Inherit the Wind

[PygmyPlaidGiraffe]

Based largely on Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes trial (Monkey Trial) in which a teacher was jailed in 1925 for violating the Butler Act, a measure passed earlier that year to restrict the teaching of evolution in state-funded schools.

The only version I have ever watched (2 times now) is the George C. Scott / Jack Lemmon (1999) version of the play . Two strong performances, with Scott's performance of a believer particularly standing out.

 

[whitefork]

Check out the Spencer Tracy/Frederic March version in glorious black and white. Gene Kelly is very good as E. K. Hornbeck.

 

[Hexxenhammer]

The first version I saw was the 1988 TV version with Kirk Douglas. Made a big impression on me when I was 13. Especially the length of the days in genesis part and the Darrow character putting the bible and Darwin together into his bag at the end. It let me know I wasn't the only one confused about reconciling the 2 points of view (not something most 13 year olds struggle with, I was such a dork).

 

[Tricky]

I never saw the play live, but I grew up loving the Spencer Tracy/Frederick March version. When I saw the Kirk Douglas version, I was very disappointed. It seems like they toyed with the script to make it more palatable to Christian and by doing so, removed the razor's edge that it had before.

This is not supposed to be a play/movie that everyone loves. It is a play with a very big point to make. I don't like to see that point dulled.

My favorite line, "This man wishes to be given the same priveledge as a sponge. He wishes to think".

And yes, it was interesting to see Gene Kelly in a pure acting role. No dancing, no singing. He pulled it off admirably.

 

[a_unique_person]

I thought this thread was going to be about all the poor forum members choking for air after Shemp had passed through.

 

[kittynh]

Ok so how great is the school Kitten2 goes to and I work at. Required reading for middle school is "Inherit the Wind" along with their study of Darwin!!!!

I get to teach the 3 year olds about the Big Bang!


All schools should require this play as reading.

 

[Hexxenhammer]

Ok so how great is the school Kitten2 goes to and I work at. Required reading for middle school is "Inherit the Wind" along with their study of Darwin!!!!

I get to teach the 3 year olds about the Big Bang!


All schools should require this play as reading.

We read it when I was in 7th or 8th grade. Can't remember exactly.

I never saw the play live, but I grew up loving the Spencer Tracy/Frederick March version. When I saw the Kirk Douglas version, I was very disappointed. It seems like they toyed with the script to make it more palatable to Christian and by doing so, removed the razor's edge that it had before.

I also love the Tracy/March version now, but I haven't seen the Douglas version since I saw it on TV as a kid. You've made me curious what they changed.

 

[Tricky]

I also love the Tracy/March version now, but I haven't seen the Douglas version since I saw it on TV as a kid. You've made me curious what they changed.

Mostly they changed the "William Jennings Bryan" character. In the first movie, he was a firebrand who preened and preached and played to the crowd. In the made-for-TV version, he was more of a nice guy who only did this for his adoring public. It also didn't have the Darrow character thoroughly demolish the Bryan charcter, but rather showed Bryan just getting weaker. Thus, they pandered to the Jesus crowd by making it appear more a case of bad timing than an actual blow against creationism. At least that was my take on it. It really wasn't that much different, except the acting wasn't nearly as good in the later version, IMO.

 

[7th sextile]

"...Coulda been a week,coulda been a month,coulda been a year-
or it could have been ten million years ."

Historical nitpick:Scopes wasn't "jailed" for violating the
Butler Act,he was fined $100.00.The fine was overturned
on a technicality upon appeal.