Inherit the Wind

Name: Inherit the Wind
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: July 21, 1960
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Claude Akins, Dick York, Donna Anderson, Elliott Reid, Fredric March

1960

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Inherit The Wind

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: July 21, 1960 | Approved

Starring: Claude Akins, Dick York, Donna Anderson, Elliott Reid, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Harry Morgan, Paul Hartman, Philip Coolidge, Spencer Tracy

Summary: 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: Stanley Kramer

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History

Rating: Approved

Runtime: 128 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Christopher Machell

A searing indictment of religious fundamentalism and anti-intellectualism. Inherit the Wind’s relevance continues beyond its immediate parallels with McCarthyism. Read full review

100

RogerEbert.com Roger Ebert

It is Inherit the Wind among all of Kramer's films that seems most relevant and still generates controversy. Read full review

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Inherit The Wind acutely captures the farcical Monkey Trial and offers the awesome talents of two double-Oscar winners, Tracy and March, in their only film together. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

This is a rousing and fascinating motion picture. Producer-director Stanley Kramer has held the action in tight check. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Tolerably gripping in its old-fashioned way, thanks chiefly to old pro performances from Tracy and March as the rival lawyers and ideologists, but rather let down by Kelly's inadequacy as the cynical journalist who is comfortably denounced as the real villain of the piece. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Spencer Tracy does his cuddly curmudgeon turn as Clarence Darrow; it's a lazy, vague performance, but its wit provides the only crack of light in the film's somber, gray overcast. Read full review

Pauline Kael

The case itself had so many dramatic elements that the movie can't help holding our attention, but it's a very crude piece of work, totally lacking in subtlety; what is meant to be a courtroom drama of ideas comes out as a caricature of a drama of ideas, and maddeningly, while watching we can't be sure what is based on historical fact and what is invention.

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Mixed:

User Reviews

gracjanski

Dec 13, 2020

On the one hand this is an intelligent movie about a trial, that even happened in reality in 1925. The story and the dialogues are great and demand some thinking of the views.
On the other hand both protagonists overacted a bit in my view and the theme is a bit ridiculous today. But this isOn the one hand this is an intelligent movie about a trial, that even happened in reality in 1925. The story and the dialogues are great and demand some thinking of the views.
On the other hand both protagonists overacted a bit in my view and the theme is a bit ridiculous today. But this is interesting also, because dont forget, there will be always stupid opinion in the public, just like the opinion of the town folks.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

codyz

Jul 24, 2023

Movie was compelling all the way.

I was surprised at the serio-comic tone, but it works. The movie is also sharp, insightful, intense, and fair minded, by showing the hypocrisy on both sides of the issue. All of this anchored by powerhouse performances by Tracy and March. And it wasMovie was compelling all the way.

I was surprised at the serio-comic tone, but it works.

The movie is also sharp, insightful, intense, and fair minded, by showing the hypocrisy on both sides of the issue.

All of this anchored by powerhouse performances by Tracy and March.

And it was nice to see the famous BACK TO THE FUTURE clocktower square.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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