Inherit the Wind (1999)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. Director:Daniel Petrie |
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Inherit the Wind (1999)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. Director:Daniel Petrie |
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| Credited cast: | |||
| Jack Lemmon | ... | ||
| George C. Scott | ... | ||
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David Wells | ... | |
| Beau Bridges | ... | ||
| Tom Everett Scott | ... | ||
| John Cullum | ... | ||
| Kathryn Morris | ... | ||
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Lane Smith | ... | |
| Brad Greenquist | ... | ||
| Piper Laurie | ... | ||
| Peter Mackenzie | ... | ||
| Jim Meskimen | ... |
Sauber
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Royce D. Applegate | ... | ||
| Twyla Banks | ... |
Girl in Parade /
Student
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| Dirk Blocker | ... |
Sheriff Sam Gibson
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This is another re-enactment of the play about the trial in 1925 of a school teacher who dared to teach Darwinian theory in his classroom. He did this as a consequence of one of his student's request to know... The student was a lad named 'Stebbins', and the trial (dubbed the 'Monkey Trial') pitted the great attorney of the day, Clarence Darrow, against the often running presidential candidate, and famous orator, William Jennings Bryan. Written by BOB STEBBINS <stebinsbob@aol.com>
This version of the Scopes Trial is better than the first TV version for several reasons, the first is that its a reasonable running time. Next it doesn't have breaks for commercials, this was done for cable and not commercial TV. Lastly this has the performances of Lemon and Scott who come damn close to equaling Tracy and March in the first version of this.
George C Scott was to star on Broadway in a revival of this play a year or two before he made this film. Illness prevented him appearing in most of the run, but based on this performance seeing it live must have been electric. There are several small moments, one near the end of the film in particular where his mastery of acting shine through. In that final moment, the weight of the battle and its implications loom large, sitting on his bed with his wife he begins to break down in ways that are touching and heart breaking.
Lemmon is his equal and he easily makes this one for the ages as he spars with Scott about what is and is not history and sacred.
This is a great TV movie which only has as its flaw the fact that its not the original.