Very OT: "Inherit the Wind" was one of the. . .

[Kibitzer]

. . . all-time great movies, capturing the essence of the "Scopes Trial" about evolution, etc., in (of all places!) Tennessee. In real life, the antagonists were Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan and the most known (not always respectfully) media rep was H.L. Mencken.

In the play/movie, new names were assigned (e.g., Darrow became "Henry Drummond" and Bryan was "Matthew Harrison Brady") and the dialogue was created by playwright Robert E. Lee (honest).

Spencer Tracy portrayed Darrow/Drummond and Frederic March did Bryan/Brady. Gene Kelly was Mencken, by whatever name.

An all-time great BW film.

I also saw it on stage in NYC with George Scott and Charles Durning. What a night!

I understand there is another movie version with George Scott and Jack Lemmon but I regret I have not yet seen it.

I think it's now time to do it again with Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Stacey, perhaps Tom Hanks or Alan Arkin in the Mencken role

Any thoughts?

 

[Fightin Choke]

I assume that Jones would be the Brady and Spacey would be Drummond. I prefer Hanks to Arkin, as he is more age-appropriate for the role of the wise ass Mencken, who was in his 40's when the trial occurred. I almost think Spacey is too intense for the Drummond role. What about Tim Robbins as Drummond?

 

[Frodo]

. . . all-time great movies, capturing the essence of the "Scopes Trial" about evolution, etc., in (of all places!) Tennessee. In real life, the antagonists were Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan and the most known (not always respectfully) media rep was H.L. Mencken.

In the play/movie, new names were assigned (e.g., Darrow became "Henry Drummond" and Bryan was "Matthew Harrison Brady") and the dialogue was created by playwright Robert E. Lee (honest).

Spencer Tracy portrayed Darrow/Drummond and Frederic March did Bryan/Brady. Gene Kelly was Mencken, by whatever name.

An all-time great BW film.

I also saw it on stage in NYC with George Scott and Charles Durning. What a night!

I understand there is another movie version with George Scott and Jack Lemmon but I regret I have not yet seen it.

I think it's now time to do it again with Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Stacey, perhaps Tom Hanks or Alan Arkin in the Mencken role

Any thoughts?

One of me all-time favorites. Los of geat, quotable lines and I can't think of too many films that had two such magnificent performances as Tracy and March.

 

[wire chief]

Hanks as a wise-ass? I don't know. A. Baldwin?

 

[Kibitzer]

I think the Darrow/Drummond role is made to order for Tommy Lee Jones.

Maybe John Goodman as Brady/Bryant? Wilfred Brimley or David Boies as the presiding judge (played by Harry Morgan of "MASH" fame in the movie)?

Gene Kelly was renowned as a dancer/singer, yet performed well in his dramatic role. Following this pattern, there is a need for a very strident and narrow-minded bible-thumping preacher (Rev. Jeremiah Brown). How about Jimmy Swaggert for this? Or Pat Robertson? Or the NRA guy, Wayne LaPierre?

Rev. Brown's daughter is caught up romantically with the accused (Scopes/Cates). How about Lindsay Lohan for this role?