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The Great Debaters   2007         PG-13, 123 min. Genre: Drama Director: Denzel Washington   Cast: Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Forest Whitaker, Gina Ravera, John Heard, Kimberly Elise, Devyn A. Tyler, Trenton McClain Boyde, Ritchie Montgomery, Tim Parati   This film is loosely based on the true story of Wiley College professor Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) who, in 1935, led his small, Black, Texas college team of debaters against Harvard University's team of renown. Tolson's team—Henry Lowe (Nate Parker) and Hamilton Burgess (Jermaine Williams) are joined by alternates Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett) and James Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker). They undergo vigorous training by Tolson as he helps them improve their speaking skills. Conflicts concerning Tolson's efforts to help migrant farm workers rise to the fore, but, in the end, lessons are learned, and the debate team members learn to believe in themselves. Cast Denzel Washington Melvin B. Tolson Nate Parker Henry Lowe Jurnee Smollett Samantha Booke Denzel Whitaker James Farmer Jr. Jermaine Williams Hamilton Burgess Forest Whitaker Dr. James Farmer Sr. Gina Ravera Ruth Tolson John Heard Sheriff Dozier Kimberly Elise Pearl Farmer Devyn A. Tyler Helen Farmer Trenton McClain Boyde Nathaniel Farmer Ritchie Montgomery Deputy Tim Parati Pig Farmer