A Great Movie on a College-Related Theme: The Great Debaters

Parent Cafe
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<p>If you’d like to see Harvard and the rural south on film this winter break, take a look at The Great Debaters </p>

<p>[The</a> Great Debaters](<a href=“http://www.thegreatdebatersmovie.com/]The”>http://www.thegreatdebatersmovie.com/) </p>

<p>an “inspired by a true story” movie about black students from a black college in Texas who took on Harvard’s debate team in the 1935-1936 school year. The scenes in the movie filmed in Harvard’s Memorial Hall are spellbinding. It’s a great movie about important issues. </p>

<p>[James</a> L. Farmer, Jr - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Farmer,_Jr]James”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Farmer,_Jr). </p>

<p>[The</a> Great Debaters - Movie - Review - New York Times](<a href=“http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/movies/25deba.html]The”>http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/movies/25deba.html) </p>

<p>The New York Times review points out that Harvard was put into the story by Hollywood; the movie could have had its pivotal scene set at the University of Southern California.</p>

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<p>Can’t wait to see it. Hubby and the boys opted for I Am Legend yesterday and were kind of sorry they did.</p>

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<p>We just saw it tonight. It was enjoyable, but predictable. I called it the “Rocky” of Debate movies.</p>

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<p>Actually, Harvard agreed to let them shoot the film on campus with the condition that Denzel Washington would debut the film in person at the campus - which he did.</p>

<p>[The</a> Harvard Crimson :: News :: Denzel Dazzles in Harvard Premiere](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521434]The”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=521434)</p>

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<p>And in real life, the team they beat was NOT from Harvard.</p>

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<p>jonri, Who was it?</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>That’s who it was.</p>

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<p>In real life, the team they beat was USC. I just read a review in today’s paper and didn’t realize that the young actor who portrays one of the debaters James Farmer Jr. is Denzel Whitaker the son of Forest Whitaker the actor who also plays his father in the movie, James Farmer Sr. Should have figured it as they look very much alike.</p>

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<p>I stand corrected. I was wrong. My DW informed me that she watched Oprah interview Denzel Washington on her show about the movie and the actor Denzel Whitaker (plays James Farmer Jr) is no relation to the actor Forest Whitaker (plays James Farmer Sr). Pure coincidence. Could have fooled me, they DO look like father/son.</p>

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<p>University of South Carolina or University of Southern California? I guess either way isn’t gonna be as dramatic as beating Harvard. ;)</p>

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<p>What?? When I was at Harvard, I saw the production sets and actors, but no Denzel! Dangit…</p>