Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jack Lemmon | ... | Henry Drummond | |
George C. Scott | ... | Matthew Harrison Brady | |
Lane Smith | ... | Reverend Jeremiah Brown | |
Tom Everett Scott | ... | Bertram Cates | |
Kathryn Morris | ... | Rachel Brown | |
John Cullum | ... | Judge Merle Coffey | |
Brad Greenquist | ... | Tom Davenport | |
David Wells | ... | Mayor Carter | |
Peter Mackenzie | ... | Jesse Dunlap | |
Dennis Cockrum | ... | Meeker | |
Steve Monroe | ... | Howard | |
Jim Meskimen | ... | Sauber | |
Royce D. Applegate | ... | George Sillers | |
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Amzie Strickland | ... | Mrs. Krebs |
Ronnie Claire Edwards | ... | Mrs. Haley |
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>
I have never seen a poor adaptation of this great American Classic,however if I were to choose the worst adaptation out of a good bunch this recent adaptation would qualify. George C. Scott made a very good Matthew Brady,However He was masterful in the role of Henry Drummond on Broadway in 1997.Jack Lemmon was merely adequate in Scott's stage role of Drummond and the two never seemed to make a connection the way Scott and Charles Durning did on stage,or the way Spencer Tracy and Frederick March did on screen.
Beau Bridges was a fine,sarcastic E.K. Hornbeck and Lane Smith was a powerful hypocrite as Rev. Brown.
The pace of this recent adaptation was slow and not as exciting as previous film versions. It was worth watching but not nearly as satisfying as the 1960 film or the Broadway revival.