IMDb > Inherit the Wind (1960)
Inherit the Wind
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Inherit the Wind (1960) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   14,798 votes »
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Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Nedrick Young (screenplay) (originally as Nathan E. Douglas) and
Harold Jacob Smith (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Inherit the Wind on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
November 1960 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Tagline:
It's all about the monkey trial that rocked America.
Plot:
Based on a real-life case in 1925, two great lawyers argue the case for and against a science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(65 articles)
Mindy Newell: Kiss*
 (From Comicmix. 20 May 2013, 5:00 AM, PDT)

Kiss*
 (From Comicmix. 29 April 2013, 5:43 AM, PDT)

How Many of the Movies from Roger Ebert's List of Great Movies Have You Seen?
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 10 April 2013, 4:28 PM, PDT)

User Reviews:
If there is such a thing as a perfect movie, this is it. See more (148 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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 Coffey

Claude Akins ... Rev. Jeremiah Brown

Elliott Reid ... Prosecutor Tom Davenport
Paul Hartman ... Bailiff Mort Meeker
Philip Coolidge ... Mayor Jason Carter
Jimmy Boyd ... Howard

Noah Beery Jr. ... John Stebbins

Norman Fell ... WGN Radio Technician
Gordon Polk ... George Sillers

Hope Summers ... Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman

Ray Teal ... Jessie H. Dunlap
Renee Godfrey ... Mrs. Stebbins
Florence Eldridge ... Sarah Brady
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gail Bonney ... Fundamentalist Woman (uncredited)
Jack Daly ... Eskimo Pie Vendor in Courtroom (uncredited)
Lester Dorr ... Dr. John (uncredited)

Donald Elson ... Bollinger (uncredited)
Duke Fishman ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
David Fresco ... Threatening Spectator (uncredited)
Sam Harris ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins ... Dr. Britton's Tonic Spieler with Chimp (uncredited)
Wendell Holmes ... Banker - Critic at City Meeting (uncredited)
Colin Kenny ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Thomas Martin ... Reporter in Courtroom (uncredited)
Harp McGuire ... Harry Esterbrook (uncredited)
Frank Mills ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Robert Osterloh ... Sam - Deputy Arresting Cates (uncredited)
Stephen Paylow ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Bob Perry ... Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Joe Ploski ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Bert Stevens ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Hal Taggart ... Juror (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim ... Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Justice Watson ... Hillsboro Salesman (uncredited)

Will Wright ... Bible Salesman (uncredited)
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Directed by
Stanley Kramer 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Nedrick Young (screenplay) originally as Nathan E. Douglas and
Harold Jacob Smith (screenplay)

Jerome Lawrence (play) and
Robert E. Lee (play)

Produced by
Stanley Kramer .... producer
 
Original Music by
Ernest Gold 
 
Cinematography by
Ernest Laszlo (photographed by)
 
Film Editing by
Frederic Knudtson 
 
Casting by
James Lister (uncredited)
Lynn Stalmaster (uncredited)
 
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
Leonard Kunody .... second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Art Cole .... property master
Jack Kirston .... second property master (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Walter Elliott .... sound editor
Joe Lapis .... sound engineer
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Kashuk .... assistant company grip
Roy Roberts .... chief gaffer
Morris Rosen .... company grip
Charles F. Wheeler .... camera operator (as Charles Wheeler)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joe King .... wardrobe
 
Other crew
Sam Freedle .... script supervisor
Anne P. Kramer .... assistant to producer
Stanley Kramer .... presenter
Thomas R. Marshall .... technical advisor (as The Reverend Thomas R. Marshall)
Herman Shumlin .... stage director
Herman Shumlin .... stage producer
Harold J. Samelson .... publicity campaign coordinator (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Runtime:
128 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Australia:G | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | UK:U | USA:Approved (certificate #19499) | West Germany:12 | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Spain:T

Did You Know?

Trivia:
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).See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: The signage on the buildings shown through the windows behind the judge's bench changes from day to day during the trial (i.e. the "hot and cold" sign).See more »
Quotes:
Rachel Brown:Don't you see what's happening, Bert? They're using you as a weapon against your own people. What you think or believe isn't the point any more. You're helping something bad.
Henry Drummond:Go on now, young lady, it's not as simple as all that, good or bad, black or white, day or night. Do you know that at the top of the world, the twilight is six months long?
Rachel Brown:Bert and I don't live on the top of the world, we live in Hillsboro. And when the sun goes down, it's dark. And why do you have to come here to make it different?
[...]
See more »
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
We'll Hang Bert Cates to a Sour Apple TreeSee more »

FAQ

What is 'Inherit the Wind' about?
What is Darwinism?
Is the movie pro-Darwinism or pro-Creationism?
See more »
67 out of 89 people found the following review useful.
If there is such a thing as a perfect movie, this is it., 18 June 1999
Author: Jim Corkrum (jcorkrum@corkrum.com) from Ephrata, WA

After recently watching each remake of this film, one can easily appreciate what an incredible film the 1960 version is. It is the perfectly made film and should be held up to all as the pinnacle of film making. It has the perfect director and the perfect actors. It probably has the best behind-the-scenes crew ever assembled including the perfect film editor. The choice of black and white is also perfect. This is one of those few gems where every element of film making came together to make the perfect movie.

The story is very thought provoking from both points of view, the evolutionist and the fundamental Christian. While I am not even close to being a Christian of any kind, I am haunted by the speech given by Matthew Harrison Brady that says how our children will turn into a godless mob with no direction without the teachings of the Bible (paraphrasing). But, isn't that what has happened some 80+ years after the story takes place? The actors effortlessly sell each character's point of view.

There is very little that can be said about Spencer Tracy, Frederick March and Gene Kelly that hasn't already been said. When you see the new version of this film, you can really understand why these actors are held in such high esteem. These guys are actors!

In short, this is one of the finest films ever made and should be seen by everyone.

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What kind of hat is Gene Kelly wearing in this film? TheInventor
Scary. 1925 is still happening. skysaxon
Questions for ID scientists and Creationists fcolli
we, creationists inco2007
Blu-ray SRHanson
Shocking to see Fredric March... tag65
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