Movie: Inherit The Wind

OK, so as a scientist it's lame that I *just* got around to watching this flick. I must be the only person who never had to sit through it in high school. Needless to say, the idea of the religious lunatic fringe combatting evolution rings just as true today as it did back in 1925 during the original Scopes Monkey Trial. The version I watched was the 1960 one with Spencer Tracy and Gene Kelly, and apparently was also an allegory to McCarthyism as well (which makes sense on reflection).

The more I watch these classics, the more I realize that they just don't make movies like this anymore. Or anything they try to do today just pales in comparison. You would think that a movie about a court case, which mainly involves two lawyers going at it, would be boring as hell - but Spencer Tracy and Fredric March are absolutely amazing, as Drummond (defense) and Brady (prosecution), respectively. Their interactions and dialogue are a joy to watch - in the movie, they are actually friends, and Drummond was a supporter of Brady in his political ambitions. They find themselves on opposites of the law, and of human progress by extension, but still manage to be friendly through almost all of the proceedings.

The obvious theme of the movie - freedom of thought - was highlighted even more by the downright frightening portrayal of the religious fanatics in the community. The pastor damning his own daughter, that creepy "Old Time Religion" song, even the mobs burning Cates (the biology teacher) in effigy - I feel better knowing I'm on the right side of the issue, but I was still honestly scared by them.

By all means, this is a great flick and I can't recommend this strongly enough if you are in any way involved with science. Even apart from that - if you like good banter, the courtroom scenes are hilarious and the acting is great.

Check it out.

More info: Wikipedia entry