Schoolteacher Bertram Cates is arrested for teaching his students Darwin's theory of evolution. The case receives national attention and one of the newspaper reporters, E.K. Hornbeck, arranges to bring in renowned defense attorney and atheist Henry Drummond to defend Cates. The prosecutor, Matthew Brady is a former presidential candidate, famous evangelist, and old adversary of Drummond.
Acting
Tracy and March's sweaty, theatrical showdown is pure electricity.
Writing
Dialogue so sharp it could cut through creationist pamphlets.
Direction
Kramer turns a hot courtroom into claustrophobic pressure cooker.
Director
Stanley Kramer
Spencer Tracy
Henry Drummond
Fredric March
Matthew Harrison Brady
Gene Kelly
E.K. Hornbeck
Dick York
Bertram T. Cates
Donna Anderson
Rachel Brown
Harry Morgan
Judge Mel
Claude Akins
Rev. Jeremiah Brown
Elliott Reid
Prosecutor Tom Davenport
Paul Hartman
Bailiff Mort Meeker
Philip Coolidge
Mayor Jason Carter
Jimmy Boyd
Howard
Noah Beery Jr.
John Stebbins
Norman Fell
WGN Radio Technician
Hope Summers
Mrs. Krebs - Righteous Townswoman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on the real 1925 Scopes Trial, but Brady and Drummond are fictionalized versions of William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow.
Released during the Cold War, the film's warning about ideological persecution resonated with audiences fearing McCarthy-era blacklisting.
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