Inherit the Wind

By far the best of Stanley Kramer's "message" movies. Fascinating thinly disguised filming of the Scopes monkey trial, with Gene Kelly as H. L. Mencken a brilliant piece of casting

Hmm... the original case was in 1925... and this movie was made in 1960 (I bet it caused quite a stir in the south then too), so let's see... *looks at calender, feels deep shame for humanity*

Incredible acting and great comic relief by Gene Kelly. It's sad that this is still relevant 50 years later. The beginning 20 minutes are what make my score not be higher though, a bit too long. The stuff in the courtroom is excellent but everything outside of it made me long for them to return back to what was truly interesting. Love Spencer Tracy.

Excellent depiction of both the small town mentality and the evolution debate. The two leads do a great job with some excellent speeches and really manage to make both characters sympathetic. The romantic angle feels tacked on but luckily only plays a small role.

Some of my favorite movies are just about people talking and trying to reach some sort of understanding. There isn't much plot driven drama at the heart of Inherit the Wind-- the results of the trail are immaterial to two old men trying to figure out what their lives have meant and where the future of the country they love is headed. It's simple, haunting, and smart.

It's a high-pitched battle that pits the defender of Truth, Knowledge and Independent Thought (Spencer Tracy) against a firebreathing ignoramus (Fredric March). The courtroom proceedings are unconvincing and overly dramatic, and Kramer's blunt use of the crowd to rile up emotions is shameless. Tracy sweats and grimaces a lot (he was nominated for an Oscar); March blusters and bellows (before thankfully dropping dead). It could only be considered a classic if you saw it from 100 meters.

Superb performances, of particular note Spencey Tracer and Gene Kelly, on an issue which is surprisingly still relevant today. While liberties have been taken with what is and isn't acceptable in the court room watching with the frame of mind that Creationism is not a science and arguing for or against it goes outside logical thinking you simply have to let some stuff slide, especially in a court room.

Spencer Tracy is wonderful in this intelligent courtroom drama. There's probably a number of liberties taken with the truth, but it's a good watch nonetheless.

A fascinating - and sometimes kind of infuriating - topic, this seems like past times but these days it doesn't always seem like that., It's silly for an entire nation to be expected to follow the religious beliefs of a certain group, but there are still people who see no evil in that. This movie raises the topic in an interesting way. Our freedom to think and to make our own decisions, as long as they cause no harm to others, should be given. Wonderful acting and such an important topic.

Kramer did his best work with Tracy. This fictionalized dramatization of the Scopes Monkey Trial is at times shockingly accurate to how the actual trial played out. At times it enhances things for dramatic purposes, but sometimes it is less absurd than reality. Tracy is great and March is just as good, playing an interesting character with depth. The relationship between the two is one of the more interesting aspects. Kelly doesn't have a ton to do and seems shoehorned in.

This is a nice, well-made (and vey well-acted) film that is very representative with my issues with Kramer as a filmmaker. He mikes nice films that appeal to middle-class liberals while not really saying anything really controversial or getting to the real meat of the issue. He stacks the deck here by making the opponent Claude Akins playing the worst kind of hateful, narrow-minded fundamentalist.

I am a man, not a sponge.

"bir çocuğun çarpım tablosunu ezberlemesinde şu bağırdığınız "amin"lerdekinden, "kutsallığın kutsallığı"ndan ve "şükür"lerden çok daha fazla kutsallık vardır."

11.16 Hobbit

Comes alive during the courtroom sequences, but I have to say that watching two hours of ignorant people refusing to accept (or even engage with) scientific facts is a tough sell for me these days.

Probably the most ridiculous courtroom drama I've ever seen, with not even the slightest attempt made at mimesis. The trial ranges from horrendously argued, totally immaterial mud-slinging to utter chaos overseen by a completely oblivious judge. The acting is over-the-top aside from Dick York who isn't really acting at all. The finale is pitiful. The sponge bit is admittedly hilarious. It's a shame, because I'd love to see an approximation of what the real-life proceedings looked like.

Wow! Excellent courtroom drama film, but what really shines is the performances of Frederic March and Spencer Tracy! Two film legends doing what they did best. A master class in acting.

I hadn't seen this since high school, but I remember really liking it so I gave it a top score. Years later, I find it a bit overwrought with characters becoming caricatures much like ancient Greek theater. How startling, though, to see how relevant it still remains today. Yes, the courtroom antics can be exhausting and the two repeated songs maddening; still, March and Tracy are at their best even while Mencken (er, Kelly) tries to grab all the good lines.

Found it a little preachy (pun intended) but really liked some of the long winded speeches. It very sad that this film still has relevance more than 40 years later.

Bigotry is nothing new...

great acting, great dialogues but terrible provacation and that turns the movie into a simple melodrama. i think that the directors must not push us to stand in one of the sides in movies like this.

A wonderful movie and it's amazing that the roles have completely reversed in less than 100 years. Satan is laughing at how easily we are fooled.

This is a very different from what we are seeing nowadays. A talkie movie with old main characters, that and the religious extremism and how is related with some of today's views on other subjects makes it a very interesting film, but not really a good film.

A gripping and consistently relevant film; passionately acted and appropriately--if sensationally--high-pitched, "Inherit the Wind" should be viewed no matter what side of the debate you sit on.

86.500

Too wordy.

This film is great. Pity me that I cannot help but feel myself rather close to the character of that cynical journalist (based on H.L. Mencken) -non-believer in every sense, unlike the other two protagonists, and the director, of course

Its roots as a play are inadequately camouflaged, given far too much opportunity for high-toned hamming during the heavy-handed, moralizing speeches. But it's hamming done by guys who know what they're doing, at least. Most of the characters are so black-and-white that they might as well be figures in a parable, not a drama, leaving Brady's wife the most sympathetic character in the movie--beautifully played by Florence Eldridge.

We know the argument, we've heard the diatribes, we know who's right and the theatricality of the dialogue bespeaks more moralizing than dramatic conflict, so it basically all boils down to the appreciation of great deep-focus cinematography and veteran actors who are very sure of themselves.

2x

- 4/12/06

A spectacular script elevates the film past its somewhat manipulative nature and limited perspective. That's the worst thing that can be said about it, however. Tracy and March are both excellent in their conflict, but all the characters are given moments of great interest. A worthwhile courtroom drama, even if it is more of a monologue than a debate.

I thought this was decent, but not really much more. The acting is good and all, but it just kind of wasn't super exciting.

It's scary (and sad) to think that the subject matter of a film that was made over 50 years ago, about an event that took place over 85 years ago, should still arouse debate, controversy and anger. A bit simplistic in its portrayal of the American South (although I wasn't there in 1925, so I could be wrong). Spencer Tracy gives an amazing performance, and Gene Kelly is delightful as a sort of comedic devil's advocate.

I've leafed through Sarris's The American Cinema a few times, I remember seeing Kramer's name under Strained Seriousness. Holy shit, he wasn't exaggerating.

loved tracy and kelly, a couple of the other people kind of over did it, but it's an over all great movie. the dialog here is the best part, but it somewhat fails in it's understanding of the american legal system, this court case is so cut an dry at this time that the majority of the argument is completely moot. now if it were the state supreme court that would have been another matter. too many of the characters are polarized, but it's certainly not a movie to pass up.

Excellent film dealing with the still-timely issue of science vs religion, in the context of the 'Monkey Scopes' trial. Supporting characters are a little shrill and one-dimensional at times, with the exception of Gene Kelly, unlikely but convincing as the cynical reporter. But it boils down to an epic courtroom confrontation between the two titans Tracy and March who are both incredible as they defend their cases. Probably the least dated of Kramer's 'message pictures'.

Splendid theatrics with fine performances, marred by boring subplots but enhanced by a realistic portrait of a sweltering Southern town.

Direction uninspired. Play good. Performances excellent.

nothing but a propaganda piece. this could have been good if it wasn't trying so hard to put its spin on the actual events

Superb performances, great dialog, and genuinely-interesting debate.

We need a similar trial for the infallibility of the Koran now.

the fact that the subject matter is still so relevant today is pretty sad. remarkable classic courtroom drama

a classic about a theme that just doesn't seem to go away; great characterizations by Tracy, March, and Kelly

As near perfect as a politically-oriented legal drama can get. Relevant. Well-acted. Must-see.

Spencer Tracy and Frederic March are a pleasure to watch together. A highlight in Stanley Kramer's career.