Inherit the Wind

Released Nov 1, 1960

2 hr. 7 min.

Drama

List

93%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

91%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the 1920s, Tennessee schoolteacher Bertram Cates (Dick York) is put on trial for violating the Butler Act, a state law that prohibits public school teachers from teaching evolution instead of creationism. Drawing intense national attention in the media with writer E. K. Hornbeck (Gene Kelly) reporting, two of the nation's leading lawyers go head to head: Matthew Harrison Brady (Fredric March) for the prosecution, and Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy) for the defense.

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CodyZamboni

Movie was compelling all the way. I was surprised at the serio-comic tone, but it works. The movie is also sharp, insightful, intense, and fair minded, by showing the hypocrisy on both sides of the issue. All of this anchored by powerhouse performances by Tracy and March. And it was nice to see the famous BACK TO THE FUTURE clocktower square

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

What a great movie. As an atheist, I can't believe I've never heard of this movie till now. It's sad that almost 100 years later and people still don't accept evolution.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

dave s

At a time when blind faith, willful ignorance and superstition continue to try to trump science and logic, Stanley Kramer's Inherit the Wind proves to be as timely today as it was when originally released over sixty years ago. Inspired by the Scopes Monkey Trial, the film tells the story of a grade school teacher charged for violating state law when he introduces his class to evolution. The film wastes no time getting to the meat of the matter and remains a compelling courtroom drama. While Gene Kelly's portrayal of a smug news reporter seems unnecessary and distracting, the rest of the cast is spot on, most notably Spencer Tracy in what could be his most compelling performance as the defense attorney.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A classic courtroom drama which pits human intellect against faith and two of the greatest screen icons - Spencer Tracy and Fredric March against each other in truly masterful performances. Inherit the Wind is a thinly veiled fictionalisation of the "Scopes Monkey Trial" which had the country on the edge of its seat in 1925 deciding on a teacher, John T. Scopes', ability to teach Darwin's Theory of Evolution in his Tennessee classroom which employed the real life giants of the day - leading civil rights' attorney Clarence Darrow (encouraged to serve by journalist H. L. Mencken) and "The Great Commoner" and 3 time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan. In the film, Bertram Cates (played by a pre-Bewitched Dick York) is defended by Henry Drummond (Darrow/Tracy) as Matthew Harrison Brady (Bryan/March) attempts to drive the devil out of the sleepy town. Tracy and March give two of the most electrifying tandem performances - they truly feed off of each other while also vying to shine brighter than the other. This production is legendary for the fact that spectators would come from all over the studio to watch these stars shine in their performances. In spite of all that, Gene Kelly, really stands out for me in this film - one of his first dramatic roles to battle his singing and dancing type casting. Kelly plays E. K. Hornbeck (Mencken), a journalist who is the voice of the outside world looking in and the cynical newsman cutting through the bravado. He delivers one of my favourite ever lines "Mr. Brady, it is the duty of a newspaper to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." The dialogue throughout is appropriately snappy, heady, or sentimental. Helped, in part, by writer Nedrick Young who director Stanley Kramer bravely hired despite his blacklisting. Which brings us to the other underlining message of the film, made in the shadow of McCarthyism, is a parable of the Senator Joseph McCarthy's long tirade against intellectual discourse. Inherit the Wind beautifully compares this to the acceptance of the proven truth of science over the fantastical religious beliefs of The Book of Genesis. Tracy's closing speech about the simple sweet wonder we give up when we learn the truth or accept technological advancements can still be viewed today with dear appreciation for "good ol' days" and is prescient in regards to our advancing world's privacy concerns. Inherit the Wind continues to offer so much to viewers on many levels. Only a true classic can say that.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

david f

Brings to life the Scopes Monkey Trial and that time in American history when the evangelical, rural way of life clashed with science and modernity. That battle has yet to end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

trevor t

Really good. Tracy and Kelly are excellent. Well worth watching. Would have given it fives stars but for a few historical inaccuracies although they are understandable as the film was not only pointing out the lunacy of creationism but pointing a finger a McCarthyism as well.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Stanley Kramer

Director

Spencer Tracy

Henry Drummond

Fredric March

Matthew Harrison Brady

Gene Kelly

E. K. Hornbeck

Florence Eldridge

Mrs. Sarah Brady

Dick York

Bertram T. Cates

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Spencer Tracy does his cuddly curmudgeon turn as Clarence Darrow; it's a lazy, vague performance, but its wit provides the only crack of light in the film's somber, gray overcast.

Aug 13, 2007

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Tolerably gripping in its old-fashioned way, thanks chiefly to old pro performances from Tracy and March as the rival lawyers and ideologists.

Feb 9, 2006

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Extraordinarly vivid, rich, and wise about the core questions of how we know and who we are.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 4, 2003

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Gerri Major

Jet Magazine

Inherit The Wind is a masterpiece.

Jan 17, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Still relevant.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 18, 2021

Full Review

Jordan M. Smith

IONCINEMA.com

Kramer's film speaks volumes about how fear and ignorance still drive attempts to cage liberal thought and how we must stand up against such human rights violations.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 29, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

In the 1920s, Tennessee schoolteacher Bertram Cates (Dick York) is put on trial for violating the Butler Act, a state law that prohibits public school teachers from teaching evolution instead of creationism. Drawing intense national attention in the media with writer E. K. Hornbeck (Gene Kelly) reporting, two of the nation's leading lawyers go head to head: Matthew Harrison Brady (Fredric March) for the prosecution, and Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy) for the defense.

Director: Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter: Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee, Nedrick Young, Harold Jacob Smith
Distributor: Fox, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., United Artists
Production Co: Lomitas Productions Inc.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 1960, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 20, 2010
Sound Mix: Mono

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