The play "Inherit the Wind" is not a support of atheism or agnostic beliefs, but the freedom of thinking and the questioning of facts in the Bible as written when compared to science. This is the third of four versions of the play, a bit shorter than the original movie and the last TV version made a decade later, yet equally as powerful as the original play and the filmed versions. It is based on a real-life incident from decades before, and was an analogy of real life incidents going on in the turbulence 1950's and 60's. The original film came out the same here as the powerful religious drama "Elmer Gantry" based on the Sinclair Lewis novel which also questioned the power and influence of organized religion. Ironically Jean Simmons who played the evangelist in that movie plays the wife of the prosecuting attorney, a bible-thumping former preacher now politician.
This is about the power of the brain to reason according to the character Clarence Drummond played by Jason Robards here, loosely based on Clarence Darrow. Kirk Douglas plays prosecuting attorney Matthew Harrison Brady, a fictional version of politician and preacher William Jennings Bryan, accusing Drummond of being both atheist and agnostic without having proof. The "monkey trial" is certainly an excellent metaphor for free thinking in a society house that often manipulates through people in power. Kyle Secor is the grade school teacher arrested for this "blasphemy" in a science class in a conservative religious town where the courthouse demands that the local residents read their Bible everyday. It's obvious that judge John Harkins is being manipulated by outside Powers as well, and as the trial becomes more of a circus, that point is hammered home.
I wish there was more footage of Darren McGavin as the hysterically cynical reporter covering the case, as every moment fee makes an observation is wry and witty and ironic. Douglas and Robards are terrific foes, old rivals who obviously admire each other even if they don't agree with their tactics. When Robards gets Douglas on the stand, it's the key to a great breakdown for Douglas who shows his inability to see past the words of God and corolate science may have had a play in what is written in Genesis.
While Douglas gives an emotional performance (and made to look up rather clownish), Robards gives a sly and funny performance, subtle and it's manipulation of the ridiculousness of the proceedings as a whole. He wins the case as far as I'm concerned at least through his acting, and if this play does prove everything, it is that a closed mind is not a healthy mind, and for that purpose, the play remains relevant in many ways. There is a sense through the witty irony in it that the audience will be able to compare this too many other incidents throughout the various times history where free-thinking was objected to. But even with that wit, there is also a sense of tragedy, especially for Douglas's character who is branded a fool through his constant breakdowns that shows his real character and his inability to become a public official.
This is about the power of the brain to reason according to the character Clarence Drummond played by Jason Robards here, loosely based on Clarence Darrow. Kirk Douglas plays prosecuting attorney Matthew Harrison Brady, a fictional version of politician and preacher William Jennings Bryan, accusing Drummond of being both atheist and agnostic without having proof. The "monkey trial" is certainly an excellent metaphor for free thinking in a society house that often manipulates through people in power. Kyle Secor is the grade school teacher arrested for this "blasphemy" in a science class in a conservative religious town where the courthouse demands that the local residents read their Bible everyday. It's obvious that judge John Harkins is being manipulated by outside Powers as well, and as the trial becomes more of a circus, that point is hammered home.
I wish there was more footage of Darren McGavin as the hysterically cynical reporter covering the case, as every moment fee makes an observation is wry and witty and ironic. Douglas and Robards are terrific foes, old rivals who obviously admire each other even if they don't agree with their tactics. When Robards gets Douglas on the stand, it's the key to a great breakdown for Douglas who shows his inability to see past the words of God and corolate science may have had a play in what is written in Genesis.
While Douglas gives an emotional performance (and made to look up rather clownish), Robards gives a sly and funny performance, subtle and it's manipulation of the ridiculousness of the proceedings as a whole. He wins the case as far as I'm concerned at least through his acting, and if this play does prove everything, it is that a closed mind is not a healthy mind, and for that purpose, the play remains relevant in many ways. There is a sense through the witty irony in it that the audience will be able to compare this too many other incidents throughout the various times history where free-thinking was objected to. But even with that wit, there is also a sense of tragedy, especially for Douglas's character who is branded a fool through his constant breakdowns that shows his real character and his inability to become a public official.