Inherit the Wind (1960)
Teacher B.T. Cates is arrested for teaching Darwin's theories. Famous lawyer
Henry Drummond defends him; fundamentalist politician Matthew Brady prosecutes.
This is a very thinly disguised rendition of the 1925 "Scopes monkey trial" with debates
between Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan taken largely from the transcripts.
Directed by Stanley Kramer
Writing credits: (WGA) Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee,Nedrick Young,
Harold Jacob Smith
Cast:
Spencer Tracy .... Henry Drummond
Fredric March .... Matthew Harrison Brady
Gene Kelly .... E. K. Hornbeck
Dick York .... Bertram T. Cates
Donna Anderson .... Rachel Brown
Harry Morgan .... Judge Mel
Claude Akins .... Rev. Jeremiah Brown
Elliott Reid .... Prosecutor Tom Davenport
Paul Hartman .... Deputy Horace Meeker (bailiff)
Philip Coolidge .... Mayor Jason Carter
Jimmy Boyd .... Howard (biology student)
Noah Beery Jr. .... John Stebbins
Norman Fell .... WGN Chicago Radio Broadcaster
Gordon Polk .... George Sillers (juror accepted)
Hope Summers .... Mrs. Krebs (righteous townswoman)
Ray Teal .... Jessie H. Dunlap (farmer/juror excused)
Renee Godfrey .... Mrs. Stebbins
Florence Eldridge .... Mrs. Sarah Brady
Jack Daly .... Eskimo Pie Vendor in Courtroom
Richard Deacon .... Juror or court gallery
Lester Dorr .... Doctor John
George Dunn .... Banker (critic at city meeting)
Donald Elson .... Bollinger
Sam Harris .... Courtroom Extra
Earle Hodgins .... Dr. Britton's Tonic Spieler with Chimp
Wendell Holmes .... Undetermined Role
Frank Mills .... Courtroom Extra
Robert Osterloh .... Sam (deputy who arrests Cates)
Bob Perry .... Courtroom Reporter
'Snub' Pollard .... Courtroom Extra
Addison Richards .... Reporter at the dinner table
Harry Tenbrook .... Courtroom Extra
Charles Wagenheim .... Hotel Clerk
Will Wright .... Bible salesman
Produced by Stanley Kramer .... producer
Original Music by Ernest Gold
Cinematography by Ernest Laszlo
Film Editing by Frederic Knudtson
Casting by James Lister Lynn Stalmaster
Production Design by Rudolph Sternad
Makeup Department Larry Germain .... hair stylist
Bud Westmore .... makeup artist
Production Management Clem Beauchamp .... production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ivan Volkman .... assistant director
Art Department Art Cole .... property master
Sound Department Walter Elliott .... sound editor
Joe Lapis .... sound engineer
Other crew:
Sam Freedle .... script supervisor
Martin Kashuk .... assistant company grip
Joe King .... wardrobe
Anne P. Kramer .... assistant to producer
Stanley Kramer .... presenter
Reverend Thomas R. Marshall .... technical advisor
Roy Roberts .... chief gaffer
Morris Rosen .... company grip
Herman Shumlin .... stage
Runtime: 128 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Sound Mix: Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification: Australia:G / Canada:PG (video rating) / Finland:K-8 /
Sweden:11 / USA:PG
Trivia: The title of the movie comes from the Book of Proverbs, 11:29: "He that troubleth
his own house shall inherit the wind."Based on the true events of the Scopes
Monkey Trial which took place in Dayton, Tennessee in 1925.Was the first in-flight
movie ever shown on Trans World Airlines.When Stanley Kramer offered the role
of E.K. Hornbeck to Gene Kelly, Kelly initially turned it down. Kramer told him that
his co-stars would be Fredric March and Spencer Tracy, and Kelly changed his mind.
This was a risky move on Kramer's part, as he had not yet asked March or Tracy to
participate.Robert Vaughn was offered the role of E.K. Hornbeck, in case Gene Kelly
turned it down. But he instead opted to make The Magnificent Seven (1960).To heighten
the tension of Spencer Tracy's final summation to the jury, the scene was filmed in a
single take.Writers Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee named the overzealous
prosecutor "Matthew Brady". When 'Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle' was tried for manslaughter
three times in 1921/22, the real overzealous prosecuting San Francisco District Attorney
was named Matthew Brady.When Drummond's attempt to call scientific experts to the
stand to testify in behalf of the defense is thwarted, Stanley Kramer adds a couple of
elements from the actual Scopes Trial, combining the fiery closing of Clarence Darrow s speech on the motion to quash the indictment with the change in which Judge Raulston
cited Darrow for contempt.The character Henry Drummond is based on real-life attorney
Clarence Darrow. Matthew Harrison Brady is based on William Jennings Bryan.
Schoolteacher, Bertram T. Cates is based on schoolteacher John Thomas Scopes,
(hence "Scopes Monkey Trial").A young Burt Reynolds got to visit the set and watch
some of the courtroom scenes being filmed because he was doing some TV work
nearby and Spencer Tracy was one of his idols.The character of E.K. Hornbeck was
based on American journalist H. L. Mencken, who had notably covered the Scopes trial.Fredric March and Spencer Tracy both played the dual roles of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde in 1932 and
Goofs: Factual errors: When Drummond reads to Brady from the book of Genesis,
his bible is opened to a section closer to the end of the book.
Quotes: E. K. Hornbeck: [Cates rises as his girlfriend is called to testify]
Sit down, Samson, you're about to get a haircut.
Awards: Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations
Tagline: It's all about the monkey trial that rocked America.
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