chandrabhargava The movie epitomizes what civilized debate can and should be. There are scintillating performances from Lemmon and Scott, and some very quotable lines as well. The courtroom atmosphere is well created and tension is never allowed to slack. Perhaps the most eloquent testimony paid on screen from a protagonist to his antagonist comes in the closing scenes. Although it is supposed to be based on the Scopes Monkey Trial, the closing credits state that the movie is a work of fiction. The movie raises many questions about the longstanding impasse between religion and science, between faith and reason. In a strange way, it does not conclusively resolve these issues but rather allows the viewer to decide for herself or himself. It will echo in your mind long after you have viewed it. Heartily recommended.

stanbabe143 Tv remakes of classic films usually don't work out very well these days.But in the case of the l999 MGM/Showtime presentation of Lawrence & Lee's courtroom drama:"InHeirit The Wind".This film is the best peformance ever brought to the small screen.It's not the first time that "Inheirit The Wind"has been remade for tv.In the l980's.Kirk Douglass and Jason Robards took their turns as "Brady"and "Drummond" in a CBS TV Adaptation.But both men were unable to capture the emotional and creative sparks that Jack Lemon and in his last performance George C.Scott gave to their fans in this faithful tv version of Lawrence & Lee's dark satire on controlling one's ideals.Lemon gives a quiet but powerful performance as the openminded lawyer:"Henry Drummond".Whose unconventional lawyer tactics are attacked by the ultra conservitive and biasly controlling "Mat Brady"(Scott).Who is praised and cheered as a great believer in God ,a defender of those less fortunate and a wonderful man.But "Brady"is little more than a dangeriously controlling religious fanatic.Whose misuse of the lord's word and his pollitical ambitions ,encourage him to try and destroy a decent man"Prof.Cates".Simply because Mr.Scott's "Mr.Brady"refuses to accept the true history of man's evolvement.There are also some fine acting efforts from Lane Smith as the equally demented "Rev.Jerimah Brown",From the young lady who plays "Rev.Brown's" Daughter "Rachel" and from John Cullium as"Judge Merrell Coffee".The film sticks to the script from The late Stan Kramer's l960 screen adaptation and plays it beautifully.The only damper in terms of this movie..is the casting of Beau Bridges as Newspaper reporter:"E.K.Hornbeck".Mr.Bridges plays "Mr.Hornbeck"as a snotty,arrogant and boring caracture.Who tries to play his role in the same vein as his big screen predicessor:The Late Gene Kelly.But after seeing his performance in this second tv remake of the show.Mr.Bridges is not "E.K.Hornbeck"nor is he Gene Kelly.Despite Mr.Bridges' forgetable attemps to be Gene Kelly.The l999 Showtime TV version of "Inheirit The Wind!"is a fine film filled with fine performances from all assembled.It's also a wonderful tribute to The Late Mr.George C.Scott.Bravo George!

Ralph Michael Stein To see the two great actors, George C. Scott and Jack Lemmon, in this drama is worth being subjected to the greatly sentimentalized and wholly ahistorical script. This film has little to say about the real "Scopes Monkey Trial" and the citizens of the town where it took place are crudely caricatured as only script writers and directors unfamiliar with the South can do. The original Spencer Tracy film remains the best but this remake is worth seeing too.

CheshireCatsGrin This should have been good. It had a good script/book and cast. I ran out to rent it. I loved the other two movies so I figured I couldn't go wrong. Ha!Everyone acted as if they were without direction. Often they appeared to be making up the character as they went along. I felt extremely sorry for George C. Scott as he seemed to winging it. A great chance was wasted here with the lack of direction.Bridges also showed the direction problem. This was about the same time as the " Barnum " mini-series and it showed. He was also an irritant. By the time he had mocked Brady I was ready to kill him! Not at all the interesting multi-dimensional character that McGavin or Kelly had made him.Others problems included the camera pans to and from Bridges. Instead of blending the way the first two versions had done with the reporter looking over the attorneys shoulder- this one had the camera cutting back and forth from him across the Courtroom to Drummond. I can't believe it's rated higher then the 1988 version!