A biblical orator opposes a liberal lawyer defending a man for teaching Darwinism in the 1920s South.A biblical orator opposes a liberal lawyer defending a man for teaching Darwinism in the 1920s South.A biblical orator opposes a liberal lawyer defending a man for teaching Darwinism in the 1920s South.
- Won 2 Primetime Emmys
- 2 wins & 1 nomination total
Tom McCleister
- Bailiff
- (as Thom McCleister)
Richard Gilbert-Hill
- Radio Newsman
- (as Richard Gilbert Hill)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe real William Jennings Bryan ran for President three times: 1896, 1900, and 1908. Bryan was the first Presidential candidate to extensively barnstorm during a Presidential campaign in an era when most candidates did not. Although it's suggested that he might be contemplating a run in the next election, which would have been in 1928, it's highly unlikely. He did serve in public office twice - as Congressman from Nebraska from 1891 to 1895 and as Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1915, when he resigned over the country's policy toward Germany after the Lusitania was sunk. Despite his fundamentalist Christian beliefs, he was considered as Liberal and Progressive, supporting anti-Imperialist policies and trust-busting.
- GoofsActor Kyle Secor, as Bertram Cates, wears glasses of which the frames are historically incorrect. In the 1930s, the frames would be metal. Additionally, the handles of the frames would curl and hook around each ear instead of the modern-day version which only slightly hooks around the back of the ear. While the "Ful-Vue' shape of the lenses is correct, 1930s glasses did not have the nose bridge comfort pads of modern-day glasses. And while tortoiseshell frames were just beginning to come into style, it is doubtful that a young man during the Great Depression would be able to afford tortoiseshell frames on a teacher's salary and would opt for the gold metal frames which were more popular and readily available. In this film, Secor wears modern frames that appear to be tortoiseshell with modern-day handles.
- Quotes
Rachel Brown: I don't understand it, and what I do understand I don't like. I don't believe I came from apes and monkeys. You see, I really haven't thought very much. I was always afraid of what I might think. It seemed safer not to think at all. Maybe - maybe what Mr. Darwin wrote is bad. Bad or good I think ideas have to come out. I think they should be heard. I don't think they ought to pass laws against them.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1988)
Featured review
Well, they tried!!
I thought Jason Robards was good as Darrow even if he didn't erase the memory of Spencer Tracy from my mind but I thought the usually fine Kirk Douglas was miscast as William Jennings Bryan (who was a glutton, not a movie star!) and didn't come close to Frederic March who even looked like Bryan. (Admittedly, Spencer always looked like Spencer.) He was reduced to playing the part as if it was Elmer Gantry and when Jason said that "a giant once lived in that body!" I didn't believe him for one second.
And where the old black and white version suggested the oppressive heat and humidity of Dayton, Tennessee, this one didn't even come close. Darren McGavin who played H. L. Mencken was quite good though and easily erased the memory of Gene Kelly in the original. And I've always adored Jean Simmons in most of what she did. Kyle Secor was the Scopes character (I mistook him for Matthew Broderick) and was very adequate.
I'd be interested to see (again?) the 1965 TV version with Melvyn Douglas and Ed Begley but I don't remember it at all if I did see it.
And where the old black and white version suggested the oppressive heat and humidity of Dayton, Tennessee, this one didn't even come close. Darren McGavin who played H. L. Mencken was quite good though and easily erased the memory of Gene Kelly in the original. And I've always adored Jean Simmons in most of what she did. Kyle Secor was the Scopes character (I mistook him for Matthew Broderick) and was very adequate.
I'd be interested to see (again?) the 1965 TV version with Melvyn Douglas and Ed Begley but I don't remember it at all if I did see it.
helpful•81
- standardmetal
- Oct 11, 2003
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content