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.
- GoofsIn several courtroom scenes when the focus is on Bertram Cates, the actor, Kyle Secor, wears glasses in which you can see the reflection of the production lights as well as white flags used by the production staff to mute the lights. In the 1930s, courtrooms would have utilized electric lights with a milk glass lamp shade known as a "schoolhouse light".
- 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
Weakest of the three versions of the story of the Scopes Trial this version suffers from shortening, rewriting and worst of all commercials.
This isn't to say its bad, its not. The problem is that compared to the original Spencer Tracy film this film comes off as a good summer stock to the originals Broadway show case.
The cast is game. Kirk Douglas is perhaps a bit odd at first as the William Jennings Bryan character, but after a few minutes he slips into the groove and all is fine. Jason Robards' is excellent, unfortunately there is something about the way this was put together for TV that kills his momentum in the home stretch.
Seeing this with out commercials doesn't help since the pauses still are there.
If its on try it, but if you must see some version of this go for one of the other two.
This isn't to say its bad, its not. The problem is that compared to the original Spencer Tracy film this film comes off as a good summer stock to the originals Broadway show case.
The cast is game. Kirk Douglas is perhaps a bit odd at first as the William Jennings Bryan character, but after a few minutes he slips into the groove and all is fine. Jason Robards' is excellent, unfortunately there is something about the way this was put together for TV that kills his momentum in the home stretch.
Seeing this with out commercials doesn't help since the pauses still are there.
If its on try it, but if you must see some version of this go for one of the other two.
- dbborroughs
- Jul 1, 2004
- Permalink
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