Inherit the Wind
starring: Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York, Donna Anderson
directed by: Stanley Kramer
directed by: Stanley Kramer
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Product Description:
Based on a real-life case in 1925 two great lawyers argue the case for and against a science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution.Studio: Tcfhe/mgmRelease Date: 12/11/2001Starring: Spencer Tracy Harry MorganRun time: 128 minutesRating: NrDirector: Stanley Kramer
Amazon.com essential video:
Two of the juiciest roles in the American theater fall at the feet of Spencer Tracy and Fredric March, and both men make a meal of it. Inherit the Wind, based on the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, is a slightly fictionalized account of the Scopes Monkey Trial, that galvanizing legal drama of the 1920s. When a young Tennessee teacher is prosecuted for teaching the theory of evolution in a public school, he receives unwanted public attention as well as the legal advice of a giant. Tracy plays the role based on Clarence Darrow, the eloquent defense attorney, and March storms his way through a part based on Williams Jennings Bryan, the failed presidential candidate (and famed orator) who prosecuted the case. Gene Kelly plays a character based on the acid-penned H.L. Mencken, reporting on the trial and caustically commenting on the absurdity of the human animal. Stanley (Judgment at Nuremberg) Kramer's direction is not especially subtle, but the verbal fireworks unleashed during the trial sequences are still stirring. Even the different styles of the actors are intriguing: March is all mannerism and false padding around the belly, while Tracy does his patented naturalistic grumbling. It would be nice if this story were a quaint period piece, but its issues and arguments keep reemerging in the headlines with each new generation. --Robert Horton
Based on a real-life case in 1925 two great lawyers argue the case for and against a science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution.Studio: Tcfhe/mgmRelease Date: 12/11/2001Starring: Spencer Tracy Harry MorganRun time: 128 minutesRating: NrDirector: Stanley Kramer
Amazon.com essential video:
Two of the juiciest roles in the American theater fall at the feet of Spencer Tracy and Fredric March, and both men make a meal of it. Inherit the Wind, based on the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, is a slightly fictionalized account of the Scopes Monkey Trial, that galvanizing legal drama of the 1920s. When a young Tennessee teacher is prosecuted for teaching the theory of evolution in a public school, he receives unwanted public attention as well as the legal advice of a giant. Tracy plays the role based on Clarence Darrow, the eloquent defense attorney, and March storms his way through a part based on Williams Jennings Bryan, the failed presidential candidate (and famed orator) who prosecuted the case. Gene Kelly plays a character based on the acid-penned H.L. Mencken, reporting on the trial and caustically commenting on the absurdity of the human animal. Stanley (Judgment at Nuremberg) Kramer's direction is not especially subtle, but the verbal fireworks unleashed during the trial sequences are still stirring. Even the different styles of the actors are intriguing: March is all mannerism and false padding around the belly, while Tracy does his patented naturalistic grumbling. It would be nice if this story were a quaint period piece, but its issues and arguments keep reemerging in the headlines with each new generation. --Robert Horton
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Dishonest and Disrespectful
I did a little research on this movie and turned up some unpleasant truths: About once a decade, an "anti-religion propaganda film" comes out of Hollywood. I can name three of them and this is one. Really, if such a movie targeted blacks or gays or Muslims, it would arouse an outcry, and it should. This movie, produced by an atheist Christian-hater, is simply a thinly disguised attack on Christians. A teacher who shows this to his class is perpetuating this prejudice. The film does everything ... Read More
Rating: 
- Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding
No truer words were spoken by Henry Drummond in the movie "Inherit the Wind" in defense of teacher Bertram T. Cates who dared to think and feel differently; and who committed a mortal sin at least in Tennesee when he discussed evolution in his classroom.
This movie forty years later is brilliant in its defense of civil liberties; Frederic March, Spencer Tracey and Gene Kelly gave spellbound performances.
One of the best lines in the movie and there were very many was ... Read More
Rating: - A very good movie about religious fanaticism vs. Darwin's theory of evolution
Even though this movie was made 49 years ago in 1960 its message is still completely relevant today. We see how religious indoctrination and the resulting fanaticism poison human thinking and life. The movie is based on a true story that took place in the beginning of the 20th century in a small town in the USA. The actors' performance is very good and we all have important lessons to learn from the movie.
A school teacher teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in a high school in a small ... Read More
Rating: - Great theater, poor history
I give "Inherit the Wind" five stars for dramatic power and force of acting.It's a terrific film, which I have seen at least 5 times.Bombastic, verbally brawling Spencer Tracy and the deliciously snide Gene Kelly are at their very best.It's a thumping great show, with clear heroes and villains, just like in the silent movies.
But I give it only one star for historical value.Here is a reminder that theater has always served its own purposes, and truth is not one of them.
Read More
Rating: - We the Jury Find in Favor of This Movie
"Inherit the Wind" is Stanley Kramer's Oscar-winning, black and white, recreation of the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 in Dayton, TN. This dramatized version pits two American legal collossus' against each other played by two collosal actors of their day--Spencer Tracy and Frederic March playing the characters Henry Drummond and Matthew Brady respectively. The character, Henry Drummond was the real-life, renowned barrister Clarence Darrow, and Matthew Harrison Brady is based upon thethree-time presidential ... Read More
- Dishonest and DisrespectfulI did a little research on this movie and turned up some unpleasant truths: About once a decade, an "anti-religion propaganda film" comes out of Hollywood. I can name three of them and this is one. Really, if such a movie targeted blacks or gays or Muslims, it would arouse an outcry, and it should. This movie, produced by an atheist Christian-hater, is simply a thinly disguised attack on Christians. A teacher who shows this to his class is perpetuating this prejudice. The film does everything ... Read More
- Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feedingNo truer words were spoken by Henry Drummond in the movie "Inherit the Wind" in defense of teacher Bertram T. Cates who dared to think and feel differently; and who committed a mortal sin at least in Tennesee when he discussed evolution in his classroom.
This movie forty years later is brilliant in its defense of civil liberties; Frederic March, Spencer Tracey and Gene Kelly gave spellbound performances.
One of the best lines in the movie and there were very many was ... Read More
- A very good movie about religious fanaticism vs. Darwin's theory of evolutionEven though this movie was made 49 years ago in 1960 its message is still completely relevant today. We see how religious indoctrination and the resulting fanaticism poison human thinking and life. The movie is based on a true story that took place in the beginning of the 20th century in a small town in the USA. The actors' performance is very good and we all have important lessons to learn from the movie.
A school teacher teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in a high school in a small ... Read More
- Great theater, poor historyI give "Inherit the Wind" five stars for dramatic power and force of acting.It's a terrific film, which I have seen at least 5 times.Bombastic, verbally brawling Spencer Tracy and the deliciously snide Gene Kelly are at their very best.It's a thumping great show, with clear heroes and villains, just like in the silent movies.
But I give it only one star for historical value.Here is a reminder that theater has always served its own purposes, and truth is not one of them.
Read More
- We the Jury Find in Favor of This Movie"Inherit the Wind" is Stanley Kramer's Oscar-winning, black and white, recreation of the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 in Dayton, TN. This dramatized version pits two American legal collossus' against each other played by two collosal actors of their day--Spencer Tracy and Frederic March playing the characters Henry Drummond and Matthew Brady respectively. The character, Henry Drummond was the real-life, renowned barrister Clarence Darrow, and Matthew Harrison Brady is based upon thethree-time presidential ... Read More
