HotToastyRag I loved the original Inherit the Wind. Fredric March gave one of the best film performances of all time, as the evangelical lawyer Matthew Harrison Brady in 1960. I knew going into it that the remake probably wouldn't be as good as the original, but I wanted to give it a chance, for Kirk Douglas's sake. He tried very hard, and had he not been following Fredric March, he would have given a great performance. But if you've seen the original, no one else can play Matthew Harrison Brady.In case you haven't seen the original, the story is an adapted version of the famous Scopes Monkey trial in the 1920s. A teacher in America's Deep South, teaches his students about Charles Darwin, and he's arrested. The majority of the film takes place in the courtroom, as two legendary lawyers battle the issue. So, if you don't like one of the two lead actors, it will greatly affect your enjoyment of the film. I'm not a Spencer Tracy fan, but with Jason Robards taking his place in the remake, I began to appreciate Spence's performance better. I know there are some people out there who are Jason Robards fans, but I'm not one of them. He's just not likable, and he always seems tired, bored, slightly angry, and wishing he was anywhere but on a film set.If you really like Kirk Douglas, you'll probably want to see this movie, but it's not nearly as good as the original. Jean Simmons plays Kirk's wife, and even though she gives a good performance, there was nothing really wrong with her predecessor, Florence Eldridge. Watch the original, and if you really enjoy the story and like Kirk Douglas, then you can rent this one.

theowinthrop This 1988 version of INHERIT THE WIND tried a slightly different approach to the story than the film or the 1965 versions. Apparently there was a deeper delving into the historical material (and - unlike the period of the film and the first dramatic version on television - the resurgence of anti - evolutionary voters in the country) to make the story fairer.Jason Robards played Drummond/Darrow very well - in the tradition of Muni, Tracy, and Melvyn Douglas. But it was the performance of Kirk Douglas as Brady/Bryan that was unique. As I have mentioned elsewhere in these reviews, Bryan did have valid reasons to dislike Darwinism aside from religious feelings. The issue of Social Darwinism, created by an English elitist snob named Herbert Spencer, had been grabbed by various people in power positions in big business and politics that suggested that the best people were the top of the evolutionary tree - and that big business had the right to destroy small competitors due to "survival of the fittest". Bryan hated this idea, as opposite to Jeffersonian Democracy. He actually intended, after his own humiliation on the witness stand by Darrow to put Darrow on the stand to explain his acceptance of Social Darwinism. Judge Raulston, the trial judge, refused to allow this.If that had been brought out in this production, it would have set it apart and given a more balanced view of the two parties who clashed in Dayton. Instead, Douglas played Brady like a revivalist (similar to Begley, without Begley's physical resemblance to Bryan). But he also kept trying to keep up the friendly feelings that Darrow and Bryan had when both were fighting on the same side on political issues from 1893 to 1908. While all the productions include those moments of nostalgia between them, this attempted to suggest that Douglas/Brady hoped to "save" the soul of Robards/Drummond. It was a curious idea, but it just did not seem realistic (given their diametrically opposite views on evolution and the Tennessee law). I give this a 7 for the production but the approach was a misfire.

sgomezv I'm a Spanish speaker, to tell the truth I don't know how to write in English. About the picture, its contents are specially interesting for whom, like me, are teachers, and have to fight with all kind of fanaticism that slave the minds of our students and their families. On the other hand, the performances of Kirk Douglas and Jason Robard, are really remarkable. The edition of the film is just great, its film rhythm is smooth and easy and the production is outstanding too. I wish we could get this picture in DVD. Sorry for my english.

AP-3 Jason Robards, and Kirk Douglas, make this film STAND out, it is much better than the original and has the cast to back it up. We all know of the trial, and we all know that is was more or less a publicity stunt for the town of Dayton.The teacher who was supposed to teach evolution was really just a wayward man, traveling and he was a good choice for all this to happen. Again Great TV Movie, rent it or watch it when it comes on!!!