Inherit the Wind (1960 film)
- Spencer Tracy: Henry Drummond
- Fredric March: Matthew Harrison Brady
- Gene Kelly: E. K. Hornbeck
- Dick York: Bertram T. Cates
- Donna Anderson: Rachel Brown
- Claude Akins: Rev. Jeremiah Brown
- Harry Morgan: Judge Mel
- Florence Eldridge: Mrs. Brady
Inherit the Wind is an American film directed by Stanley Kramer in 1960. It was produced by him for the United Artists. The film is based on a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. This is loosely based on the known as so-called ape process become legal proceedings to which was performed against the teacher John Thomas Scopes, 1925 in Dayton (Tennessee). The artistic advice of the film had Erich Maria Remarque.
Action
In the small town of Hillsboro, Tennessee breaks in 1925 from a dispute that puts the American nation in excitement and making the headlines around the world: The young Bertram T. Cates is a teacher. He teaches his students the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin that states that man is created by evolution. The fanatical Reverend Jeremiah Brown causes Cates arrested him and making the process as taught by his thesis of the biblical story of creation contradicts which is the only right according to the law. The " monkey trial " causing quite a stir in the United States.
The Bible-believing fundamentalist and former Secretary of State Matthew Harrison Brady represents the indictment. The reporter E. K. Hornbeck from " Baltimore Herald " reported on the process and organized for the agnostic defense lawyer Henry Drummond Cates. Matthew Harrison Brady and Henry Drummond were friends during their studies. Drummond has also assisted in several election campaigns Brady, wanted to be as this president of the United States. But the friendship was broken by the fanatical attitude Bradys.
It is a dramatic process. Prosecution and defense square off against duels. Henry Drummond fights vehemently for progress and freedom of thought, which is prohibited by law, while M. H. Brady insists on the literal interpretation of the Bible and therefore referred to the Darwinian theory of evolution to be false.
The residents of Hillsboro are closed behind the Reverend and Brady. It will be held a church service in which the Reverend even cursed his own daughter because she is engaged to Bertram T. Cates and can not see anything in his behavior as sinful. It also organized a demonstration in which a doll with Cates ' name is burned and bottles flying through the cell window.
The Court rejects all witnesses who Henry Drummond will call to explain the learned Cates Darwinian theory of evolution in detail. The justification is always that it is not the Court's function to set the contents of an already adopted the law in question. Finally, Brady is itself called by Drummond as an expert on the Bible in the witness stand. It succeeds Drummond, Brady to push with quotations from the Bible in a certain direction by showing that many statements in the Bible can not reasonably be taken literally. His aim is not so much the fact to refute the Bible; rather extended and he questioned biblical statements by human logic: The ability to think is God-given, finally, from the perspective of the prosecution and could certainly be applied in relation to the text of the Bible. Drummond himself considers this ability to think for this much " holier than all Amens and Hallelujahs ".
Cates is found by the jury nevertheless convicted and sentenced to a fine of only $ 100. After the verdict Brady wants to still keep a written by him political speech to the process. But all the people who are still hung him up to the previous day on the lips are impressed by Drummond and doubt their previously unshakable setting. Brady, who has eaten in the sweltering heat in the courtroom during the process steps were too much, breaks down the efforts and dies.
Hornbeck commented on the process later in a conversation with Drummond and mocked the deceased, who had fought fanatically for his faith. But Drummond rebukes him by guiding him just how remarkable it is, despite a possibly narrow-minded view to strive for one thing and to sacrifice themselves for it. Hornbeck is taken aback when he realizes how little it even goes to him in life and that he has no ideals. In the end though he also relies on his " right to be lonely," probably the only Drummond would defend in court.
The film ends with Drummond, the Bible and Darwin's On the Origin of Species holds in both hands against each weighs, the Bible then hangs up Darwin's work and then lonely leaves the courtroom.
Film Title
The German film title is the Bible verse, " He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind " (Hosea 8.7 GNB ) from the book of Hosea ajar. The original English title of " Inherit the Wind" is, however, from the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 11:29 KJV ): " He did troubleth his own house Shall inherit the wind and the fool Shall be servant to the wise of heart. "; German (Prov. 11:29 SLT): "Who shattered his own family, [ only ] wind will get the heritage, and the fool shall be servant of the one who is wise. "
Reviews
" A brilliant cast guaranteed theatrical perfection; the subject - intolerance and fanaticism against the democratic right to freedom of expression and teaching - is highly topical. The model case, where it is demonstrated, is back almost forty years, and bear very significant American trains. In the form of a trial is about Darwin contrasting Bible. The question whether the science disprove the revelation of wisdom or not, today hardly anyone gets upset, because it is the wrong question. In this respect the sometimes rhetorical dialogue of the film remains pale and antiquated. But is credible under Kramer's master hand the passionate earnestness, is then as now fought against the former in America against dogmatism and for the rights of the Constitution. "
" Letters of faithful Bible belief on the one hand and on the other hand Darwinism heat a small town to incandescence. Excellent performer, exquisitely staged court film that maintains sophisticated - captivating. "
Awards
The film received four Oscar nominations ( Best male lead: Spencer Tracy, Best Adapted Screenplay: Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith, Best Cinematography: Ernest Laszlo, best editing: Frederic Knudtson ), but was at the award ceremony in 1961 from empty. Fredric March received at the Berlinale 1960 Silver Bear for Best Actor and Stanley Kramer got the Berlinale, the Youth Film Prize. The film was nominated for best film and best foreign actor ( March and Tracy) for the BAFTA in the fields. At the Golden Globes, the film was nominated for best film and best actor Tracy.
Remakes
The film drew several remakes result in: