MovieChat Forums > Inherit the Wind (1960) Discussion > Scary. 1925 is still happening.

Scary. 1925 is still happening.


Nothing much has changed. Frederic March could be playing Sarah Palin. America has not progressed much from its dark days of the KKK, slavery and ignorance. Tracy vs. March. A slugfest of acting and of ideals. The human mind vs. superstition. This movie needs to be re-made. Not a word needs changing. Not an attitude needs altering. It's all there. Today's world without the great acting but with the same ignorance and brilliance. The north won the war for a reason. Reason itself.

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whats the kkk, palin and the civil war got to do with this movie ?

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Nolatecharges: not a thing.

And this film doesn't need remaking.






Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!

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In view of Trump and the wall, yeah it does lol.

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OP - Doesn't look like you've "progreesed much from ignorance" yourself. The KKK is dead, slavery is dead... But you whiney liberals are alive and well - living in the past, keeping the pot stirred, playing the race card, etc. I can only hope you wake up, realize it's 2011, and the only one oppressing you is yourself.

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Well said!

I hate that people can't enjoy pre 1970 films today for what they are - films. On these boards people pick apart all the alleged "agendas" that they think the film is secretly pushing - from racism to homosexuality. It is a movie adapted from a book that was based on a true story. Enjoy the film and don't think too much!

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I hate that people can't enjoy pre 1970 films today for what they are - films. On these boards people pick apart all the alleged "agendas" that they think the film is secretly pushing - from racism to homosexuality. It is a movie adapted from a book that was based on a true story. Enjoy the film and don't think too much!
Surely you did not mean that the way it sounds.

I agree that viewers often see messages in movies that aren't there. But Inherit the Wind, like the book on which it is based, raises and explores a vitally important issue that is still very relevant. I think a viewer who sees it only as entertainment misses the point.


Werewolves Ate My Platoon!

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Surely you did not mean that the way it sounds.

I agree that viewers often see messages in movies that aren't there. But Inherit the Wind, like the book on which it is based, raises and explores a vitally important issue that is still very relevant. I think a viewer who sees it only as entertainment misses the point.
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When I read the book in high school, we had a long discussion, then the next class we watched the film, and again had a long discussion. This is one film that I don't believe should only be seen as entertainment. However, on these boards, people find agendas in some of the simplest stories.

I actually understand (or at least I think I do) what the OP was trying to say, although I disagree that if this film was remade involving the current political climate, the dialogue couldn't remain the same. I think the comparisons to slavery and the KKK are a little extreme. However, going back to the film and book, it really exposed just how "simple" everyday people can be, people who also vote. I think sometimes people on these boards do have interesting points, they may just go a little extreme about expressing them.

I recently watched the film "Marty" and on these boards I read some threads where people were debating whether or not the film is dated. The "message" of the film is something that will never get old though.

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Enjoy the film and don't think too much!

Don't be shocked but some of us actually like to think. I feel this is why I have a brain so I use it, constantly! Apparently, thinking is a chore for some people but for others it's second-nature; like breathing, it's just what we do.

In regards to 'just enjoying a film' and not picking it apart - I have noticed some people just watch a movie and have absolutely no thoughts at all. That's not everyone. Some of us watch a movie and come away with something. Whether or not it's what was intended, we learn, experience or understand something about the world, other people, life, or whatever; we find something that makes the experience personal to us.

Sharing it on the boards is not a bad thing as it may help someone else do the same. This is how I was taught in school. Whatever you read, see, hear, etc. you should think about and decide what you think, feel or understand. We don't have to have the same opinion but I think we should have opinions. I've read a few posts on IMDB that have gotten me to think differently about a movie and/or appreciate it more than I had. This is life; we are supposed to share with and learn from each other.

By the way, respecting differences of opinion is one of the messages I took away from this film. I agree to some extent with the person who said the movie has themes that are still relevant today. I saw that too. I don't agree with how those themes were assigned in that particular post but that part doesn't really matter.

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The Klan is alive and well, slavery is happening right here in the US, and Tennessee is now trying to revive the original anti-evolution law.

Pull your head out of the sand.

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Where is slavery happening? Please cite.

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Where is slavery happening? Please cite?

Surely you f*¢k!ng jest?

http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/overview

"Because human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries, the U.S. government and academic researchers are currently working on an up-to-date estimate of the total number of trafficked persons in the United States annually. With 100,000 children estimated to be in the sex trade in the United States each year, it is clear that the total number of human trafficking victims in the U.S. reaches into the hundreds of thousands when estimates of both adults and minors and sex trafficking and labor trafficking are aggregated."

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/civilrights/human_trafficking

"It’s sad but true: here in this country, people are being bought, sold, and smuggled like modern-day slaves. They are trapped in lives of misery—often beaten, starved, and forced to work as prostitutes or to take grueling jobs as migrant, domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little or no pay. We’re working hard to stop human trafficking—not only because of the personal and psychological toll it takes on society, but also because it facilitates the illegal movement of immigrants across borders and provides a ready source of income for organized crime groups and even terrorists."

http://www.humantraffickinged.com/

"Each year about 17,500 individuals are brought into the United States and held against their will as victims of human trafficking. Some estimate the number is as high as 60,000 annually. These numbers do not include those who are here from previous years, migrants already in the US, runaways, displaced persons, and those from oppressed/marginalized groups and the poor."

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Human trafficking exists everywhere. There is no LEGAL slavery in the US, and no acceptance of slavery by US society anymore than there is public embrace of murder. The Constitution says so. If the KKK still exists, so what? We don't tell people what they have to think in the US, even if we disagree with it. Jeez, the right to think was the point of the movie.
If Sarah Palin is the threat the OP seems to think she is, well, I don't know what to say. The OP may as well just hide under the bed.





Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!

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If you think the KKK is dead then you live in a delusional fantasy world. Some just call them selves different names but the 'Aryan Nations', Imperial Klans Of America, American Freedom Party, National Alliance, Nationalist Movement, The Order, White Aryan Resistance and about 15-20 other organizations are very active today all over the country hundreds of centers across the country in almost every state.

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Its antifa and blm that burning down citys and killing people, not the Klan which are made up by 50% of the FBI.

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white supremacists are in congress. Gtfo

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The op is right.
America is tardsville.
TO see a modern western nation with so many religous nuts.

And whats funny is the religions arent even American, 8tey are just warped and mutated European religions.
Like the American political spectrum. totaly warped.

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Notice how liberals can't make a point without condemning anybody who disagrees with them?

They are the ones today who want to destroy free speech and free thought so the only speech allowed agrees with them.

What about Joe Biden in black face "they will put youall back in chains?

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O and the conservatives are any better? What rights do they love to take? A woman's right to make decisions about her body? Two adults to be able to wed regardless of there gender?

"I don't have an opinion. The word "opinion" implies the possibility I'm wrong."

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Notice how liberals can't make a point without condemning anybody who disagrees with them?


There is NO reason to think linop90 is a liberal. From what he (she?) said, it sounds like he simply isn't from the United States.

You shouldn't generalize and attack all liberals, all based on a possibly false assumption.

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In this movie, Dick York's character is thrown in jail for teaching evolution. Tell us where this is happening today in the USA, in real life.

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[deleted]

You cant ignore the fact that TeaParty is trying to replace evolution based science-schoolbooks with intelligent-design-books.
This is literally the same.
Ok jail didint happen so far, but be aware that if a Teaparty-member will get president it is likly to happen.

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The OP has the right sentiment. There is a movement to remove the separation of church & state based on the archaic beliefs of christian fundementalists. Rick Santorum had even recently stated he does not believe absolutely in the separation of church and state. It is their wish to have creationism taught alongside the theory of evolution. That is their idea of a bipartisan policy. Ideally I would imagine they want creationsim to be the only school of thought in our public school system. In my opinion that is anti-science, anti-progress, and completely ludicrous. And the fact that they are up to scrutiny and ridicule is very well deserved. I mean seriously, get your minds into the 21st century..

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Yes...let's all move into the 21st century and everybody think like you think, act like you act, believe what you believe. And if they don't, then they deserve, how did you put it? "Scrutiny" and "ridicule"? They are "anti-progress" and "ludicrous"?

So you are their judge...how long before you want to be their executioner as well, oh superior being?

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If you are devoid of logic and rationale thought.. Then, yeah, you should be laughed at.

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If you are devoid of logic and rationale thought.. Then, yeah, you should be laughed at.
ha ha....rationale is not an adjective.

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Actually, the word "rational" is an adjective. Clearly the spelling "rationale" was unintentional.

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This past weekend, a NY TImes article pointed out that 7 border and southern states have provisions in their Constitutions prohibiting atheists from holding state office. In 2014.

They also noted that over half of those surveyed in a poll would object if a family member decided to marry an atheist.

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You're right, OP.

Even today we still have religious sayings on our money and in every elementary school in the US has our children saying "one nation under god". It wouldn't be an issue if everyone believed in god but some of us don't. Unfortunately, most Christians don't believe in equality.

" The rug really tied the room together, did it not? "

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in every elementary school in the US has our children saying "one nation under god"

In what country do you live? You've got to be better informed as to what goes on in schools around the US before you make such a sweeping statement.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/19/140600621/parents-fight-over-pledging-al legiance-in-schools

Levon Helm... The Best There Ever Was, The Best There'll Ever Be

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It seems that nothing has really changed in the US since 1925.

Why is creationism still such a vocal and divisive issue in the US. For a country that's supposed to be so "educated", the US, and especially its politicians, have some bat sh*t crazy ideas. The concept of evolution is not an issue elsewhere in the developed world. I can think of no other country where praising a deity and public belief in a 6000 yr old universe is part of daily politics.

Time to move on, US, and join the 20th century, if not the 21st century. You embarrass yourself on the world stage with your, er, antediluvian attitudes.

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Thanks for posting that link. I was unaware of the change.

Looks like freedom from religion is on its way. Yeah for Atheism!

" The rug really tied the room together, did it not? "

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[deleted]

I'm watching it now and had the same thought as the OP. With all our advantages in science they are still ignorant people who refuse to learn anything new.

Open the door for Mr. Muckle!!

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I agree completely with the OP. When I first saw this movie in the 1960s, everyone I knew took evolution as fact. It's only since the late 1980s or so that the religious right has taken this dominant and domineering attitude. When I tell my kids this, they think I'm making it up.

Even at the time of the trial, most of the world thought creationism was ridiculous; that's why the case became such a big deal.

I wanted to watch the movie tonight (with my agnostic son, who loved it)after hearing speeches at the GOP convention and getting seriously depressed. I was hoping it would help me understand the thought processes behind some of the outrageous statements I heard. It reminded me that at least there are thoughtful people in the world.

I am a deeply religious person and I, and most of the people I know, exist very comfortably in a world of science and God. It's painful to me that others are so threatened by this that they can't allow the possibility of scientific facts being accepted by a religious person. As soon as someone supports science, they are called atheists and immoral.

Of course, I'm Jewish, so I'm going to hell anyway.

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In Texas, the gov't is allowed to change history books to be less...hmmm...factual I guess would be the word. Or is that less knowledgeable? I get those two mixed up

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37271857/ns/us_news-life/t/texas-oks-schoo l-textbook-changes/#.UGEAlVGz4_c

So maybe things haven't changed too much...just in a different way.

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I admire the US in many ways, esp the very free press and the written constitution and bill of rights.

I would never consider living there though for two main reasons i) one bad medical diagnosis and you are bankrupt.
ii) I would always worry that attempts would be made to teach nonsense to my children.

I'll stay in the UK where Darwin was voted #2 Britain of all-time, and quite rightly is even on our money (the £10 note to be precise).

Roy 72.

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I second this from your continent... But from the Netherlands.

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