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Inherit the Wind

Inherit the Wind

Drama · 1960

Schoolteacher Bertram Cates is arrested for teaching his students Darwin's theory of evolution. The case receives national attention and one of the newspaper reporters, E.K. Hornbeck, arranges to bring in renowned defense attorney and atheist Henry Drummond to defend Cates. The prosecutor, Matthew Brady is a former presidential candidate, famous evangelist, and old adversary of Drummond.

Movie details

Inherit the Wind

“It’s all about the fabulous “Monkey Trial” that rocked America!”

1960 Drama 2h 8m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.7 / 10

Community rating

Schoolteacher Bertram Cates is arrested for teaching his students Darwin's theory of evolution. The case receives national attention and one of the newspaper reporters, E.K. Hornbeck, arranges to bring in renowned defense attorney and atheist Henry Drummond to defend Cates. The prosecutor, Matthew Brady is a former presidential candidate, famous evangelist, and old adversary of Drummond.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Inherit the Wind?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Stanley Kramer

Written by

Nedrick Young · Harold Jacob Smith

Spencer Tracy

Spencer Tracy

Henry Drummond

Fredric March

Fredric March

Matthew Harrison Brady

Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly

E.K. Hornbeck

Dick York

Dick York

Bertram T. Cates

Donna Anderson

Donna Anderson

Rachel Brown

Harry Morgan

Harry Morgan

Judge Mel

Claude Akins

Claude Akins

Rev. Jeremiah Brown

Court is in session

Put Inherit the Wind on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.