Inherit the Wind

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Inherit the Wind

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Inherit the Wind

Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York, Donna Anderson

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...( read more  read more... ) 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

Id: 10896881

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Inherit the Wind Recent Reviews
  • flixsterman
    April 11, 2009
    flixsterman
    He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart - Proverbs 11:29

    In 1926, a Tennessee high school teacher named John Scopes was put on trial for teaching his students about Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. ...( read more)>Inherit the Wind is a highly fictionalized account of that trial.

    This film has a plethora of recognizable faces. Dick York, Harry Morgan and Claude Akins are wonderful, albeit one-dimensional, in their small roles. Gene Kelly and Fredric March are outstanding as supporting characters (though I did find March's poorly conceived makeup a constant distraction). But without question, the real draw here is Spencer Tracy. He's at the top of his game and this could arguably be the BEST performance of his long and lauded career. It's difficult to watch Tracy's courtroom monologs without turning to the person next to you and saying "Wow!" (In my case I turned to my cat, Val. He was not impressed.)

    *Interesting Side Note: The debate between evolutionists and creationists is still hotly contested, as witnessed by Ben Stein's 2008 satirical documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.
  • sainttom93
    December 6, 2008
    sainttom93
    This is one of the best trial/jury movies -- a real CLASSIC!
  • smith44
    November 8, 2008
    smith44
    "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind:
    and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart." (Bible quote) What a controversially stunning film.
  • hypathio7
    September 17, 2008
    hypathio7
    The script is excellent in dealing with the issues. I really don't understand why this is still an issue, why people are still so ignorant?! I suppose like the movie shows through the creationists that the problem lies in overzealousness leading to hatred, a refusal to question...( read more) old time beliefs and even open books with different ideas, and the desperate need to shout your opinion even louder when your ego and reputation are threatened. On the other hand, the muck-raking journalist played by Gene Kelly is a muck-raker. He is so snide and proud of himself, without hopes or dreams, and truly alone. I don't think people appreciate or have really listened to what Spencer Tracy's character has to say. He believes religion may appear golden on the outside, but is rotten inside. He fights for the right for people to think! He believes that there is probably some higher power or meaning to life, but not how Christians define those ideas, and that the Bible is a good book, but not the only book. He carries the Bible out of the court room with Darwin's book. The religious right think humans are sinful lesser forms of God, not much different from animals or the natural world in the way in which we are play things to God. The scientific left think humans have a higher form of reason, have made progress at understanding the world, and have the power to improve our fellow human relations. Now which one sees humans as being closer to monkeys?

    The title applies to the minister and Fredric March's character. One translation of the verse from Proverbs is "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." This is as opposed to inheriting the kingdom of heaven. When people are overzealous and hateful, refuse to question old-time beliefs or open books with different ideas, or bluster and shout more loudly when they are afraid of losing out to new ideas, they will inherit nothing but the wind!
  • DangerMagnet
    May 4, 2008
    DangerMagnet
    Had to watch it for history and was pleasantly surprised. I love Gene Kelly!
  • Yelverton
    November 20, 2009
    Yelverton
    Man this movie reeks of moron.
  • jam233
    October 21, 2009
    jam233
    This is well worth seeing for the performances alone, especially the two leads - Spencer Tracy and Fredric March. It is such an interesting story as well. It's hard to believe so many Americans were (and still are) so ignorant. Very well directed, good atmosphere, A truly great f...( read more)ilm.
  • silverbutterflyss
    September 16, 2009
    silverbutterflyss
    Based on the famous Scopes Monkey Trial of the 1920's. Spencer Tracy gives an outstanding performance along side Fredric March. The courtroom jousting between these two actors is nothing short of riviting. The tension between the two of them builds as the court case moves along l...( read more)eading to the dramatic conclusion. The biggest surprise in all this is Gene Kelly. Not that Gene Kelly wasn't an outstanding actor. But this is a totally non singing and dancing part Kelly plays. One of the all time great singer/dancers around leaves behind his musical skills and shows his dramatic skills and does an excellant job. One of the very best court room dramas ever made and based on one of the most important legal cases of the 20th century. This is rated number 3 on my all time favorite movie list and I can't recommend this movie any higher then I do to watch it.
  • devlincade
    September 1, 2009
    devlincade
    Acting does not get any better than this. The battle of wits and wills between Tracy and March, esp. in the climactic cross-examination scene is acting rarely seen today in cinema. Gene Kelly's turn as a journalist, and Tracy's foil is a small gem in a great movie.
  • poptartfiend
    August 24, 2009
    poptartfiend
    the play is incredible
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