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IMDbPro

Inherit the Wind

  • 19601960
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
31K
YOUR RATING
Inherit the Wind (1960)
A powerful and provocative re-creation of the most titanic courtroom battle of the 20th Century, starring Spencer Tracy... Described by Steven Spielberg as "one of our great filmmakers, not just for the art and passion he put on screen, but for the impact he has made on the conscience of the world", the films of producer and director Stanley Kramer (The Defiant Ones, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner) frequently confronted social issues considered too controversial for the major studios. In INHERIT THE WIND he tackled the creationism vs. evolution debate. When a teacher in a small Tennessee town is brought to trial for teaching Darwinism, attorney Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy, Bad Day at Black Rock) faces off against fundamentalist leader Matthew Harrison Brady (Frederic March, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) in an explosive battle of beliefs. Also operating as a searing critique of McCarthyism, INHERIT THE WIND was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, and is rightfully recognised as one of the most entertaining, and provocative films of its era. Eureka Classics is proud to present INHERIT THE WIND for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK in a special Dual Format edition.
Play trailer2:17
1 Video
70 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
Based on a real-life case in 1925, two great lawyers argue the case for and against a Tennessee science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution.Based on a real-life case in 1925, two great lawyers argue the case for and against a Tennessee science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution.Based on a real-life case in 1925, two great lawyers argue the case for and against a Tennessee science teacher accused of the crime of teaching evolution.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
31K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Stanley Kramer
  • Writers
    • Nedrick Young(screenplay)
    • Harold Jacob Smith(screenplay)
    • Jerome Lawrence(play)
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Fredric March
    • Gene Kelly
  • Director
    • Stanley Kramer
  • Writers
    • Nedrick Young(screenplay)
    • Harold Jacob Smith(screenplay)
    • Jerome Lawrence(play)
  • Stars
    • Spencer Tracy
    • Fredric March
    • Gene Kelly
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 221User reviews
    • 61Critic reviews
    • 75Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 3 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos1

    INHERIT THE WIND (Eureka Classics) New & Exclusive HD Trailer
    Trailer 2:17
    Watch INHERIT THE WIND (Eureka Classics) New & Exclusive HD Trailer

    Photos70

    Gene Kelly, Spencer Tracy, Donna Anderson, Philip Coolidge, Florence Eldridge, Fredric March, Elliott Reid, and Dick York in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Claude Akins and Donna Anderson in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Gene Kelly, Donna Anderson, and Dick York in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Spencer Tracy and Fredric March in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Gene Kelly, Spencer Tracy, and Fredric March in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, and Harry Morgan in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, and Harry Morgan in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, and Harry Morgan in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, and Harry Morgan in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, and Harry Morgan in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, and Harry Morgan in Inherit the Wind (1960)
    Fredric March and Elliott Reid in Inherit the Wind (1960)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Spencer Tracy
    Spencer Tracy
    • Henry Drummond
    Fredric March
    Fredric March
    • Matthew Harrison Brady
    Gene Kelly
    Gene Kelly
    • E. K. Hornbeck
    Dick York
    Dick York
    • Bertram T. Cates
    Donna Anderson
    Donna Anderson
    • Rachel Brown
    Harry Morgan
    Harry Morgan
    • Judge Mel Coffey
    Claude Akins
    Claude Akins
    • Rev. Jeremiah Brown
    Elliott Reid
    Elliott Reid
    • Prosecutor Tom Davenport
    Paul Hartman
    Paul Hartman
    • Bailiff Mort Meeker
    Philip Coolidge
    Philip Coolidge
    • Mayor Jason Carter
    Jimmy Boyd
    Jimmy Boyd
    • Howard
    Noah Beery Jr.
    Noah Beery Jr.
    • John Stebbins
    Norman Fell
    Norman Fell
    • WGN Radio Technician
    Gordon Polk
    Gordon Polk
    • George Sillers
    Hope Summers
    Hope Summers
    • Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
    Ray Teal
    Ray Teal
    • Jessie H. Dunlap
    Renee Godfrey
    Renee Godfrey
    • Mrs. Stebbins
    Florence Eldridge
    Florence Eldridge
    • Sarah Brady
    • Director
      • Stanley Kramer
    • Writers
      • Nedrick Young(screenplay) (originally as Nathan E. Douglas)
      • Harold Jacob Smith(screenplay)
      • Jerome Lawrence(play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Hillsboro County Courthouse is the same building as the Hill Valley Courthouse in Back to the Future (1985).
    • Goofs
      During the voir dire phase of the trial concerning jury selection, Henry Drummond is forced to use his limited number of peremptory challenges to disallow prospective jurors who are obviously not interested in being impartial in any way to the point where one likens Prosecutor Matthew Brady to God. In that situation, Drummond should have called for such obviously biased prospective jurors to be struck for cause, a motion that can used an unlimited number of times with the permission of the court. If the court, which itself has obvious signs of partiality itself in the story, had rejected such a motion, Drummond could have resorted to using his peremptory challenges.
    • Quotes

      Matthew Harrison Brady: We must not abandon faith! Faith is the most important thing!

      Henry Drummond: Then why did God plague us with the capacity to think? Mr. Brady, why do you deny the one faculty of man that raises him above the other creatures of the earth, the power of his brain to reason? What other merit have we? The elephant is larger, the horse is swifter and stronger, the butterfly is far more beautiful, the mosquito is more prolific. Even the simple sponge is more durable. But does a sponge think?

      Matthew Harrison Brady: I don't know. I'm a man, not a sponge!

      Henry Drummond: But do you think a sponge thinks?

      Matthew Harrison Brady: If the Lord wishes a sponge to think, it thinks!

      Henry Drummond: Do you think a man should have the same privilege as a sponge?

      Matthew Harrison Brady: Of course!

      Henry Drummond: [Gesturing towards the defendant, Bertram Cates] Then this man wishes to have the same privilege of a sponge, he wishes to think!

    • Alternate versions
      Different versions of the opening credits exist with slightly different fonts. In general the film uses a copperplate-type font, but the early MGM widescreen DVD substitutes a different, rounder one on the three stars' names before the title, and has proportionally taller capitals throughout the rest. The Twilight Time Blu-ray uses the copperplate throughout with less pronounced size differences.
    • Connections
      Featured in Viewpoint: Can We Bury the Hatchet? (1960)
    • Soundtracks
      (Gimme Dat) Old Time Religion
      (uncredited)
      Traditional spiritual
      Sung by Leslie Uggams at the start of the movie
      Reprised often by the Townfolks
      Variations included often in the score

    User reviews221

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Brilliant - One of the finest movies ever made
    This movie is well acted both March and Tracy perform remarkably. The story line depicts how ignorance and blind faith can generate a mob mentality. It beautifully reflects the social values of the time and depicts very well the attitudes of the time in which the movie was set. Like 12 angry men, it has simple sets and gives hope to the notion that not only can movies be educational and entertaining, there are producers that care about making a meaningful statement using a plot and acting to entertain.
    helpful•89
    22
    • pcfalconi
    • Jun 3, 2001

    FAQ11

    • What is 'Inherit the Wind' about?
    • Is 'Inherit the Wind' based on a book?
    • Is the play based on a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 30, 1960 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Wer den Wind sät
    • Filming locations
      • Courthouse Square, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Stanley Kramer Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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