“Inherit the Wind” got my brain spinning in so many different directions, I had a hard time going to sleep last night. It was fabulous.
Dick York stars as Bert Cates, a high school teacher who decides to teach the theory of evolution in his class. The town of Hillsboro has a law that only creationism should be taught in the public schools, and when word reaches the authorities that he has brought Darwin into the classroom, they come to arrest him. Making matters worse is the fact that Bert is engaged to Rachel, the daughter of the Reverend, Bert’s biggest enemy. Ranting and raving from the pulpit and on the streets, the Reverend has denounced Bert, calling him a sinner and a servant of the Devil. Rachel is torn between her love for Bert and her devotion to her father, but the more her father preaches, the more he rails against her as well, until he finally pronounces that she, too, will go to hell for loving Bert.
The issue quickly escalates from one of creationism vs. evolution to one of human rights and religion, and high-profile lawyers are called in. On the side of the prosecution, Matthew Brady (Fredric March), a man well-known for his Bible-believing ways. For the defense, Henry Drummond(Spencer Tracy) arguing that perhaps evolution isn’t so wrong after all. Newspaper reporter E. K. Hornbeck (Gene Kelly) is on hand to prove sarcastic comments on Bert’s behalf.
As the trial ramps up, the townspeople become involved, rallying, protesting, and hanging Bert in effigy. Each of them a God-fearing person, they proclaim their belief that Bert should be condemned, and they look upon Matthew Brady as the savior who will deliver them from evil.
This movie was absolutely fascinating. We see both sides at their worst and at their best. We see the Christians portrayed not only as believers but as fanatics, and we see the evolutionists portrayed as free-thinkers but yet sinners. As both sides argued back and forth, each making their own claims, the viewer could take it all in and decide for themselves what they think and how they feel.
I think this would be a marvelous movie to watch with your teenagers, to show them the incredible power of debate, and to let them see the importance of free speech. There is a little bit of swearing, but nothing that offended me. The acting was superb, especially on the part of Spencer Tracy, who is a superlative performer. The only thing I found to criticize was the incessant singing of “Give Me That Old Time Religion.” This was also the only movie with Gene Kelly I’ve seen where he was not singing and dancing. The man can act, as well.
(This movie was rated PG.)
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