Tennessee schoolteacher Bertram Cates (Dick York) is put on trial for violating the Butler Act, a state law that prohibits public school teachers from teaching evolution instead of creationism. Drawing intense national attention in the media with writer E. K. Hornbeck (Gene Kelly) reporting, two of the nation’s leading lawyers go head–to–head: Matthew Harrison Brady (Fredric March) for the prosecution, and Henry Drummond (Spencer Tracy) for the defense.

Wisconsin connection: Spencer Tracy who plays Henry Drummond is a native of Milwaukee, Wis.

Released on July 21, 1960. Running time 2 hours, 8 minutes.

Screenings at 2 and 6 p.m.

If you go: This performance is not rated and tickets are $6.57, plus fees and tax.