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INHERIT THE WIND

US, 1960, 128 minutes, Black and White.
Spencer Tracey, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Florence Eldridge, Dick York, Donna Anderson, Claude Akins.
Directed by Stanley Kramer.

Inherit the Wind was made in the late 50s by Stanley Kramer. Kramer had begun his career as a producer of serious small budget films such as Champion, The Men, High Noon. He then moved into his own direction work but the budgets were much bigger and the films longer eg. Not as a Stranger, The Pride and the Passion, The Defiant Ones. The present film comes into place here. It preceded such films as Judgement at Nuremburg, The Mad World, Ship of Fools, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner in which Kramer seemed to reach the peak of his career. Inherit the Wind is certainly very interesting, taking us back into Tennessee in the 20s, the Scope's trial, and his journalistic career. The film also boasts two strong performances by Spencer Tracey and Fredric March and their clash in the courtroom is certainly well worth seeing. All in all, it is one of those popular, intelligent dramas that the Americans do so well, critics like to despise, and people find very interesting and enjoyable.

1. How interesting a film was this? Why? Why, despite its length, could it hold audience attention?

2. How interesting are court dramas? Why? What best features of court dramas did this film have? The nature of the trial, the personalities involved, the issues of the trial, the verbal gymnastics and dynamics etc.?

3. What insight into the relationship between religion and truth did the film give? What picture of religion did it give? Of Christianity? Of fundamentalistic Christianity? Of the narrow effects of organised religion? Of the strong hold on emotions and crowds that religion had? Was this genuine religion (the irony of the singing of "Give me that old time religion")? The relationship of religion and truth? The blindness of religious people to truth? The relationship of religion and science?

4. What insight into the human spirit did this film give? Of the ordinary teacher trying to tell the truth? Of his emotional response to his fiancee and its pressure on the truth? The human spirit of the lawyer seeking after truth? The relationship between fanaticism, the holding of truth, emotions?

5. Is it credible that the issue of evolution was so strong in the 20s? How dated does this seem now? Why? Is such a case possible in America? Why? How much was the issue confined to the fundamentalistic Bible Belt of the South? Why were the people of Hillsborough so involved in the issue? Why did they defy world opinion? The importance of the sequence where the important people of the town discuss the issue and the prosecution?

6. How sympathetic a character was Cates? Did he want to be a martyr? Why was he prepared to undergo the trial? (How important was the actual classroom sequence and his arrest for this film? The support of the boys that he taught?) How much of a test was the experience for him? Why at times did he want to give up? How heroic was he in going through with the ordeal? What did it mean for his future life?

7. How was Cates exploited by the papers of America and the world? Is this what martyrs have to suffer also?

8. What was your response to Hornbeck and his style? His ironic and cynical jibes? Did he have any values? Or was he merely a good journalist sending reports to his paper? Why was he so sceptical about issues and human relationships? How well did he relate to Cates? To Drummond? How did Drummond tell him the truth at the end? Why did he still shrug it off? Why did he taunt Harrison? Did he learn anything from Harrison? (How effective for interest in the film were his ironic jibes?)

9. What was your response to the Reverend Brown? His power over the people? The demonstrations and the prayer meetings? His religiosity? His seeming hypocrisy in the name of religion? His harsh hell-fire words to his daughter? His being broken by the situation?

10. How important a character was Drummond? As played by Spencer Tracey? The way he was introduced into the film as the lawyer from the north? The rational sceptic? The godless man? How well did the audience see Hillsborough through the eyes of Drummond? Comment on his style and tactics in the court. His verbal skill and his insight into how to manipulate the case. His relationship with Harrison? The human touch with his friendship with Harrison's wife? His friendship with Cates and Rachel? His wanting to drop the case and the style in which he did it? The fact that he got support? The irony of his losing the case? The fact that the film ended with him on a note of humility?

11. How important was Matthew Harrison for the film? As played by Fredric March? His style and caricature of mannerisms? How effective was this for the film? Harrison as embodying the conservative atmosphere of the 20s? His self-satisfaction and sureness? His reliance on the Bible? His being supported by the people? His role at the demonstration and rallies? His humane side in helping Rachel? His self-satisfaction in using her on the witness stand? The fact of his friendship with Drummond and the diversity of views? The support of his wife? His eating, his boisterous blustering? His showmanship? Comment on his style and tactics in the courtroom. How entertaining for the film were they? How humiliating was the sequence where he was cross-examined by Drummond? The fact that he was so sure? People's losing faith in him? His losing faith in himself? His soul-searching in the hotel? The sad irony of his final speech and no one listening? The sadness of his death? How important emotionally was this for the ending of the film?

12. Comment on the court sequences from the point of view of the people present, their prejudices, the prejudices of the judge - e.g. in rejecting the expert scientific evidence.

13. what had been achieved by such a trial? How had it divided people? Had it sought the truth and found it?

14. How fearful a picture of fanaticism did the film give? How emotions can override truth and people?

15. How valuable an insight into American history and world history did this film give? Evolution was the case. But there could be many like this? What lessons can be learnt from such a film?