Inherit the Wind, Stanley Kramer (1960)
The movie (1960) portrays, in partly
fictionalized form, the famous and dramatic
courtroom "Monkey Trial" battle (in the sultry
summer of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee)
between two famous lawyers (Clarence
Darrow and William Jennings Bryan) who
volunteered to heatedly argue both sides of the
case (over 12 days, including two weekends).
Its story centers around the issue of
evolution vs. creationism, in the prosecution
of 24 year-old Dayton High School
mathematics teacher and sports coach - and
substitute science teacher - John T. Scopes
for violating state law (the 1925 Butler Act)
by teaching the Darwin's theory of evolution
in a state-funded school. The film's title was
taken from the Biblical book of Proverbs
11:29: "He that troubled his own house shall
inherit the wind."
An absorbing, liberal "message" film-maker
Stanley Kramer both produced and directed the
film that modified and slightly disguised the
historical event by changing the names of
the prototypical characters and making
them fictional figures. His allegorical film
was also designed as a protest against the
repressive thinking of the 50s McCarthy
era.
The main characters :
- famed defense lawyer, 68 year-old Clarence Darrow (known for the 1924 Leopold and
Loeb case) = Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy)
- three-time former Presidential candidate, former Secretary of State, populist Chautauqua
orator and firm fundamentalist, 65 year-old William Jennings Bryan = Matthew Harrison Brady
(Fredric March)
- 24 year old Tennessee high-school biology teacher John T. (Thomas) Scopes =
Bertram T. Cates (Dick York)
- Baltimore Evening Sun's acid-penned writer/reporter H. L. Mencken = cynical newspaper
columnist of the Baltimore Herald, E. K. Hornbeck (Gene Kelly, cast against type)
- Judge John T. Raulston = Judge (Henry Morgan)
Much of the film's story (and dialogue), written into a screenplay by Nathan E. Douglas (Nedrick
Young was the blacklisted screenwriter's real name) and Harold Jacob Smith, was based on the
successful Broadway play (by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee) that opened in New York in
April, 1955. The film stars two major Oscar-winning giants and veterans of the cinema with
remarkable career-high performances - Spencer Tracy and Fredric March - who had never before
acted together in a film. The film was honored with 4 Academy Awards nominations, but won no
Oscars. The film was remade three times on television.
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The Story
The film opens with the soundtrack's ticking of the Hillsboro Court House's clock (as it approached 8
o'clock), followed by the ominous singing of the old-time gospel song Give Me That Old Time
Religion, while the camera moves past a statue of Blind Justice.
It follows four solemn, stony-faced town officials as they march across town to the local high school,
Hillsboro Consolidated School, into the classroom of a young, meek, but earnest southern highschool Biology teacher Bertram T. Cates in the fictional town of "Heavenly" Hillsboro,
Tennessee. They place him under arrest - he has broken the state law against the teaching of
the theory of evolution ("Darwin's Theory of the Descent of Man") and will soon be brought to trial
in July of 1925.
The headlines of national newspapers announce the arrest and two eminent lawyers volunteer their
services to battle the issues in the "Bible Belt" community. A parade, marching band, and open
chauffeured car welcome the celebratory arrival into town of bald, bow-tied Matthew Harrison
Brady (with the singing of Give Me That Old Time Religion) - a silver-tongued, bombastic
fundamentalist who will serve as the prosecuting "Rock of Ages" attorney.
Cynical Baltimore Herald news reporter E. K. Hornbeck, whose paper has sponsored a defense
attorney, is the only one in the town to welcome the celebrated, agnostic, libertarian Chicago
attorney Henry Drummond upon his arrival on a bus: "Hello, Devil. Welcome to Hell." One of its
most famous lines is delivered by after being asked by white, tousled-haired Drummond how old he
thinks a rock is: “I am more interested in the “Rock of Ages” than I am in the age of rocks.”
Reverend Brown rails against the defendant publicly, rallying the townspeople against Cates and
his godless attorney. The preacher's daughter Rachel is conflicted because Cates is the love of her
life. The judge clearly admires Brady, even addressing him as "Colonel" in court. Drummond
objects to this, so, as a compromise, the mayor reluctantly makes him a "temporary" colonel just for
these proceedings. Each time Drummond attempts to call a scientist or authority figure to
discuss Darwin's theories, the judge sustains the prosecution's objections and forbids such
opinions to be heard.
During the trial, the high-minded Drummond also scores when he forces Brady to declare that
only his particular interpretation of the Bible is correct - Drummond shouts out: "The Gospel
according to Brady! God speaks to Brady, and Brady tells the world! Brady, Brady, Brady,
Almighty!" Evangelical Brady loses his composure on the witness stand when grilled by
Drummond - and blurts out, like a bumbling, mindless, stammering buffoon: “All of you know what I
stand for - what I believe! I believe in the truth of the Book of Genesis! Exodus! Leviticus! Numbers!
Deuteronomy! Joshua! Judges! Ruth! First Samuel! Second Samuel!...”
Although Drummond technically loses the case when Cates is found guilty and fined a token fee
of $100 (and an outraged Brady is stricken by a heart attack and faints in the hot courtroom during
his final defense speech - he dies a few hours later) - the real victory is won by Drummond. The
defense lawyer promptly rejects the small fine and calls for an appeal to the Tennessee Supreme
Court. (Historically, Bryan died peacefully in his sleep after a heavy meal, five days after the trial
ended.)
Alone in the final scene in the courtroom, Drummond sees copies of Darwin and the Bible on the
bench. He holds Darwin's volume of Origin of Species in one hand, and the Bible in his other
hand - thoughtfully weighing them and balancing them against each other in the air. He half-smiles,
shrugs, claps them against each other, and then carries them together in one arm as he exits the
courtroom, while an acappella voice sings the stirring The Battle Hymn of the Republic.
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