Inherit the Wind
Movie Review by: Kenneth Christopher, Florida Atlantic University

Inherit thje Wind is the classic film from 1960 starring Spencer Tracy and Frederick March which depicts the conflict over the teaching of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution in the public schools in one small southern town of the 1920s. The film, which is based on the famous 1925 "Scopes Monkey Trial," is presented as a courtroom drama in which a public school teacher is criminally charged with violating state law over the teaching of the theory of evolution. Dramatic effect is achieved as the teacher is represented by a famous trial lawyer financed by civil libertarian newspaper interests, and the state is represented by a popular religious conservative, former presidential candidate hired to prosecute the teacher. The major characters in the film are fictionalized, but in the actual 1925 trial, the trial lawyer representing the teacher was Clarence Darrow, and the prosecuting attorney was former presidential candidate William Jennings Bryant.

The film is an excellent depiction of societal conflict over school curriculum and the choices communities face over the content of what school children will be required to study. In the film, the community is seemingly united in rejecting the teaching of evolution as it contravenes religious precepts concerning creation as related in the Bible. The conflict is fomented when interests eternal to the community, e.g., politicians, large newspapers, civil libertarians, come to the support of the teacher who made a personal choice to challenge the law and teach the theory in school. The drama, which is primarily played out in courtroom trial scenes between Spencer Tracy as the defense attorney, and Frederick March as the prosecutor, brings the issue of curriculum content to a head. It illustrates well the dilemma communities face over teaching new theories and ideas which seem contradictory to moral notions and beliefs developed over time.

As a teaching tool, Inherit the Wind would be an excellent alternative text for teachers to use in many courses, particularly for those teaching social studies or specific courses in American History and Political Science. The teacher can integrate the film with other texts and materials focusing on the issues of community conflict over the expression of ideas and the controls exerted by the governing bodies on the content of public school curricula. Teachers should be sure to present alternative viewpoints, pointing out that dramatic productions may not often be accurate portrayals of historical events. This film does however offer many lessons for students with respect to courage, freedom, societal values, and the resolution of conflict, which many teachers can integrate in varying degrees in class.