"The Great Debaters" Premiere (17 images)

Denzel Washington (L), a cast member and director of the motion picture drama "The Great Debaters", and producer Oprah Winfrey attend the premiere of the film at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on December 11, 2007. The movie is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson and opens in the U.S. on December 25. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)

Forest Whitaker arrives at the premiere of "The Great Debaters" at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York on December 19, 2007. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh)

Jurnee Smollett, a cast member in the motion picture drama "The Great Debaters", attends the premiere of the film at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on December 11, 2007. The movie is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson and opens in the U.S. on December 25. (UPI Photo/Jim Ruymen)

Denzel Whitaker arrives at the premiere of "The Great Debaters" at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York on December 19, 2007. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh)