Directed by:
Daniel PetrieCinematography:
James BartleComposer:
Laurence RosenthalCast:
Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie, Beau Bridges, Tom Everett Scott, Kathryn Morris, Lane Smith, Brad Greenquist, Jim Meskimen, Russ Tamblyn (more)Plots(1)
The story is based on the real-life Scopes Monkey trial that made history in 1925 and brought a small town teacher to the forefront of a great political and social debate. In the small southern town of Hillsboro, the "trial of the century" erupts when a young and idealistic school instructor, Bertram Cates (Tom Everett Scott), is arrested for teaching Darwinism and the theory of evolution in his classroom. Hillsboro becomes a media hot spot as two of the nation's legal masterminds take up the case. George C. Scott stars as Matt Brady (based on real-life orator and politician William Jennings Bryan), a Bible-thumping political zealot who preaches against Darwin and the practices of the young teacher, while Jack Lemmon stars as Henry Drummond (based on legal legend Clarence Darrow), a liberal atheist who defends Cates and the notion of free speech. Drummond and Brady are long-time friends and political peers who find themselves fiercely divided over this issue. After heated political and spiritual debates, the trial is decided, making national headlines and changing the course of free speech and scientific theory forever. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Jack Lemmon](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/165/219/165219959_48453f.jpg)
Jack Lemmon
USA
Best movies:
Some Like It Hot (1959)
JFK (1991)
The Apartment (1960)
![George C. Scott](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/903/162903645_39aa26.png)
George C. Scott
USA
Best movies:
![Piper Laurie](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/083/855/83855251_83927a.jpg)
Piper Laurie
USA
Best movies:
Children of a Lesser God (1986)
The Hustler (1961)
The Bunker (1981) (TV movie)
![Beau Bridges](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/433/162433020_e50ead.png)
Beau Bridges
USA
Best movies:
Into the West (2005) (series)
Stargate: Continuum (2008)
The Red Pony (1949)
![Tom Everett Scott](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269493_b67cc2.jpg)
Tom Everett Scott
USA
Best movies:
Clouds (2020)
La La Land (2016)
One True Thing (1998)
![Kathryn Morris](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/530/162530132_16683c.jpg)
Kathryn Morris
USA
Best movies:
As Good as It Gets (1997)
Minority Report (2002)
The Dirt (2019)
![Lane Smith](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267811_569893.jpg)
Lane Smith
USA
Best movies:
If Tomorrow Comes (1986) (series)
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Frances (1982)
![Brad Greenquist](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/396/396157_dfe972.jpg)
Brad Greenquist
Best movies:
King Richard (2021)
The Bedroom Window (1987)
Reality (2014)
![Jim Meskimen](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/529/162529094_4bd44c.png)
Jim Meskimen
USA
Best movies:
Apollo 13 (1995)
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
![Russ Tamblyn](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/711/162711203_cc0d89.jpg)
Russ Tamblyn
USA
Best movies:
Django Unchained (2012)
West Side Story (1961)
Drive (2011)
John Cullum
USA
Best movies:
The Day After (1983) (TV movie)
1776 (1972)
Inherit the Wind (1999) (TV movie)
![Doug McGrath](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/812/157812611_e84133.jpg)
Doug McGrath
Canada
Best movies:
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
Pale Rider (1985)
Twyla Banks
USA
Best movies:
Blow (2001)
Inherit the Wind (1999) (TV movie)
Can't Be Heaven (2000)
David Wells
Best movies:
Basic Instinct (1992)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Starman (1984)
![Peter Mackenzie](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/125/160125710_2e057f.jpg)
Peter Mackenzie
Best movies:
Trumbo (2015)
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
Lorenzo's Oil (1992)
![Amzie Strickland](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/223/160223023_ad7cdf.jpg)
Amzie Strickland
USA
Best movies:
The Roaring Twenties (1939)
The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
Scarlet Street (1945)
Jerry Potter
Best movies:
Misery (1990)
Inherit the Wind (1999) (TV movie)
The Quick and the Dead (1987) (TV movie)
John DeMita
USA
Best movies:
Animatrix (2003)
Project A (1983)
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
![Dirk Blocker](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/106/162106043_0328c4.jpg)
Dirk Blocker
USA
Best movies:
Short Cuts (1993)
Starman (1984)
Poltergeist (1982)
![Royce D. Applegate](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/121/162121804_76f5bf.jpg)
Royce D. Applegate
USA
Best movies:
Rain Man (1988)
Seabiscuit (2003)
The Blue and the Gray (1982) (series)