Inherit the Wind (1960)

☆ ☆ ☆

Inherit the Wind (1960) – S. Kramer

It is disconcerting to say the least to watch this 55 year old movie presenting a fictionalized version of the 1925 Snopes Monkey Trial and to realize that in 2015 the same controversy over evolutionary theory still exists in America.  Check this recent poll:  http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/29/evolution-gm-food-climate-change-us-survey?CMP=ema_632   Unfortunately, the movie is rather ham-fisted, painting the fundamentalist Christians in a particularly unsubtle light – although there are certainly continuing examples of true stupidity among their ranks (I’m thinking Westboro Baptist Church, for example).  So, perhaps the target is too easy and Frederic March makes things worse by playing the zealous prosecuting attorney as a buffoon who seeks to scapegoat the young man (Dick York from Bewitched) who teaches evolution when it has been declared illegal perhaps to enhance his own image as well as his god’s.  Spencer Tracy is fine as the defense attorney, even charming in his gruff way, but his courtroom tactics seem weak.  The script and much of the acting (for example, Gene Kelly as a cynical reporter) are subpar.  However, I’ll admit that it is rousing to see science championed publicly like this and I’m glad to think that this film has achieved classic status for some, even if it isn’t a stellar film.