My favorite movie
It has been awhile since I've written-I ran out of ideas.
So, recently I held an open discussion on GoGamecocks.com for people to state what topics they'd like to read about from my perspective.
A lot of good ideas came in, and a good many are waiting in the wings, but this topic "won" the "competition."
It comes courtesy of DMSports. Thanks and enjoy.
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What makes a great movie? Some say great special effects (or special efx), some say a great script, some say a great director, and some say top notch acting. Well, in my opinion, a great movie is made of strong acting, great directing, a strong script, character development, and in interesting plot line. 1960s Inherit the Wind, starring the great Spencer Tracy and Fredric March.
Before I get to saying why this movie is, in my opinion, the "greatest movie ever" it is important to get an idea of what in the world this film is actually about. Set in the town of Hillsborough, the buckle of the bible belt, science teacher Bertrum Cates (Dick York) is arrested for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to the "suspect minded" school children. Christian fundamentalist and politician Matthew Harrison Brady (March) comes to prosecute, while the famous, and infamous, Henry Drummond (Tracy) comes to defend Cates in a smart rendition of the 1925 "Scopes Monkey Trial."Throw in the fact that Cate's fiancee', played by Donna Anderson, is the daughter of the town's pastor.
As if the plot itself isn't enticing enough, there is more-let's get to the meat of this film.
To start off, the plot line of discussing the two theories of human origin that is still debated today, and the film brings up valid points for both sides-both their positives and negatives. But my personal love for this film comes from the acting. Tracy is, as usual, brilliant, and Marsh gives as equal a performance, and to watch the two go head-to-head in the courtroom is a delectable acting treat-something that all students and non-students of film can appreciate.
One thing the film does very well with a deft touch is showing the dangers of fanaticism. Neither an extreme view of science nor religion does an individual any good. A science fanatic has no understanding in the mysteries of life-everything has an answer-and the individual becomes a cynic. On the other extreme, an individual overdosed on religion places all things in their god, with complete disregard for basic, scientific evidence, causing ignorance and a complete disregard for the beauty and capabilities of the human mind.
Each extreme is personified in the film-the scientific cynical wise-ass reporter E.K. Hornebeck (Gene Kelly)-while the religious fanatics are represented by the townspeople themselves.
The writing itself is strong, and there are just so many lines in the film that make the viewer have the envied "ah-ha" moment. Being from the 60s, there are no special effects, and this film doesn't need it. The substance of the story, the characters, and the drama in the courtroom show that most new films don't hold a candle to the classics.
So, recently I held an open discussion on GoGamecocks.com for people to state what topics they'd like to read about from my perspective.
A lot of good ideas came in, and a good many are waiting in the wings, but this topic "won" the "competition."
It comes courtesy of DMSports. Thanks and enjoy.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
What makes a great movie? Some say great special effects (or special efx), some say a great script, some say a great director, and some say top notch acting. Well, in my opinion, a great movie is made of strong acting, great directing, a strong script, character development, and in interesting plot line. 1960s Inherit the Wind, starring the great Spencer Tracy and Fredric March.Before I get to saying why this movie is, in my opinion, the "greatest movie ever" it is important to get an idea of what in the world this film is actually about. Set in the town of Hillsborough, the buckle of the bible belt, science teacher Bertrum Cates (Dick York) is arrested for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to the "suspect minded" school children. Christian fundamentalist and politician Matthew Harrison Brady (March) comes to prosecute, while the famous, and infamous, Henry Drummond (Tracy) comes to defend Cates in a smart rendition of the 1925 "Scopes Monkey Trial."Throw in the fact that Cate's fiancee', played by Donna Anderson, is the daughter of the town's pastor.
As if the plot itself isn't enticing enough, there is more-let's get to the meat of this film.
To start off, the plot line of discussing the two theories of human origin that is still debated today, and the film brings up valid points for both sides-both their positives and negatives. But my personal love for this film comes from the acting. Tracy is, as usual, brilliant, and Marsh gives as equal a performance, and to watch the two go head-to-head in the courtroom is a delectable acting treat-something that all students and non-students of film can appreciate.
One thing the film does very well with a deft touch is showing the dangers of fanaticism. Neither an extreme view of science nor religion does an individual any good. A science fanatic has no understanding in the mysteries of life-everything has an answer-and the individual becomes a cynic. On the other extreme, an individual overdosed on religion places all things in their god, with complete disregard for basic, scientific evidence, causing ignorance and a complete disregard for the beauty and capabilities of the human mind.
Each extreme is personified in the film-the scientific cynical wise-ass reporter E.K. Hornebeck (Gene Kelly)-while the religious fanatics are represented by the townspeople themselves.
The writing itself is strong, and there are just so many lines in the film that make the viewer have the envied "ah-ha" moment. Being from the 60s, there are no special effects, and this film doesn't need it. The substance of the story, the characters, and the drama in the courtroom show that most new films don't hold a candle to the classics.
I won't spoil the movie, but the final scene involving Tracy contains hardly any dialogue, but the silence of the moment and his motions send a clear message as to what it is this film is trying to tell us.
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