Inherit the Wind

Although its purpose for most is pure entertainment, cinema can make a most persuasive argument when called upon to do so. Case in point, Stanley Kramer’s 1960 film production of Inherit the Wind, based on the successful play which in turn was based on the highly publicized Scopes “Monkey” Trial of 1925 in which a Tennessee teacher was charged with breaking the law by introducing the concept of evolution to students in his classroom. The resulting media circus made headlines from coast to coast as the “backward” beliefs of the Bible belt were presented in 30-point font for all the world to see.

Kramer’s film is decidedly biased (as was most of the country then and now) towards Darwin’s theory of man’s evolution from our slouching ape-like ancestors. Creationism - the idea that God planted humankind on Earth fully formed - is a hard pill to swallow. But Inherit the Wind wisely tackles an even bigger issue: a man’s right to think, to innovate, to argue, to disagree and, most importantly, to advance his own species with new ideas. That is what the fictional town of Hillsboro has put on trial.

Jailed for his crimes against the laws of God, Bertram Cates’ (Dick York of TVs Bewitched) circumstances look even direr when famed Creationist attorney Matthew Harrison Brady (Frederic March) agrees to lead the prosecution. Baltimore reporter, and professional cynic, E. K. Hornbeck (Gene Kelly) plays spoilsport to the giddy town of Bible-thumpers by announcing the arrival of lawyer Henry Drummond (Spenser Tracy) for the defense, an avowed agnostic whose presence fires up the crowd for a good old fashioned lynching.

What follows is a classical courtroom drama, pitting two legal titans against one another for the hearts and minds of America…our souls are wisely kept out of the argument. But Kramer never set out to make a fair and balanced film. Inherit the Wind paints the citizens of Hillsboro as angry rubes defending their beliefs against all logic. March’s character is nothing more than a pontificating overstuffed buffoon. And the civic leaders see nothing but dollar signs from all the publicity.

But art doesn’t have to play fair. And Kramer’s film expertly manipulates the audience, using the façade of evolution to mask the film’s true point of contention: the still fresh wounds of McCarthyism that put citizens on trial for the crime of believing something different from the norm. And who better to lead the battle than Spenser Tracy, a trusted Hollywood father figure whose common-sense approach is like a stern lecture followed by a quick kiss goodnight. It’s a wonderful performance in a film that uses all the tools of cinema to their maximum potential. Just as God intended.

Twilight Time’s 3000-copy limited edition Blu-ray is another gorgeous black-and-white transfer, with nary a speck or spot throughout. Special features include an isolated music and effects track, theatrical trailer and liner notes from Julie Kirgo that provide some great perspective on the real facts of the trial.