Inherit the Wind
by Stanley Kramer
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DVD details
Actor: Dick York, Donna Anderson, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Spencer TracyDirector: Stanley Kramer
Cinematographer: Ernest Laszlo
Producer: Stanley Kramer
Editor: Frederic Knudtson
Writer: Harold Jacob Smith
Writer: Jerome Lawrence
Writer: Nedrick Young
Writer: Robert E. Lee
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 128 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-12-11
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: United Artists
DVD Reviews of Inherit the Wind
DVD Review: Dishonest and Disrespectful
Summary: 1 Stars
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 it can to portray southern American Christians as hateful, bigoted, intolerant, narrow-minded, ignorant, anti-scientific, and utterly unsophisticated. But, isn't such a hateful portrayal itself bigoted, hateful, & intolerant? Is such an image REALLY accurate about ANYONE? Here in Canada we are taught not to tolerate religious bigotry any more than racial bigotry. Anyway, "hate & mockery" truly describe the spirit of this film - it is so extreme, it is almost unique in this way. As for its content:
The film is technically fine - a courtroom drama. But unfortunately, it is not faithful to the facts of the trial; in fact, the whole picture is essentially a lie. For instance, no one arrested Scopes, the whole trial was initiated by the ACLU in order to overturn a penaltyless anti-evolution law. The ACLU convinced Scopes to play this role and even the prosecution cooperated as a test case. Scopes was not poor and defenseless either, a whole team of lawyers and scientists was brought from NYC by the ACLU. Thus, it wasn't really a normal trial - this is why the defense freely admitted Scopes "guilt". Scopes himself hadn't even taught evolution, the "defense" attorneys had coached the children three months later to say he had (read perjury). What Scopes had done is teach from a book which did teach evolution (the same textbook also declared evolution proved whites were superior to other races, by the way). Anyway, Scopes himself said in his autobiography that he was treated very well by everyone in town. As for the angry fundamentalist preacher and the violent lynch-mob, these were complete fiction - a straw man falsely representing only what the filmmaker WANTED to envision - in short, a lie. And...
It was Darrow, not Bryant, who was cited for contempt for his rudeness. Darrow was an avowed atheist who admitted in his own autobiography that his real goal for the case was to attack what he called "fundamentalists". In fact, the last day of the trial this man broke his word by refusing to testify. By contrast, Bryant, Darrow's opponent, was no intolerant, ignorant buffoon, as he is portrayed in the film - Bryant was chosen as the democratic candidate for president three times and was Wilson's Secretary of State. And the scientists? Darrow wouldn't even let them testify because he knew what Bryant could do to them on the stand! The whole movie deliberately twists the facts much like a Nazi or Soviet styled propaganda film. This movie is simply a deliberate slander: it has nothing to do with science - it was designed to slander Bible believers. Think about what you are really doing before you embrace this film. Using this film in a science class does not teach science; rather, it trains children to despise Christians.
There are few films I'd actually condemn - this is one of about ten. And by the way, before you mock creationists, intelligent design proponents, religious people, or atheists, be intellectually honest by taking a couple of hours to hear the specifics of what your opponents are saying; have you ever even heard what they have to say? Have you? Use science to carry on this controversy - not ridicule. Ridiculing others, as the filmmaker has so eagerly done, is just plain wrong.
DVD Review: Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding
Summary: 5 Stars
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 spoken by Frederic March who played lawyer Matthew Brady; this line was at the core of the movie's theme and even its title. Brady said, "Remember the wisdom of Solomon in the book of Proverbs. "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind."
It was a remarkable display of the many reasons why there should be a strong separation of church and state and how the most noble and most spiritual of beliefs (if too zealous) can become fanatical and breed contempt.
For those of you familiar with the Scopes Trial, this is a blend of fact and fiction. Two great lawyers argued that case: Clarence Darrow for the defense and Wiliam Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. H.L. Mencken of the Baltimore Evening Sun was the real life E. K. Hornbeck. The verdict ended up being appealed and dismissed.
This was one spicy drama with a caliber of acting one rarely sees any longer. I strongly recommend this film. Spencer Tracey for his portrayal of Henry Drummond won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1961!
Bentley/2009
DVD Review: A very good movie about religious fanaticism vs. Darwin's theory of evolution
Summary: 5 Stars
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 town in the USA is arrested and jailed on grounds that he is teaching something that contradicts the statements in the Bible regarding creation and humans' origin. While in prison he is tried in court. His defense is a secular lawyer from Chicago. They are all labelled as atheists by the town's people. The prosecutor is a man brainwashed by Bible's teachings and a three time US presidential candidate. The whole town population is fanatically religious, condemns the teacher, the lawyer and the journalist on the defending side. The lawyer asks very intelligent questions in the court to the prosecutor about the Bible who claims to be an expert on the Bible and a devoted Christian. The lawyer shows the contradictions and the irrational thinking in the prosecutor's answers. Suddenly, it becomes religious dogma that is on trial. The teacher is found guilty of course because we see clearly that the judicial system and the way the court is conducted by the judge and jury are not secular. The verdict of penalty is ridiculous ; only a 100 dollar penalty that dissapoints the plaintiff side. The prosecutor loses all credibility and dies of a heart attack in court.
Throughout the 20th century and today this conflict between religious creationists and Intelligent Design proponents on one side and evolutionists on the other side has been continuing with fervor all over the world. There are many discussion blogs on the internet where creationists and evolutionists argue, sometimes rudely. Schools, government offices, courtrooms in the USA and in some other countries continue to be battlegrounds of this never ending controversy. One consolation is that nowadays in contrast with the film Inherit the Wind it is often religious dogma that is on trial in courtrooms. Therefore, I recommend that you also watch the NOVA documentary series about evolution especially the ones named " Judgement day : Intelligent Design on Trial " and EVOLUTION : THE MIND'S BIG BANG and WHAT ABOUT GOD ? which clearly demonstrate underlying hidden religious motives of Creationists.
It is ridiculous to equate the study of and belief inDarwin's theories with atheism. A person can believe in God and Darwin's theory of evolution simultaneously. He / she does not have to believe the 6 day creation dogma with no scientific basis to be a believer in God. Perhaps God designed evolution the way Darwin described it. Perhaps not. The only way to find out if Darwin was right or wrong is through scientific research. Not by refuting the scientific method and replacing it with some kind of religious dogma. Darwin's theory of evolution does not imply that God had no role in evolution, just that God's role is not the way Creationists, Intelligent Design proponents and the Bible describe it. Moreover, whether we believe in God or not, we should be open minded to arguments put forward by some atheists regarding the non - existence of God. Richard Dawkins' book titled " the God Delusion " states very strong arguments regarding the non - existence of God and religious perversion in thinking. It is amazing that the human mind which developed so much that it made humans the most intelligent species on Earth can be so conditioned in early childhood that it becomes a self imposed under achiever of its intellectual potential.
The mentality that has been trying to replace Darwin's theory of Evolution with Intelligent Design since the beginning of the 20th century is the same mentality that refuted Copernicus's theory and convicted Galileo hundreds of years ago for claiming that it is the Earth that revolves around the sun not the other way around as claimed by the church.
I don't know if fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist Moslems around the world who hate one another so much realize that they are 100 % in agreement on this issue. It is not in just the USA and not just in the Christian world that Darwin gets regularly attacked, Intelligent Design and religious dogma try to seize education. For example just a few weeks ago as I am writing these lines the following things happened in Turkey ; a Moslem country with a secular State : anti- Darwinist Islamist Creationists made a move against Darwin in Turkey ; the monthly magazine of a government sponsored Turkish Scientific Research Organization in Turkey put Darwin's picture on the cover of the March 2009 issue and devoted 16 pages to him in commemoration of Darwin's 200th birth year. Immediately after this, the director of the organization purged the editor from the organization and had Darwin erased from the cover of the magazine. His justification was that the current situation in Turkey was too sensitive to tolerate Darwin on the cover of the magazine. For many days after this event a strong reaction continued from the secular organizations and press in Turkey and internationally. Some Turkish secular organizations conducted protest demonstrations demanding the resignation of the directors of the government sponsored Scientific Research Organization who they claimed were Islamist Creationists. The directors backed down and denied they had anything against Darwin. But the editor of the magazine who was purged subsequently claimed that the directors were lying, that she was told that she was fired for putting Darwin's picture on the cover of the magazine and that she would take the matter to court. Several days later under severe pressure from the Turkish secular community the editor was reinstated.
Since March 2009 the secular part of the academic and other communities in Turkey are active to protect Darwin's credibility. Major universities in Istanbul are organizing exhibitions, documentary movies and inviting worldwide famous evolutionist scientists to lecture in Istanbul. The lectures and movies are free and open to the public. I saw this movie " Inherit the Wind " in one of the Istanbul Universities shown as part of these programs.
DVD Review: Great theater, poor history
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Go to the newspaper archives and history books to get an understanding of what really happened in Dayton, Tennessee in 1925, and why. Surely PBS still offers its TV program called "The Monkey Trial".
Sadly, the voice of Fredric March -- portraying a character based on one of the greatest of orators, who even as an old man could be heard a mile away without sound enhancement -- is no match for the glorious boom of Claude Akins, as the town preacher.
DVD Review: We the Jury Find in Favor of This Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
"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 the three-time presidential candidate, William Jennings Brian, a populist whose oratory was unparalleled in his day. He was also first to conduct a modern campaign for office.
The remaining cast of character actors are instantly recognizable from TV shows and movies of the 1950's and early 60's with the exception of Gene Kelly who made a rare dramatic appearance as the Bible-hating journalist, H.L. Mencken. Dick York plays the teacher who is arrested for teaching the theory of Evolution, and Harry Morgan, who was typecast earlier as Detective Bill Gannon and since as Colonel Potter, plays the judge. Claude Aiken, another typecast-as-tough-guy is less believable as a fundamentalist minister who "troubles his own house."
This is a powerful dramatization of the Scopes Trial that is a tour de force for dialogue, comedy, and sheer performance--yes comedy. Despite the gravity of the trial, it is amusing to hear Henry Drummond wryly suggest that Matthew Harrison Brady not be referred to by his honorary title of colonel. He suggests to the judge, "Break'im. Make him a private. I have no objection to him being called Private Brady." When you watch Henry Drummond examine the prosecutor and witness Matthew Brady, it is nothing short of jolts of juristic electricity. When you hear the words, "My client wishes to be accorded the same privilege of a sponge; he wishes to THINK," you are hearing a script that resonates with emotion against fanaticism.
There is dramatic license in every recreation of an actual event, and this movie takes it wherever it can, but it is the kind of license that can make the viewer more curious about the real event. It is also just plain entertainment that never wears thin.
The jury is not out on this one. We find in favor of the movie.
Review adjourned.
P. S. The trial was too much for William Jennings Bryan who had an enormous appetite. His food intake, the heat, the strain, and age caught up with him five days after the trial when he would collapse and die. His days of helping states pass anti-Darwin legislation for education came to an abrupt end.
P. P. S. The conviction was overturned but not because the law was judged unconstitutional. The Tennessee Supreme Court reversed the decision because the judge had decided the fine instead of the jury. The A.C.L.U. hoped this would eliminate the law. It didn't. It would remain on the books for another fifty years.
P. P. P. S. One in three Americans still believe in creationism, and reject evolution.
P. P. P. P. S. I stand corrected. According to the Coach, as much as 63% of our population do not believe in evolution.
Description of Inherit the Wind
Two-time Best Actor Oscar?(r) winners* Spencer Tracy and Fredric March go toe-to-toe in this thrilling re-creation of the most titanic courtroom battle of the century. Garnering four Academy Award?(r) nominations**, including Best Actor (Tracy), and featuring Gene Kelly in a rare, critically-acclaimed dramatic role, Inherit the Wind is powerful, provocative cinema and "a heaping measure of entertainment" (The Hollywood Reporter)! The controversial subject of evolution versus creation causes two polar opposites to engage in one explosive battle of beliefs. Attorney Clarence Darrow (Tracy) faces off against fundamentalist leader William Jennings Bryan (March) in a small Tennessee town where a teacher has been brought to trial for teaching Darwinism. Let the trial begin...and watch the sparks fly!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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