Review of Inherit the Wind (1960) by Byron B — 16 Sep 2008

The script is excellent in dealing with the issues. I really don't understand why this is still an issue, why people are still so ignorant?! I suppose like the movie shows through the creationists that the problem lies in overzealousness leading to hatred, a refusal to question old time beliefs and even open books with different ideas, and the desperate need to shout your opinion even louder when your ego and reputation are threatened. On the other hand, the muck-raking journalist played by Gene Kelly is a muck-raker. He is so snide and proud of himself, without hopes or dreams, and truly alone. I don't think people appreciate or have really listened to what Spencer Tracy's character has to say. He believes religion may appear golden on the outside, but is rotten inside. He fights for the right for people to think! He believes that there is probably some higher power or meaning to life, but not how Christians define those ideas, and that the Bible is a good book, but not the only book. He carries the Bible out of the court room with Darwin's book. The religious right think humans are sinful lesser forms of God, not much different from animals or the natural world in the way in which we are play things to God. The scientific left think humans have a higher form of reason, have made progress at understanding the world, and have the power to improve our fellow human relations. Now which one sees humans as being closer to monkeys?

The title applies to the minister and Fredric March's character. One translation of the verse from Proverbs is "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." This is as opposed to inheriting the kingdom of heaven. When people are overzealous and hateful, refuse to question old-time beliefs or open books with different ideas, or bluster and shout more loudly when they are afraid of losing out to new ideas, they will inherit nothing but the wind!