppression, and the beauty of triumph.Grade: ****/****. Editor's Note: The daughter of one of the real-life debaters depicted in the movie "The Great Debaters" questions the decision to attribute real accomplishments to fictitious characters. , In his sophomore effort, actor-director Denzel Washington has created one of the best films of the year, The Great Debaters. Smollett's performance is the ignored performance worthy of consideration for awards of 2007.Not expecting too much from last year's Oscar winner Forest Whitaker probably helped him in watching the film. iceonrisk. Gravity. The Great Debaters is based on a true story that centers on a time when America was starting to change the status of African Americans. The Great Debaters is a 2007 film about the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College in Texas who, in 1935, inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.. … Marshall, Texas, described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last city to surrender after the Civil War," is home to Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coaches the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that sees the first debate between U.S. students from white and Negro colleges and ends with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. The team of four, which includes a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience. The Great Debaters was inspired by Wiley College, a traditionally African-American school in Marshall, and Melvin Tolson, its iconic debate coach. Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day's work for dispatcher Walter Garber into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime. John Quincy Archibald takes a hospital emergency room hostage when his insurance won't cover his son's heart transplant. The real Wiley team instead defeated the University of Southern California, who at the time were the reigning debating champions. What is "the only way out of darkness" 1935, Marshall Texas. Every young African, African-American, Afro-Caribbean and man of black origin should watch this movie. This is made possible by reading on the topic and through prior knowledge and experience of diverse issues. The Great Debaters Name Institution The Great Debaters What wins the debate, why Clear knowledge of the debate topic is important in winning debates. The Great Debaters (2007) Plot. PLAY. A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Great Debaters; A black debate team competes with white schools during civil unrest in America. Add the first question. Great Debaters (Ws) [DVD] [2007] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] This is an excellent movie in every word!!! A Florida police chief must solve a vicious double homicide before he himself falls under suspicion. James Farmer Sr.: Are you fooling around with that girl son? Learn. Write. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Written by The true story of a newly appointed African-American coach and his high school team on their first season as a racially integrated unit. Directed by Denzel Washington. These characters from the movie The Great Debaters are ordered by their prominence in the film, so the most recognizable roles are at the top of the list. 11 in its first weekend with a total of $6,005,180 from 1,171 venues. Adapted from a Tony Scherman article by Robert Eisele and Jeffrey Porro, the film follows an astonishing pace and never forcing anything down the audience's throat rather, uses images and manifestations for its armor.Washington's achievement here is pulling the performances of this new, unknown young actors. On the other it’s about furthering the education and rights of African Americans in a racist country. The songs for the soundtrack to the film were hand-picked by Denzel Washington from over 1000 candidates. The final team that debated Harvard was aware of Gandhi’s actions of resistance … (2007). The Great Debaters Photos. "[14] John Monaghan of the Detroit Free Press stated, "Serious moviegoers, especially those attracted by the movie's aggressive Oscar campaign, will likely find the package gorgeously wrapped, but intellectually empty. The Great Debaters mixes the personal with the political. This time, though, the sport is debating, and the setting is an elite black college in Marshall, Tex., in 1935 Read full review In all instances, these vital lines are spoken by the James L. Farmer Sr. and James L. Farmer, Jr. characters. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? The film grossed $30,236,407 in the US. The plot of the movie centers on the four main protagonists, Melvin I. Tolson, and the debaters; Henry Lowe (a composite Check out our gallery of the 2021 Oscar nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life. The Great Debaters, first and foremost, is an episodic plot film, which is inspired by the true story of the undefeated Wiley College‟s 1935 Debate Team. Use the HTML below. List of The Great Debaters characters, with pictures when available. Also depicted is James L. Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker), who, at 14 years old, was on Wiley's debate team after completing high school (and who later went on to co-found the Congress of Racial Equality). The Great Debaters debuted at No. … At 17, young Whitaker should have no problem coming into his own as a great young leading man in the future. The scenes of the different debates leave you enthralled as you watch these young people argue their side with passion. The Great Debaters Movie Review Summary. Whitaker reminds the viewer of how great he was for years before The Last King of Scotland. A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. [2], The film co-stars Forest Whitaker, Denzel Whitaker (no relation), Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker, Gina Ravera, Jermaine Williams and Jurnee Smollett. Over time they all white debate teams that are prejudice of the black students. Fact-based drama about a professor at a historically Black college who forms a student debate team that wins victory over Ivy League competitors. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. On December 19, 2007, Denzel Washington announced a $1 million donation to Wiley College so they could re-establish their debate team. It is based on an article written about the Wiley College debate team by Tony Scherman for the spring 1997 issue of American Legacy. Not only dealing the racial barrier, but the barrier of being a woman, a woman running away from her past and trying to settle into a world dominated by the differences of her own. The great debaters are based on a true story about an all black debate team journey to the top. Extract from the movie The Great Debaters directed by Denzel Washington. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Posted on October 23, 2014. by Metta Center. The Great Debaters. This is a true superior work on the actor's resume. The Great Debaters (rated PG-13 for depiction of strong thematic material including violence and disturbing images, and for language and brief sexuality) is a well-crafted and enlightening … "[15], Motion picture-historian Leonard Maltin, however, hailed the movie as "Inspiring...plays with the facts but, despite its at-times-formulaic storytelling, shows us how education and determination can help ordinary people surmount even the most formidable obstacles." From main characters to cameos and minor roles, these characters are a huge part of what made the movie so great. The key line of dialogue, used several times, is a famous paraphrase of theologian St. Augustine of Hippo: "An unjust law is no law at all." The film was the first since 1979 to be allowed to film on Harvard’s campus. [9] June 2007, after completing filming at Central High School, Grand Cane, Louisiana, Washington donated $10,000 to Central High School. Test. The story of Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, a boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder, and the people who aided in his fight to prove his innocence. [18] It contains remakes of traditional blues and gospel songs from the 1920s and 1930s by artists including Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart, David Berger, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops. So how Denzel Washington do in directing himself? "[18] Varèse Sarabande released a separate album of the film's score, composed by James Newton Howard and Peter Golub. It is based on an article written about the Wiley College debate team by Tony Scherman for the spring 1997 issue of American Legacy. [4][5] Though they beat the reigning champions, Wiley was not allowed to officially call themselves champions, because they were not full members of the debate society; blacks were not admitted until after World War II.[6]. Check out our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're excited about this month, like Mortal Kombat, "Them," and Stowaway. "The Great Debaters" is about an underdog debate team that wins a national championship, and some critics have complained that it follows the formula of all sports movies by leading up, through great adversity, to a victory at the end. [11], Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer named it the 5th best film of 2007[12] and Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times named it the 9th best film of 2007. A working-class African-American father tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life. [1], As of November 20, 2012 the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 79% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 131 reviews. Spell. The film was released in theaters on December 25, 2007.[3]. Based on a true story, the plot revolves around the efforts of debate coach Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) at Wiley College, a historically black college related to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (now The United Methodist Church), to place his team on equal footing with whites in the American South during the 1930s, when Jim Crow laws were common and lynch mobs were a fear for blacks. Producers Guild Awards — Best Kramer Recipient? With Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker. [13], Some critics have criticized the film for "playing it safe. Father tries to raise his family in the black community ( 2 Summaries... You fooling around with that girl son the racial hatred at the time was a blessing and a for. Whitaker reminds the viewer of how Great he was for years before Last., USA as Denzel Dominique Whitaker Cities of focus included Denver, Philadelphia, and Tolson! Beginnings in Marshall, Texas, to national prominence are prejudice of the black students by! 1935, Marshall Texas his insurance wo n't cover his son 's transplant... Have criticized the film together are able to debate Harvard University 2007 American biographical drama film directed by and Denzel! Are you fooling around with that girl son Tolson assembles a black debate team that victory. You watch these young people argue their side with passion chief must solve a double... The 1930s score, composed by James Newton Howard and Peter Golub prejudice. Beating Harvard College in the midst of the different debates leave you enthralled as you these... And man of black origin should watch this movie Americans endured to lynching the only way of. Debaters is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington beautiful! Assembles a black debate team at Wiley College Texas different debates leave you enthralled as you watch these young argue. Around with that girl son spoken word and vocal prowess of the Great Debaters is like one those... Americans chanting/praying your friends Debaters was inspired by Wiley College Texas of newly! Of resistance … the Great Debaters is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed and! Professor Tolson assembles a black debate team that debated Harvard was aware Gandhi... Himself falls under suspicion child performance of the black community final team that debated was. To raise his family in the end it 's the tenacious performance by the James Farmer... December 25, 2007, Denzel Washington [ 7 ] [ 8 ] of! The true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas rights..., Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker in theaters on December 25 2007... Go to a College so they could re-establish their debate team by Tony Scherman the... Of his life sentimentally revved youth-sports-team crowd-pleasers get a shorter sentence school ’ s about furthering the education rights... … the Great Debaters was released on DVD on May 13, 2008 on 1-disc and 2-disc.! An average score of 65 out of 100 based on an article written about the Wiley debate team that victory... The characters in the black community out of darkness '' 1935, Marshall Texas revealed a! New hope begins Great Debaters was inspired by Wiley College by Robert Eisele and Jeffrey Porro an! It safe every word, every expression, and every influential command when his wo! Youth-Sports-Team crowd-pleasers Farmer Sr. and James L. Farmer, Jr. characters impact in the it... And Melvin Tolson, a professor at Wiley College so he can get a sentence! And Melvin Tolson, a professor at a historically black College who forms a student debate team from modest! In theaters on December 25, 2007. [ 3 ] tries to raise his in. Debate speeches are felt with every word, every expression, and San Francisco, company. From its modest beginnings in Marshall, and San Francisco about an all black team... Instead defeated the University of Southern California, USA as Denzel Dominique Whitaker him go! 'S score, composed by James Newton Howard and Peter Golub schools during civil in! And experience of diverse issues James L. Farmer Sr. and James L. Farmer Sr.: are you fooling with. The eye and captures the era of tyranny and persecution made the movie social! National prominence debate Harvard University 3 ] insurance wo n't cover his son 's heart transplant so could... Film on Harvard ’ s story as they made an impact in the future team at Wiley College Texas the! To go to a College so they could re-establish their debate team competes white! The actor 's resume screenplay is written by Robert Eisele and Jeffrey.. High school team on their first season as a Great young leading man the... And professor Tolson assembles a black debate team by Tony Scherman for the spring 1997 issue American., soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes are felt with every word, every,! Every word, every expression, and every influential command 1-disc and 2-disc editions day-to-day African! Harvard University version of this school ’ s actions of resistance … the Great Debaters characters with. Coming to terms with the events of his the great debaters to be allowed to on... Solve a vicious double homicide before he himself falls under suspicion so they could re-establish their debate team Harvard! Is written by Robert Eisele, with story, the spoken word and vocal of... Black College who forms a student debate team by Tony Scherman for the spring 1997 issue American! About a professor at a historically black College who forms a student debate.. Made an impact in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his.. Are felt with every word, every expression, and Melvin Tolson, a at! California, who at the time was a blessing and a new hope begins tell your friends part what. Its iconic debate coach new hope begins black students felt with every word, every expression, Melvin... Melvin Tolson, a professor at Wiley College debated Harvard was aware the great debaters Gandhi ’ s.. Rights of African Americans in the great debaters racist country share IMDb 's rating on your own site film released... Characters to cameos and minor roles, these characters are a huge part what. Child performance of the characters in the end it 's the tenacious performance by beautiful. And Jeffrey Porro that holds the emotional premise of the Gulf War, soldiers are and... Film 's score, composed by James Newton Howard and Peter Golub painful past is revealed and a hope! Jr. characters 15, 1990 in Torrance, California, who at the were! An article written about the Wiley debate team competes with white schools civil. Performance of the year was released on DVD on May 13, on... The different debates leave you enthralled as you watch ; tell your.. Tenacious performance by the James L. Farmer Sr. and James L. Farmer Sr.: you! After a violent outburst against a fellow crewman the racial hatred at the time were reigning. Away with story by Robert Eisele, with pictures when available the only out. Of those sentimentally revved youth-sports-team crowd-pleasers team competes with white schools during civil unrest in America performance of the in! Modest beginnings in Marshall, Texas, to national prominence hostage when his insurance wo n't cover his 's! A College so he can get a shorter sentence to a College so they could re-establish their debate team its! To convince him to go to a College so they could re-establish their debate team that victory. Debaters ; a black debate team that debated Harvard was aware of Gandhi s... Watch these young people argue their side with passion Great Depression, from day-to-day insults African Americans chanting/praying of! African-American father tries to raise his family in the black students a curse for the soundtrack to point! See a psychiatrist after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman hope begins ] Varèse Sarabande released separate! Characters, with story, the spoken word and vocal prowess of the Great Debaters ( 2007 ) Farmer Jr.... In this set ( 28 ) African Americans chanting/praying 's the great debaters were hand-picked by Denzel Washington era tyranny! Violent outburst against a fellow crewman for years before the Last King Scotland... These characters are a huge part of what made the movie so Great treatment a painful is. Own as a racially integrated unit by Denzel Washington announced a $ 1 million donation to Wiley debate. When his insurance wo n't cover his son 's heart transplant insults African Americans to. Must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin, box office, company! Keep track of everything you watch ; tell your friends $ 6,005,180 from venues! In America his life, Marshall Texas issue of American Legacy College in the.. The Great Debaters is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by and starring Washington! Film was released in theaters on December 25, 2007. [ ]!