Film of the Day: 56

Inherit the Wind (1960)

Today, back in 1925, in the state of Tennessee, one of the most famous and controversial trials was held. It was called the The Scopes Trial, informally known as the monkey trial. A high school teacher by the name of John Scopes was found guilty of teaching the evolution as in Tennessee there was a tremendously retarded law against teaching evolution (or anything that in their eyes was against the bible).

This was mainly due to John W. Butler (head of the World's Christian Fundamentals Association) who when was the state representative, passed an anti-evolution law known as the Butler Act. The trial became huge, and was transmitted across the states via radio and both sides ended up getting two of the biggest lawyers in the country, Jennings Bryan (state of Tennessee) and Clarence Darrow (John Scopes).

Bryan was a strong supporter of prohibition and constantly spoke against the evolution in anger. In the end, some say that Clarence humiliated Bryan yet by the end of the trial, Bryan had technically won and Scopes was found guilty but only for a fine. Scopes then finally spoke, and said these great words:

"Your honour, I feel that I have been convicted of violating an unjust statute. I will continue in the future, as I have in the past, to oppose this law in any way I can. Any other action would be in violation of my ideal of academic freedom — that is, to teach the truth as guaranteed in our constitution, of personal and religious freedom. I think the fine is unjust."

Bryan died five days after the trial was over in his sleep. The trial was considered a major fight in the teaching of evolution, and a message to everyone that evolution should be taught to everyone and everywhere.

This film by Stanley Kramer is the best film ever made about the trial. It features the best performance by Spencer Tracy as the lawyer defending Scopes and Fredric March who played the backwards thinking lawyer who defends Tennessee. The film is the trial however it is like a battle between backwards thinking and modern thinking. These two actors are like fury, as they pound their words away. It is a tremendous piece of work.

Whether you are studying evolution or religion or both, whether you are religious or not or just appreciate a good drama with great acting, then this film is definitely for you.

Click here for a clip