''Inherit the Wind'' is a 1988 American
legal drama
A legal drama is a genre of film and television that generally focuses on narratives regarding legal practice and the justice system. The American Film Institute (AFI) defines "courtroom drama" as a genre of film in which a system of justice play ...
television film
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
directed by
David Greene and written by
John Gay, based on the 1955
play of the same name by
Jerome Lawrence
Jerome Lawrence (born Jerome Lawrence Schwartz; July 14, 1915 – February 29, 2004) was an American playwright and author. After graduating from the Ohio State University in 1937 and the University of California, Los Angeles in 1939, Lawrence pa ...
and
Robert E. Lee. The film stars
Kirk Douglas,
Jason Robards
Jason Nelson Robards Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American actor. Known as an interpreter of the works of playwright Eugene O'Neill, Robards received two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Cannes ...
,
Darren McGavin and
Jean Simmons. It aired on
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
on March 20, 1988.
The original play was written as a
parable which fictionalized the 1925
Scopes "Monkey" Trial as a means of discussing the 1950s
McCarthy trials.
This version differed from the two previous films by attempting to make Brady more sympathetic and the storyline (according to its producers) "a bit more fair to both sides."
When announced in early 1987, the film was to co-star Douglas and
Gregory Peck, under the title ''The Monkey Trial''.
Cast
*
Jason Robards
Jason Nelson Robards Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American actor. Known as an interpreter of the works of playwright Eugene O'Neill, Robards received two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Cannes ...
as Henry Drummond
*
Kirk Douglas as Matthew Harrison Brady
*
Darren McGavin as E. K. Hornbeck
*
Jean Simmons as Lucy Brady
*
Kyle Secor
Kyle Ivan Secor (born May 31, 1957) is an American television and film actor. He is known for portraying Detective Tim Bayliss on the crime drama series '' Homicide: Life on the Street'' (1993–1999).
Early years
Secor was born in Tacoma, Wash ...
as Bertram Cates
*
Michael Ensign
Michael Ensign (born February 13, 1944) is an American actor who mostly played very small roles. One of his most-known roles was Benjamin Guggenheim in the 1997 film ''Titanic''.
Early life
Ensign was raised in both the United States and Englan ...
as Rev. Brown
Awards
Emmy Awards
*Won: Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special - Peter Douglas (executive producer) and Robert Papazian (producer)
*Won: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special -
Jason Robards
Jason Nelson Robards Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American actor. Known as an interpreter of the works of playwright Eugene O'Neill, Robards received two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the Cannes ...
*Nominated: Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special - Stevan Larner
See also
*
List of American films of 1988
*
Trial movies
Notes
External links and references
*
1988 films
1988 drama films
1980s American films
1980s English-language films
1980s legal drama films
Films about religion
American courtroom films
American drama television films
American films based on actual events
American films based on plays
American legal drama films
Cultural depictions of Clarence Darrow
Cultural depictions of John T. Scopes
Drama films based on actual events
Films à clef
Films about lawyers
Films directed by David Greene
Films scored by Arthur B. Rubinstein
Films shot in Oregon
Films with screenplays by John Gay (screenwriter)
NBC network original films
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie winners
Scopes Trial
Television films based on actual events
United Artists films
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