Product Details

• Actors: Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, David Wells, Beau Bridges, Tom Everett Scott
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Run Time: 113 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305600988
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,946 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The word classic can readily be applied to the story of what became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial, which led to the Broadway hit that has now been filmed for the third time. With Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott playing adversarial attorneys, this period piece deals in ideas and ideals in a masterful courtroom drama.

In 1925, a schoolteacher is arrested for teaching Darwinism in the community of Hillsboro, where such scientific refutations of the Bible are illegal. Scott plays prosecutor Matthew Brady (based on politician Williams Jennings Bryan), bringing majesty and tragedy to a character many would find repugnant, as he prophetically bemoans a society moving "from love of God to love of self." Jack Lemmon plays attorney Henry Drummond (based on the legendary Clarence Darrow) and brings his trademark portrayal of the "little guy" to a man determined to protect a citizen's basic right to freedom of thought, proclaiming, "An idea is a greater monument to God than a cathedral." The wonderful supporting cast, including Beau Bridges, Piper Laurie, and John Cullum, all demonstrate their love of a multilayered drama filled with conundrums of faith and contradictions of philosophy. Veteran director Daniel Petrie helms with little flash, but his production offers so many concepts and emotions that the high points of drama remain with the viewer after the film is over. --Lloyd Chesley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inherit the Wind (1999), August 26, 2000

By 

Joseph L. Warren (Auburn Hills, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inherit the Wind [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A truly excellent remake of an American classic. Once you get past any inital reservations you may (understandably) have about the film's made-for-cable origins, you will find a work that is, in my opinion, just as engaging as the 1960 version. Two gripes: 1.As mentioned by another reviewer, the direction and camera work is a bit static and elementary. 2. As also mentioned by another reviewer, Beau Bridges at times is too obnixious and over the top. On the other hand, Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott (in his final performace) are absolutely riveting. Piper Laurie is also very compelling as Scott's sympathetic and diplomatic wife. This incarnation of the film is extremely faithful to its predecessor, virtually a frame by frame re-shoot. Yet the dialouge, performaces and subject matter are just as fresh and stirring as they were 40 years ago. Fans of the 1960 release should certainly enjoy, or at least appreciate this latest adaption.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHY still not on DVD? Great movie!, January 31, 2004

By 

FERNANDO CASSIA "-Writer and Computer Geek-" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inherit the Wind [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott steal the movie!. It is a real pity we don't have the wonderful Jack Lemmon still around with us to bring us fine pieces of work like this. We'll miss you, Jack. :(

What I find a real shame is that MGM/UA has still NOT released this movie in DVD format, and that both editions of this movie (the 1960 original and this remake) are "out of stock" even in vhs format.

What are the movie studios up to?. I want to buy the movie and I can't. Maybe they are cornering us into piracy?.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the few remakes that stands up to the original, June 18, 2000

By 

Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Lakewood, OH) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inherit the Wind [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Hold the phone. It's a remake that's almost as good as the original.

Much of the brilliance of the new version of Inherit the Wind comes from finding two old fogeys who have the same love/hate chamistry brought to life in the original by Frederic March and Spencer Tracy; in this case, the friendly adversaries are George C. Scott, in his last performance before his death, and Jack Lemmon. Toss in Beau Bridges as the wisecracking journalist and a surprisingly downbeat performance by Thom Evertt Scott as the teacher who ends up a guinea pig in one of the biggest trials of the century, and you got yourself a fine film. The comic timing is impeccable on all counts, the lines from the film that have become cliche are delivered with the same freshness that ignited them decades ago, and one can almost believe that Scott and Lemmon actually are Bryan and Darrow haggling it out in a Tennessee courtroom.

If you've never seen _Inherit the Wind_, start with the classic Spencer Tracy/Frederic March version from 1960. If you're a fan of the film already, and have been avoiding this remake because nothing can do the original justics, well, you're right... but it comes as close as possible.