Review of Inherit the Wind (1960) by Stefán Birgir S — 20 Jun 2010

Gene Kelly obviously could do more than just sing and dance. Despite co-starring in a movie with Spencer Tracy and Fredric Marsh, he absolutely stole the show.

"Inherit the Wind" is a classic courtroom drama based on the famous Scopes Monkey Trial. When a young teacher (played by Dick York of Bewitched fame) is caught teaching Darwinism in a Tennessee classroom, he is arrested and put on trial.

The dialog in this movie is nothing short of brilliant. The theme of the movie, especially considering when it was made (1960), was provocative and powerful. The lone downside is that it can be somewhat slow at times.

And then there was Kelly. March and Tracy were great as always playing rival lawyers both passionate about winning the trial ... but Kelly makes this movie go 'round. The famed song and dance man showed that he was more than capable of a dramatic role playing a sarcastic and cynical reporter who seems to smirk and make a mockery of the entire trial while sitting alongside the accused. The movie would have been merely good without him, but with him and his amazing screen presence the movie is an instant classic in my mind.

10 Scale Rating: 8.0 ...