Here, in this film, we have a giant, a king of a genre. This is the greatest courtroom drama I have ever seen, towering at an apex of emotion and grand symbolism. The film, which is based on the famous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, has a perfect script, brimming with enough sharp dialogue to satisfy any movie-goer. There is also perfect acting, especially from the amazing Spencer Tracy. There is no particularly objectionable content in the film, aside from a few "d**n"s and "h*ll"s. The whole films is about evolution vs. religion, and, though the film feels like it takes the side of evolution, in the end they are evenly weighed. There are many mature discussions throughout the film that will most likely bore kids, but anyone who can appreciate it should watch it. All characters fight for what they think is right, and bigoted people are portrayed in a negative light. Even characters who use underhanded means to get what they want are fully-fleshed out, sympathetic people who apologize for their actions.
Inherit the Wind (1960)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Knock-out courtroom drama has deft comic touches.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Inherit the Wind (1960) was written by Ellen MacKay
Parents need to know that kids will hear some mild swearing. A scene in which a jailed teacher is burned in effigy by a menacing crowd might disturb sensitive kids. The movies raises issues of creatonism vs. evolution.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the advantages and limitations of using movies to dramatize historical events. Can movies tell the story of events in ways that other media, such as books or radio, can't? How much of an event can you show in a couple of hours and how do you decide what to leave out? Do you think that the real lawyers arguing this case were swayed slightly towards the others' positions by the end of the trial, as is portrayed here? Or is this simply a device for tying up the story in a neat bow?
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More on Inherit the Wind (1960)
What’s the Story?
In this classic, science teacher Bert Cates (Dick York) is jailed for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in the fundamentalist community of Hillsboro, Tennessee. The town is caught in the national spotlight when two legal heavyweights take on the case: former Presidential candidate Matthew Harrison Brady (Frederic March) for the prosecution, and ACLU founder Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy) for the defense. Brady and Drummond, known in real life as William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow, mesmerize crowds as they wrestle with the still timely issue of the separation of church and state.
Is It Any Good?
INHERIT THE WIND is everything that a legal drama ought to be, but deft comic touches and a clear storyline make this sophisticated film accessible to kids. The lawyers are the heroes in this exciting retelling of the watershed trial, bolstered by impressive performances by Tracy and March. Each character eventually questions his beliefs. Brady's narrow interpretation of the Christian Bible is stretched to include modern science; the atheistic Drummond ends up reconsidering his doubts about God. But don't worry about heavy-duty moralizing, this courtroom story is surprisingly light, with a wry sense of humor. As curiosity seekers flood Hillsboro during the trial, residents imagine all sorts of ways of cashing in, each more preposterous than the next.
Because Inherit the Wind is about what teachers are allowed to teach, the film speaks to younger viewers more directly than an adult might suspect. Unlike most courtroom dramas, this movie refuses to reduce complicated issues into simplistic ones. It also shows that it is worthwhile to fight for your beliefs. As Drummond explains, the only pathetic person is the one who is too cynical to believe in anything, a worthy message to offer to kids and adults alike.
Movie Details
Studio: MGM/UA, Director: Stanley Kramer
Run time: 126 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/01/1960
MPAA Rating: PG for Language and Thematic Material
Run time: 126 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/01/1960
MPAA Rating: PG for Language and Thematic Material
Our Members Say
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Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A Spectacular Court-Room Movie!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Fantastic movie for older kids and teens
While you might have trouble getting a youngster to sit through this dialog-heavy movie, it carries important messages about the dangers of letting emotional pleas to continue the status quo drive the show. If they believe it, the movie should let them know that even when a lot of loud and powerful people around you are dead wrong, you have a chance to be heard when the truth is on your side.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
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