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Inherit the Wind (1960)
The thunderous performances by two of the greatest actors in Hollywood history make the 1960 classic Inherit the Wind worth watching by themselves.
This is the fictionalized version of the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 where a teacher named John Scopes is arrested for teaching the theory of evolution to his students which was, of course, in direct conflict of the teachings of the Bible and had the small town where Scopoes lived up in arms. Scopes is renamed Bertam Cates for this movie and the prosecutor, Matthew Harriosn Brady and the defense attorney, Henry Drummond both travel from out of town to face each other in this historical trial. Brady is actually legendary attorney Williams Jennings Bryan and Drummond is really Clarenca Darrow.
The film is based on a play by Jerome Lawrence that opened on Broadway in 1955. The Oscar-nominated screenplay adapted by Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith is a balanced account of a squirm-worthy topic. The theories of church and state are once again put on theatrical display in the form of a compelling legal drama, though it does take its time in setting up the story and characters since the actual trial doesn't begin until about halfway through the film. During the first half of the film, we learn that the townspeople want to lynch Cates without a trial and are observed throwing things at the window of his jail cell. An element of the story revealed in the set up that was news to this reviewer is that Drummond and Brady were old friends before this trial began, bringing a layer to the proceedings we don't see coming, not to mention Henry's friendship with Brady's conflicted wife, Sarah, whose feeling about this whole trial are difficult to guage throughout.
The way the two lawyers are greeted upon their arrival in Hillsborough is like night and day and only intensifies the conflict between the lawyers. We also have our own tour guide for the trial, a newspaper reporter named EK Hornbeck (based on HL Mencken) who has come to town to cover the trial for his paper, liberally spreading his atheist sensibilities throughout the story providing unexpected but welcome comic relief.
But what really makes this movie sizzle is director Stanley Kramer's atmospheric direction and the performances by double Oscar winners Spencer Tracy and Fredric March as Drummond and Brady, respectively. Tracy's sensible good ole boy characterization against March's theatrical fire and brimstone performance burn a hole in the screen and actually had my heart beating faster. The pleasure of watching these two acting powerhouses chewing the scenery to maximum effect was unlike anything. We just don't have actors like this anymore. Especially loved Tracy during the selection of the final juror and when he calls March as his only witness, we know we're in for high octane drama and it totally delivers.
The film's Oscar nominated cinematography is a big asset, perfectly enhancing the sweaty atmosphere of the story. The solid supporting cast includes Gene Kelly, perfection as the cynical Hornbeck, providing comic relief without singing or dancing; Dick York, five years before he became Darren on Bewitched, properly sincere as Bertram Cates, Harry Morgan as the judge, and Claude Akins as Rev. Brown. Kudos as well to an actress named Florence Eldridge, in a classy turn as Brady's wife, Sarah. This is appointment viewing for classic movie fans. Remade for television twice...Jason Robards and Kirk Douglas played Drummond and Brady in 1988 and in 1999 the roles went to Jack Lemmon and George C Scott.
The thunderous performances by two of the greatest actors in Hollywood history make the 1960 classic Inherit the Wind worth watching by themselves.
This is the fictionalized version of the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925 where a teacher named John Scopes is arrested for teaching the theory of evolution to his students which was, of course, in direct conflict of the teachings of the Bible and had the small town where Scopoes lived up in arms. Scopes is renamed Bertam Cates for this movie and the prosecutor, Matthew Harriosn Brady and the defense attorney, Henry Drummond both travel from out of town to face each other in this historical trial. Brady is actually legendary attorney Williams Jennings Bryan and Drummond is really Clarenca Darrow.
The film is based on a play by Jerome Lawrence that opened on Broadway in 1955. The Oscar-nominated screenplay adapted by Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith is a balanced account of a squirm-worthy topic. The theories of church and state are once again put on theatrical display in the form of a compelling legal drama, though it does take its time in setting up the story and characters since the actual trial doesn't begin until about halfway through the film. During the first half of the film, we learn that the townspeople want to lynch Cates without a trial and are observed throwing things at the window of his jail cell. An element of the story revealed in the set up that was news to this reviewer is that Drummond and Brady were old friends before this trial began, bringing a layer to the proceedings we don't see coming, not to mention Henry's friendship with Brady's conflicted wife, Sarah, whose feeling about this whole trial are difficult to guage throughout.
The way the two lawyers are greeted upon their arrival in Hillsborough is like night and day and only intensifies the conflict between the lawyers. We also have our own tour guide for the trial, a newspaper reporter named EK Hornbeck (based on HL Mencken) who has come to town to cover the trial for his paper, liberally spreading his atheist sensibilities throughout the story providing unexpected but welcome comic relief.
But what really makes this movie sizzle is director Stanley Kramer's atmospheric direction and the performances by double Oscar winners Spencer Tracy and Fredric March as Drummond and Brady, respectively. Tracy's sensible good ole boy characterization against March's theatrical fire and brimstone performance burn a hole in the screen and actually had my heart beating faster. The pleasure of watching these two acting powerhouses chewing the scenery to maximum effect was unlike anything. We just don't have actors like this anymore. Especially loved Tracy during the selection of the final juror and when he calls March as his only witness, we know we're in for high octane drama and it totally delivers.
The film's Oscar nominated cinematography is a big asset, perfectly enhancing the sweaty atmosphere of the story. The solid supporting cast includes Gene Kelly, perfection as the cynical Hornbeck, providing comic relief without singing or dancing; Dick York, five years before he became Darren on Bewitched, properly sincere as Bertram Cates, Harry Morgan as the judge, and Claude Akins as Rev. Brown. Kudos as well to an actress named Florence Eldridge, in a classy turn as Brady's wife, Sarah. This is appointment viewing for classic movie fans. Remade for television twice...Jason Robards and Kirk Douglas played Drummond and Brady in 1988 and in 1999 the roles went to Jack Lemmon and George C Scott.