The Great Debaters

Denzel Washington directs and stars in this uplifting drama based on a true story about a small East Texas all-black college in 1935 that rises to the top of the nation's debate teams in a duel against Harvard. A poet and debating coach at Wiley College, Professor Melvin Tolson (Washington) sees debating as "a blood sport" and recruits the meanest and brightest, including troubled Henry (Nate Parker), driven Samantha (Jurnee Smollet), and the 14-year-old prodigy James Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker). Director Denzel Washington Star Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett, John Heard, Nate Parker, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Gina Ravera, Kimberly Elise Special.