Review of Inherit the Wind (1960) by Frankie A — 02 May 2008

I'll give it 3 stars and that's generous. The movie doesn't hold up well with the plot development predictable, and Gene Kelly annoying, delivering terrible lines, which explains why this was the rare occurrence he wasn't hoofing it.

The DVD sleeve notes were written by someone who hadn't seen the movie or they would have been able to name the characters used in the film, instead of the central figures in the Scopes trial upon which it was based.

Then there is Derwood or Darren or Dexter you know Dick York from Bewitched - no wonder they replaced him on the show - he can't act. Want more wierd casting? How about Dragnet's Harry Morgan as the judge, or Claude Akins, a journeyman actor in a central role that he delivers on a single note.

OK I didn't like it, I didn't think it was clever or thought-provoking, just a Hollywood bash fest of creationism, which is alright except it was black and white in every sense of the term. Mind you Spencer Tracy pulls off fat and short and makes it appealing like no one could - some points for that.