Inherit the Wind is a 1988 American legal drama television film directed by David Greene and written by John Gay, based on the 1955 play of the same name by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The film stars Kirk Douglas, Jason Robards, Darren McGavin and Jean Simmons. It aired on NBC 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.
Plot summary
Cast
Jason Robards as Henry Drummond
Kirk Douglas as Matthew Harrison Brady
Darren McGavin as E. K. Hornbeck
Jean Simmons as Lucy Brady
Kyle Secor as Bertram Cates
Michael Ensign as Rev. Brown
Megan Follows as Rachel 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 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