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A renewed adniration

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Victor,

I saw the Tracy "Inherit the Wind" again only a couple of evenings ago. I had seen it perhaps twice before and have harboured a little prehudice against as it as a movie as is always seemed a bit overblown, the W J Bryant or "Brady" character and "Cates'" (Stoke's) fiancee's minister father are too cartoon-like and somewhat spoil the story development. Tracy as "Drummond" (or Darrow)is excellent here- who else could've done it?

But, I forgive a lot and accept this as deriving from it's period- the most intense era of the Cold War. It always suprises me to remember that this movie is from 1960 as it feels much more a film of the "fight fascism" WWII era. It is very much a stand up for your rights and proto-civil rights movie that I would link somewhat to the mood of "Mockingbird" from about the same time.

The overall theme of freedom of thought and reactionary (religious) thought is given a suprising depth of treatment and is not as 2-D as I remembered- for example the scene in which the passionate Brady protests Cate's fiancee's father's damnation of her to Hell for her defense of Cates, is very strong.

Great humor: I still can't forget the line of Kelly's cynical newsman. Asked if he "Would like to have a nice, clean room" he says, "I left one to come here." Also, "He's (Brady) the only man who can strut sitting down."

One of the most affecting episodes for me, is the final scene between Kelly and Tracy in which Tracy -after all his defense of individual freedom of thought, warns Kelly of the tragedy of cynicism and the alienation it produces- such a person will "inherit the wind" and be left empty. It was powerful, excellent advice (and a timely theme) equally important to the principal one.

As much as is my renewed affection for the Tracy version- which was dramaticized enough to give it it's own internal freedom to explore a wider set of themes, I should like to see another version with a more historically accurate bent out of court transcripts. I know there have been more versions. Can you recommend one?

Cheers,

Bam

-as for Darwinism itself, I am a confirmed Neo-Alchemist and have a somewhat looser concept that is more inclusive- and incorporates multiple religious metaphor/allusions with natural selection for a concept of Creation.


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