Inherit the Wind (1960)

A Black and White Movie For a Technicolor World

This is the second in my "series" of films for which I am truly thankful, the problem with that being that it is the first one that most of you will be reading. Such is life. In my first review, which was actually more of a thumbnail appreciation of the original production of THE THING (a film that literally shaped the rest of my life), I mentioned that there was another film that had taught me an important lesson at the age of 12, one that I hope I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Well, INHERIT THE WIND is that film.

Directed by Stanley Kramer, INHERIT THE WIND gives us a very fictionalized account of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial in which a man was tried and convicted for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in a Tennessee school. Virtually all of the names and locations have been changed as have many of the pertinent facts because this was never intended to be anything more than a work of historical fiction through which the director and the screenwriters expressed their points of view. I do admit as I've looked back on it over the years that it does come down a bit harshly on the anti-evolution Christian segment, but then they were never intended to portray actual people as much as they were meant to represent the generalized sentiment held by a large segment of society at that time and in that place. The pro-evolution forces are not without their warts--Gene Kelly's newspaper reporter is an extremely obnoxious character who supposedly represents H.L. Mencken who covered the actual trial. He's abrasive,crude,and a symbol of everything that's wrong with the so called "intellectual elite".

As I said earlier this is not a review per se. I merely want to tell you why I am thankful for this particular film. So here goes. At the end of the film Spencer Tracy who has been representing the defendant prepares to leave the courthouse for the last time. He gathers up all of his papers and the copy of Darwin's book he has been using for reference during the trial. Then he spots a copy of the Bible on the table. He picks it up, and holding Darwin's book in one hand and the Bible in the other he seems to be weighing them against each other as if to see which one is physically heavier. Finally he simply puts them together and walks out of the courthouse with both them both. What I took from this scene and from the film itself was that it was never necessary to completely discard one thing in order to embrace another, and that seemingly disparate ideas could co-exist as long as the mind that held them was willing to contain them both. Creationism vs Evolution, Christianity vs Atheism are like seeing things as black white when everything is really in Technicolor.

November 28, 2008

Excellent film, if a big over-acted

This is an excellent adaption of a great American play, although a bit over-acted, especially by Fredric March. There is absolutely nothing subtle about his performance. I also found Gene Kelly's performance to be quite good. I think his character should be found to be just as annoying as March's, just as self-righteous in his own way. The ending of the movie is one of my favorites... with Drummond slapping the 2 books together as 1 when he walks out. That to me is the most important message of the movie, that science and religion can work together. July 23, 2008

So tense, you can cut the atmosphere with a knife

I've been watching a number of Spencer Tracy films recently, having become friendly with someone who knew him. His warm yet laconic style brings something special to every part, and this great movie is no exception. Court dramas have a special appeal of their own and for some reason this reminds me of A Few Good Men - maybe because the action centres around the unexpected performance of a key witness. I especially like the informal style of the 1920s courthouse, with bias on view throughout the whole proceedings. Tracy retains his cool, helped by a brilliant cast who create one those memorable moments in cinema when Frederic March cracks under pressure. Watch for a great piece of work from Gene Kelly and Harry Morgan as the oh-so plausible judge. It's just over $7 on Amazon - much cheaper than a movie ticket. June 4, 2008

So bad a film, it quickly found a home in our rubbish bin!

Total manipulation and bias throughout the entire movie.
The Producers of this movie must have thought that the people viewing this film, are as stupid as the characters they had portrayed as "Christians".
So far removed from any truth. The only thing this film is "based on" is the Director's own personal bias.
Just because "one" has the money to make a film, doesn't mean that "one" has the intelligence to do so, or even the right to insult the intelligence of others. Don't waste your time or your money on this film. March 26, 2008

An Old film with a Modern Theme

This is an old film, but the subject is taken right out of todays headlines. You must see this film. February 23, 2008

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