IMDb > Inherit the Wind (1960)
Inherit the Wind
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Inherit the Wind (1960) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 3)
Inherit the Wind (1960) -- 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.
Inherit the Wind (1960) -- 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.
Inherit the Wind (1960) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   10,288 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Stanley Kramer
Writers (WGA):
Nedrick Young (screenplay) (originally as Nathan E. Douglas) and
Harold Jacob Smith (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Inherit the Wind on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
November 1960 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | History | Romance more
Tagline:
It's all about the monkey trial that rocked America.
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
Thwoar! Kat Dennings Joins Thor
 (From EmpireOnline. 24 November 2009, 1:42 AM, PST)
PGA Honors Precious.
 (From FilmExperience. 18 November 2009, 3:18 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Clear the decks giants are about to clash more (130 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Spencer Tracy ... Henry Drummond

Fredric March ... Matthew Harrison Brady

Gene Kelly ... E. K. Hornbeck
Dick York ... Bertram T. Cates
Donna Anderson ... Rachel Brown
Harry Morgan ... Judge Mel Coffey
Claude Akins ... Reverend Jeremiah Brown
Elliott Reid ... Prosecutor Tom Davenport
Paul Hartman ... Bailiff Horace Meeker
Philip Coolidge ... Mayor Jason Carter
Jimmy Boyd ... Howard
Noah Beery Jr. ... John Stebbins
Norman Fell ... WGN Radio Technician
Gordon Polk ... George Sillers
Hope Summers ... Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
Ray Teal ... Jessie H. Dunlap
Renee Godfrey ... Mrs. Stebbins
Florence Eldridge ... Sarah Brady
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gail Bonney ... Fundamentalist Woman (uncredited)
Jack Daly ... Eskimo Pie Vendor in Courtroom (uncredited)
Richard Deacon ... Juror / Court Gallery (uncredited)
Lester Dorr ... Doctor John (uncredited)
George Dunn ... Banker - Critic at City Meeting (uncredited)

Donald Elson ... Bollinger (uncredited)
David Fresco ... Threatening Spectator (uncredited)
Sam Harris ... Courtroom Extra (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins ... Dr. Britton's Tonic Spieler with Chimp (uncredited)
Wendell Holmes ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Frank Mills ... Courtroom Extra (uncredited)
Robert Osterloh ... Sam - Deputy Arresting Cates (uncredited)
Bob Perry ... Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard ... Courtroom Extra (uncredited)
Addison Richards ... Reporter at Dinner Table (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook ... Courtroom Extra (uncredited)
Charles Wagenheim ... Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Justice Watson ... Hillsboro Salesman (uncredited)

Will Wright ... Bible Salesman (uncredited)
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Directed by
Stanley Kramer 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Nedrick Young (screenplay) originally as Nathan E. Douglas and
Harold Jacob Smith (screenplay)

Jerome Lawrence (play) and
Robert E. Lee (play)

Produced by
Stanley Kramer .... producer
 
Original Music by
Ernest Gold (music)
 
Cinematography by
Ernest Laszlo (photographed by)
 
Film Editing by
Frederic Knudtson 
 
Casting by
James Lister (uncredited)
Lynn Stalmaster (uncredited)
 
Production Design by
Rudolph Sternad 
 
Makeup Department
Larry Germain .... hair stylist
Bud Westmore .... make up
 
Production Management
Clem Beauchamp .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ivan Volkman .... assistant director
Leonard Kunody .... second assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Art Cole .... property master
Jack Kirston .... second property master (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Walter Elliott .... sound editor
Joe Lapis .... sound engineer
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Martin Kashuk .... assistant company grip
Roy Roberts .... chief gaffer
Morris Rosen .... company grip
Charles F. Wheeler .... camera operator (as Charles Wheeler)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joe King .... wardrobe
 
Music Department
Leslie Uggams .... vocals
 
Other crew
Sam Freedle .... script supervisor
Anne P. Kramer .... assistant to producer
Stanley Kramer .... presents
Reverend Thomas R. Marshall .... technical advisor (as The Reverend Thomas R. Marshall)
Herman Shumlin .... stage director
Herman Shumlin .... stage producer
Harold J. Samelson .... publicity campaign coordinator (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
128 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
UK:U | USA:Approved (certificate #19499) | USA:PG (re-rating) | West Germany:12 | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Australia:G | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11
Company:
Stanley Kramer Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Dick York's final feature film. more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: As Matthew Brady ends his arrival speech to a crowd of supporters on the street, the 'old time religion' song is sung by the throng, but their lips are completely out of sync with the soundtrack. more
Quotes:
Howard: He said that men sort of evo-luted from Old World monkeys.
Matthew Harrison Brady: Do you hear that, friends? Old World monkeys! According to Bertram Cates, we don't even descend from good American monkeys!
[laughing]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Who's the Boss?: Inherit the Wine (#7.11)" (1990) more
Soundtrack:
We'll Hang Bert Cates to a Sour Apple Tree more

FAQ

Any recommendations for other movies with moral/philosophical clashes as in "Inherit the Wind"?
Where does the title "Inherit the Wind" come from?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
28 out of 33 people found the following comment useful.
Clear the decks giants are about to clash, 2 July 2004
10/10
Author: dbborroughs from Glen Cove, New York

This movie is made by the performances. The material is very good, but at time its a bit melodramatic and obvious, which is the way the play is. Were it not for the collision of Spencer Tracy and Frederick March this would be just an excellent Hollywood film instead of the classic that it is.

I would be tempted to say that all you need is a basic knowledge of the plot and the ability to jump straight to the court room scenes, but that would be unfair. Watch the movie once and then after that you can simply watch the fireworks.

What can I say about the battle between Tracy and March? Nothing. Words fail me. This is one of the great battles on screen in any film. It should be seen by anyone who wants to see how "easy" acting should appear. All the more important is the fact that this is a battle of ideas that still matter today as much as then. If only all of the world's problem could be debated this perfectly we'd live in a happier place.

See this movie.

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