Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
3/4
Science? Religion? It's all in your head anyway...
Indyfreak - wrote on 02/19/2015
Stanley Kramer's courtroom drama fixates on the dichotomy of science and religion, specifically evolution. Based on a play that fictionalizes the historic Scopes trial of 1925, screen legends Spencer Tracy and Frederic March spar with one another on the issue as to whether a schoolteacher on trial ought to be penalized for teaching evolution to his students.
The script benefits from the fact that it addresses the conflict not as a matter of science vs. religion but rather freedom of speech and freedom of thought being threatened even if unintentionally. It certainly (and thankfully) does not paint creationism in a positive light but it's not entirely negative but more misguided and fueled by zealousness rather than pure ignorance.
The characters are all given personal reasons for …