movie76.htm

Inherit the Wind (TV),
USA 1988, color

with Jason Robards and Jean Simmons (left);
Peter Douglas with Emmy for producing (right)

Distributed by: NBC

Executive producer: Peter Vincent Douglas (won Emmy)

Produced by: Robert A. Papazian Jr.

Genre / keyword: Drama / based-on-play / religion / based-on-true-story / courtroom

Runtime: 120

Directed by: David Greene

Summary:

Here Douglas is the Bible-pounding Brady, fervently attacking Darwinian viewpoints, and Jason Robards won an Emmy as the pragmatic, dogged Drummond, whose grassroots logic not only wins the case but also destroys the point where Brady´s heart and mind are broken.

The fierce intensity which Douglas has shown in so many of his characterizations here works especially well in setting up the initial confidence of the foreceful, positive Brady but works to even more advantage in revealing the same intensity as the root cause of the man´s final disintegration. The Brady of Douglas in this "Inherit the Wind" is quite possibly among the peaks of a long and vital career. For the role of Mrs. Brady the producers knowingly chose the superb Jean Simmons, bringing about a reunion with Douglas twenty-eight years after "Spartacus". The choice was more than sentimental; the playing of the two old pros is as effective as it is poignant, particularly in the scene where Mrs. Brady listens to her husband espousing his cause in the privacy of their hotel room and knowing she can do nothing to stop him destroying himself.

Cast (in credits order): Kirk Douglas ... as Matthew Harrison Brady

Jason Robarts ... as Henry Drummond

Darren McGavin ... as Hornbeck

John Harkins ... as Judge

Megan Follows ... as Rachel Brown

Kyle Secor ... as Cates

Michael Ensign ... as Rev. Brown

Don Hood ... as Mayor

Jean Simmons ... as Lucy Brady

Josh Clark ... as Davenport

Scotch Byerley ... as Meeker

Ebbe Roe Smith ... as Dunlap

Douglas Dirkson ... as Mr. Bannister

Richard Lineback ... as Sillers

Tom McCleister ... as Bailiff

Jason Marin ... as Howard

Written by:

John Gay (based on the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
dealing with the true story "monkey trial" (William Jennings Bryant against Clarence Darrow) which took place in Dayton, Tennessee, in the summer of 1925)

Photographed by: Stevan Larner

Music by: Arthur B. Rubinstein

Film Editing by: Parkie L. Singh

Distributed by:	NBC
Executive producer:	Peter Vincent Douglas (won Emmy)
Produced by:	Robert A. Papazian Jr.
Genre / keyword:	Drama / based-on-play / religion / based-on-true-story / courtroom
Runtime:	120
Directed by:	David Greene
Summary:	Here Douglas is the Bible-pounding Brady, fervently attacking Darwinian viewpoints, and Jason Robards won an Emmy as the pragmatic, dogged Drummond, whose grassroots logic not only wins the case but also destroys the point where Brady´s heart and mind are broken. The fierce intensity which Douglas has shown in so many of his characterizations here works especially well in setting up the initial confidence of the foreceful, positive Brady but works to even more advantage in revealing the same intensity as the root cause of the man´s final disintegration. The Brady of Douglas in this "Inherit the Wind" is quite possibly among the peaks of a long and vital career. For the role of Mrs. Brady the producers knowingly chose the superb Jean Simmons, bringing about a reunion with Douglas twenty-eight years after "Spartacus". The choice was more than sentimental; the playing of the two old pros is as effective as it is poignant, particularly in the scene where Mrs. Brady listens to her husband espousing his cause in the privacy of their hotel room and knowing she can do nothing to stop him destroying himself.
Cast (in credits order):	Kirk Douglas ... as Matthew Harrison Brady
	Jason Robarts ... as Henry Drummond
	Darren McGavin ... as Hornbeck
	John Harkins ... as Judge
	Megan Follows ... as Rachel Brown
	Kyle Secor ... as Cates
	Michael Ensign ... as Rev. Brown
	Don Hood ... as Mayor
	Jean Simmons ... as Lucy Brady
	Josh Clark ... as Davenport
	Scotch Byerley ... as Meeker
	Ebbe Roe Smith ... as Dunlap
	Douglas Dirkson ... as Mr. Bannister
	Richard Lineback ... as Sillers
	Tom McCleister ... as Bailiff
	Jason Marin ... as Howard
Written by:	John Gay (based on the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee dealing with the true story "monkey trial" (William Jennings Bryant against Clarence Darrow) which took place in Dayton, Tennessee, in the summer of 1925)
Photographed by:	Stevan Larner
Music by:	Arthur B. Rubinstein
Film Editing by:	Parkie L. Singh