Inherit the Wind

[CARLHAYDEN]

Although the quantity (and IMHO) the overal quality of films from Hollywood has seriously dropped, some films distill points marvelously,

Inherit the Wind, is in my opinion, one of the truly great films for a number of reasons.

Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee followed Shakespeare's method of basing their play on historical basis (facts are frequently more strange than fiction). 

First, the plot and subplots are marvelous.  The shallow may believe thaf the central plot was simply about "evolution."  They may also swallow the ostensible reasons given for conflicts in Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels at face level as well.

Two central plot elements were:

a. Man against the state. Cates/Scopes clearly, courageously and non-violently dared to oppose the state.  Many of you may be too young to know of the courages chinese man who (armed only with a shopping bag) stood in front of a line of PLA tanks during the Tianamen square movement for freedom (and subsequent massacre).

b. Majority opinion can be wrong.  Should Cates/Scopes give up his thoughtfully arrived at conclusions because the majority in his community disagreed with them.  Were those beliefs "invalid" (to use the term of a certain poster here) simply because they did not conform with majority opinion?

Some subplots:

a. Respect for opponent.  Both of the principal counsel in the play/film Brady/Bryan and Drummond/Darrow repeatedly show respect for one another. 

b. Basis for opinion.  One of the major subplots is whether one should accept the truth of an assertion merely because it is made by an authority (Ethos) or instead logically examine the facts (logos).

Second, the dialogue is simply fantastic.  Virtually every character get a chance (often in numerous occasions) to deliver scintilating lines.

a. In freely confess that I am a fan of H.L. Mencken.  I also think that Gene Kelly was one of the most underrated actors.  He has so many 'bon mots' in the play (the character he plays is E. K. Hornbeck) that its impossible to slect just a few to post here.  Stongly recommend everyone rent/buy the movie.

b. Frecerich March (one of the great actors of the thirties) who portrays Brady/Bryan, also has many great lines.

C. Of course Spencer Tracy who stars as Henry Drummond (Clarence Darrow) is also one of my favorite actors, and has a number of delicious lines to deliver with his wonderful deadpan style.

Third, the film repeadly examines the element of bias in the proceedings:

a.  Of course there is the manner of the banners.

b.  Then there is the matter of the honorary Colonels.

c.  Further, there is the announcement of the prayer meeting from the bench.

See next post for more info on the great film.

[Dr. Cynic]

This is one of my favorite movies, and one of my favorite shows to perform. I have played three lead characters (Drummond, Brady, and Hornbeck) in different productions.

It's not all accurate as far as the Scopes Trial went, the Defense team was actually much more formidible than the prosecution. Darrow and Bryan had been friends and that is played up... The Hornbeck character is mellowed a bit at the end, as compared to the always acid H. L. Mencken (Kelly is from Pittsburgh, too).

Oh, CARL... I usually am pretty lax about people's spelling, but I've always done this... You're right in calling "Fredric" March one of the greatest actors of all time.

I think of the three leads though, Tracy was the most talented.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Fourth, the cast of actors, both the major characters, and the supporting cast is one of the best in the history of American motion picture production.

Spencer Tracy as Henry Drummond (Clarence Darrow),  He was a two time Academy Award winner for best actor.

Frederich March as Matthew Harrison Brady (William Jennings Bryan) Academy Award Winner for Best Actor.  Portayed President ifn Rod Serling's Seven Days in May.

Gene Kelly as E.K Hornbeck (H. L. Mencken)  Emmy and Golden Globe winner.  Producer and director later in his life.

Dick York as Bertram Cates (John Thomas Scopes).  Probably the best performance of his life.  

Harry Morgan as Judge Mel.  (Dragnet and M*A*S*H*)

Claude Akins as the Rev. Jeremiah Brown (Sherrif Lobo)

Paul Hartman as Deputy/Baliff Horace Meeker (Petticoat Junction, The Andy Griffin Show, Mayberry R.F.D. - and a Tony award winner)

Noah Berry, Jr. as John Stebbins. (Rockford Files)

Norman Fell as WGN radio broadcaster (another Golden Globe winner)

What a cast!

[CARLHAYDEN]

This is one of my favorite movies, and one of my favorite shows to perform. I have played three lead characters (Drummond, Brady, and Hornbeck) in different productions.

It's not all accurate as far as the Scopes Trial went, the Defense team was actually much more formidible than the prosecution. Darrow and Bryan had been friends and that is played up... The Hornbeck character is mellowed a bit at the end, as compared to the always acid H. L. Mencken (Kelly is from Pittsburgh, too).

Oh, CARL... I usually am pretty lax about people's spelling, but I've always done this... You're right in calling "Fredric" March one of the greatest actors of all time.

I think of the three leads though, Tracy was the most talented.

First, thanks for the correction.  Still having problems adjusting to new keyboard.

Second, yes, Tracy was perhaps the greatest male film actor of all time.   Suggest you get Videohound to get a listing of his films.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Of course, even with great material, and superior actors, a film requires a superior director to turn it into a masterpiece.

Stanley Kramer (a leftist) is surely one of the great directors of all times.  Some of his outstanding films include:

Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.  I think this is the funniest movie of all time.  Really love the scene where Jonathan Winters destroys the service station.

Judgement at Nuremberg  (another black and white classic with a great cast, and yes, a trial movie too)

[CARLHAYDEN]

Oh, and here's a couple of quotes from the film:

Matthew Harrison Brady: I do not think about things I do not think about.
Henry Drummond: Do you ever think about things that you do think about?


Henry Drummond: But all you have to do is knock on any door and say, "If you let me in, I'll live the way you want me to live, and I'll think the way you want me to think," and all the blinds'll go up and all the windows will open, and you'll never be lonely, ever again. If that's the case, I'll change the plea - that is, if you know the law's right and you're wrong

[jokerman]

I've only seen the version with George C. Scott in it.

[J. J.]

I've only seen the version with George C. Scott in it.

I've seen that version and the original in my childhood.  Both were excellent.

My understanding is that Scopes was actually asked to challenged the law because local businessmen:

1.  Thought that the law made the state look backward.

2.  There were questions about the high school diploma being accepted by colleges.

3.  They wanted the publicity.

[afleitch]

Ranks up there with 12 Angry Men as one of the greates movies pf it's kind

[Dr. Cynic]

Of course, even with great material, and superior actors, a film requires a superior director to turn it into a masterpiece.

Stanley Kramer (a leftist) is surely one of the great directors of all times.  Some of his outstanding films include:

Its a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.  I think this is the funniest movie of all time.  Really love the scene where Jonathan Winters destroys the service station.

Judgement at Nuremberg  (another black and white classic with a great cast, and yes, a trial movie too)

I love Tracy, and I consider him to be the greatest actor of all time, rivaled only by Marlon Brando. The reason I consider Tracy better was because he was never lazy like Brando often was. I study Tracy's acting extensively, both in my classes, as well as privately. I thought the greatest compliment I ever recieved was from my high school drama teacher who compared me to Tracy (When my peers say I was more like Robin Williams, who I also like).

I love It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World as well. Hard to pick the best effort, but I give that to Jonathan Winters, the godfather of improv comedy. Best cameo for me had to be Peter Falk or Paul Ford.

As I've said, I love most of Tracy's movies... Nuremberg also ranks high on my list... I remember the first time I saw that movie and seeing William "Denny Crane" Shatner as his assistant, I nearly died laughing because that's just how I see Shatner now.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Shatner was the prosecutor in The Andersonville Trial.